College Interview Tips
College applications can be stressful and daunting, but at least you know you are in complete control of the process. The more time and effort you put into writing your essays, for example, the better they’ll be. The strength of your written application is directly related to the work you put into it. A college interview, on the other hand, can feel like something that is entirely out of your control. You don’t get to pause the interview to craft your answer to each question. You don’t even know beforehand what the questions will be. So, how on earth can you prepare?
There are actually some very simple ways to prepare and help you take control of your interviews. Let’s get into it!
Anticipate the questions. Sure, you can’t know exactly what questions will be asked during the interview, but there are some questions you can be pretty sure will come up. Here are a few:
The why question: “Why do you want to attend this school?” “What appeals to you the most about this college?” “What drove you to apply here?” These are all different ways of asking the same question. Before your interview, read over your “why” supplement and remind yourself of all the qualities you love about the school. Identify three specific aspects to touch on in your answer.
The academic interest question: “What are you interested in studying in college?” “What do you plan to major in?” “What’s your favorite subject in school?” This should be a fairly straightforward question to answer, and hopefully it’s something you’ve thought about throughout the college process.
The free time question: “How do you spend your time outside of school?” “What do you like to do for fun?” “What do you do on the weekends?” Be honest when answering this question. Don’t feel like you have to sound impressive. Colleges are looking for people who will be a part of the community, make friends, and have school spirit, i.e., fun people!
The social cause question: “What is a cause you feel strongly about?” “What is the most important issue facing the world today?” This is definitely a difficult question to answer off-the-cuff, so spend some time researching and thinking deeply about it before your interview.
The strengths and weaknesses question: “What are your personal strengths and weaknesses?” “What areas do you excel in, and where do you need to improve?” Answering this question requires both confidence and humility. Don’t be shy about asserting your awesomeness, and don’t be too proud to admit your faults. That said, it’s not a confessional either, so this isn’t the time to talk about cheating on an exam or torturing your little sister. You do still want to be accepted to their school…
Rehearse your answers, but not too much. There’s a fine line between practicing your answers to these questions and delivering a memorized speech. Your interview should feel like a conversation, not like a Shakespeare play. When you are practicing your interview with your mom, your friend, or your dog, try answering the same question a few different ways. This way, you’ll know exactly what you want to say, but you won’t sound like you’re reading off of a teleprompter.
Review your application before the interview. On the day of your interview, read through your entire application to that college, including your personal statement and supplemental essays. Not only will this remind you of what you like about the school, but it’s also likely your interviewer will ask you a question about something you wrote in your application.
Listen and breathe. This is probably the most common mistake students make in their college interviews. They don’t listen to the interviewers and they don’t take the time to absorb the questions before they launch into their answers. Your interviewer is a human being, not a question-asking robot. Believe me, you and your interviewer will feel a hundred times more relaxed and comfortable if you really listen and take your time.
Ask questions. The interview is a conversation, not a test. You are absolutely allowed to ask your interviewer questions, both about the school and about themselves. Don’t try to dig into their personal life, of course, but you can ask them about their career, what they studied, their college experience, their favorite books, movies, etc.
Check your lighting, your background, and your internet. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all college interviews are happening online, and this may continue in the future because it’s way more convenient for colleges. If you are on your computer, make sure you have decent lighting (i.e., a light pointing towards your face) and that you don’t have too many distractions in the background. And have a friend do a practice Zoom with you beforehand to make sure your wifi is not too choppy.
Dress up a little. You don’t have to wear a suit or a ballgown, but a t-shirt you just pulled out of the laundry hamper is probably not the best idea. If you have a wacky or unique sense of style, you can certainly show it, make sure to look like you put a little effort into your outfit. You want to show your interviewer you care about the interview enough to at least iron your shirt!
And finally…
Smile! I know it sounds obvious, but a friendly smile goes a long way!
If you’re looking for personalized help with your college interviews, schedule a call with our team of admissions experts.