The Secret Life of Postgraduates

The Interview (unedited)

Maddie was alone and perched at the edge of a plush armchair. Was she in the right place? She checked her emails for the third time that morning. Third floor, Room 301. Yup. This was the place.

The waiting was tortuous. It was only probably the most important interview of her life. She'd even borrowed a blazer from Karen.

They would only take on three new postgraduates in the Pharmacology Department next year due to a tighter budget. And there were twenty five applicants. All of whom, Maddie knew, had much better grades than she did. Here's hoping I can win them over with a smile and my stunning personality!

She studied the pictures on the walls again. Louis Pasteur. Edward Jenner. Alexander Fleming. All great minds who had made priceless contributions to medical science. 

I am not worthy.

Just as Maddie was about to chicken out, Dr DeWitt appeared. Her heart stopped. "Madison?"

She nodded.

"This way!" he smiled.

Madison followed him down the long, sterile corridor. She had an urge to yank at one of the emergency showers' chains. Dr DeWitt took her into something like a boardroom, and she felt the remaining colour drain from her face down to her feet. Seated around the long table in large, black swivel chairs, were all of Maddie's previous pharmacology lecturers, as well as a few other faces she didn't recognise. She didn't know everyone was going to be there! Was it too late to run?

"Please have a seat, dear," the grandmotherly figure of Prof Koch, head of the department, gestured at the seat at the head of the table. Where all eyes could be on Maddie.

With a meek smile, she obeyed.

"How are you Madison?" Prof Koch asked.

"Um, to be honest? Pretty nervous."

This earned her some good-natured laughter around the table.

"Well there's no need to be nervous," Prof Koch smiled. "We're just going to ask you a few things."

Maddie nodded. Karen had grilled her with possible interview questions.

"Where are you from?"

Huh? She was certain that wasn't in any of the pamphlets or How To's she and Karen went through.

"Well, my parents have a farm, but I'm staying here in Potch."

"Do you live alone?"

Maddie surreptitiously wiped her hands on her lap. "No, I live with a friend."

"And what are your interests?"

Yes! This she could answer easily. "Photography, hiking, rock climbing, reading..." It probably wasn't wise to add video games to the list.

Some of the lecturers looked slightly impressed. At least they all seemed friendly. Dr DeWitt had a big smile on his face. If not for him, Maddie wouldn't even be there.

"Now that we know you a little better," Prof Koch glanced at her notepad. "Why do you want to do your master's in pharmacology?"

The million dollar question.

"I'm passionate about learning. I always want to know more and more and it's never enough, which is why I want to get into research – and the work you do here in pharmacology is by far the most interesting! If I can, I would keep on studying and learning for as long as I live."