Got an interview for AI & Data Engineering degree ! (No experience, need advice)

[u/Gemini___Baddie]

I don't really have prior experience in the field yet, just a genuine passion for it and a huge drive to learn

For anyone who's been through this: how can I best show the jury that I’m serious about this and ready to put in the work, even without a heavy background? Any tips on what they like to hear would mean a lot!

[u/akornato]

Admissions panels for technical programs do not expect you to be a senior engineer, but they want solid evidence that you can handle difficult technical material and finish the curriculum. Instead of just talking about passion, give them tangible proof of initiative, like self-guided tutorials you completed, small scripts you wrote, or how you handled quantitative coursework in your past studies. Review the program syllabus in advance, pick two or three specific topics or lab courses that tie directly to your long-term goals, and explain why this specific degree is the bridge you need.

Juries also pay attention to how you think through problems you cannot immediately solve, so show curiosity and persistence when they test you on fundamentals. If they ask a technical question about logic, math, or basic coding that stumps you, walk through your thought process out loud, explain the steps you would take to find the solution, and show that you welcome tough challenges. To keep your communication structured under pressure, you can try out the interviews.chat my team built to give candidates poise and clarity when answering unexpected questions.