Radiation therapy programs take small classes and almost always interview. The interview can carry real weight: at Grand Valley State, the on-site interview and writing assessment are 30% of the decision. Here is what named programs say about their interviews, from their own admissions pages.
From radiation therapy programs’ own admissions pages2027 admissionsChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:FormatsWhat they assessPractice questionsHow to prepareFAQ
Interview formats at named programs
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Valley State University | On site, with writing assessment | For the Fall 2027 application: “Interview and Writing Assessment completed on-site at the College of Health Professions (30%)”. Prerequisite GPA is 40%. Source |
| Duke University | In person preferred | For the 2027 class, interviews run February-March 2027, and “an interview make-up date will not be offered”. Source |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | In person, Omaha | Interviews February 19, 2027. “In person interview sessions will be conducted in Omaha in late February.” Source |
| Mayo Clinic (Minnesota) | Virtual | “Interviews will be conducted 100 percent virtually for the upcoming admissions cycle. Only the top-ranked applicants are invited for an interview.” Source |
| Bellevue College | Individual, committee | “Individual interviews are conducted once a year during the spring quarter by the radiation therapy program interview committee.” Source |
What radiation therapy interviews assess
Bellevue College says “The purpose of the interview is to determine the applicant’s general understanding of the profession, their interpersonal and critical thinking skills.” (Bellevue College) Duke uses its interview to “assess better factors such as motivation, professionalism, and interpersonal communication skills” (Duke).
Chattanooga State, whose certificate program admits radiographers, gives the longest list: “The personal interview is designed to determine the level of the applicant’s knowledge of radiation therapy, professional presentation, communication skills, interpersonal skills, ethical reasoning and problem solving ability, organizational/planning skills, relevant work experience, and true desire to become a radiation therapist. A points system is used to score the personal interview.” (Chattanooga State)
Two themes repeat: know the profession, and show you can communicate with patients going through cancer treatment. Your observation hours are where both answers come from.
Practice questions
Most programs don’t publish their questions. These are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- What does a radiation therapist do on a typical day?
- What did you see during your clinical observation?
- How would you support a frightened patient at their first treatment?
- Tell us about a time you caught a mistake before it mattered.
- How do you handle repetitive, detail-heavy work?
- Tell us about an ethical problem you faced and what you did.
- Why our program?
How to prepare
- Know the profession. Bellevue and Chattanooga State both test your understanding of radiation therapy.
- Bring specific observation stories about patients, equipment, and the team.
- Practice writing under time pressure if your program adds a writing assessment, as Grand Valley State does.
- Don’t miss the date. Duke offers no make-up interview, and Bellevue interviews once a year.
- Do a mock interview on video if yours is virtual, as at Mayo.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own radiation therapy personal statement before the interview. If you haven’t submitted yet, see our radiation therapy personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
For sonography, MLS, and other professions, see our allied health interview guide.
For handling nerves on interview day, see how to calm your nerves before an interview from Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for radiation therapy applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you’re nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It’s $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
Do radiation therapy programs interview?
Yes, at the programs on this page. Mayo says only the top-ranked applicants are invited for an interview.
How much does the radiation therapy interview count?
At Grand Valley State, the on-site interview and writing assessment together are 30% of the admission decision.
What do radiation therapy interviews assess?
Bellevue College looks at your understanding of the profession and your interpersonal and critical thinking skills. Duke looks at motivation, professionalism, and interpersonal communication.
Can I reschedule a radiation therapy interview?
Not always. Duke says an interview make-up date will not be offered.
Related guides: Allied health, Perfusion, Sonography, Respiratory therapy, Medical laboratory science, Dietetic internship, and Genetic counseling. See all interview guides by program.
Every date and quotation on this page comes from the program’s own admissions page, linked where it appears. A few of these pages give no cycle year; we used them only where they describe the program’s current process. Last checked October 28, 2026.