NextStudent Adivsors

Preparing For The College Interview 

Advantages To Onsite Interviews And What To Keep In Mind 

Some colleges, particularly those with more selective admission standards, will require an interview with an admissions officer, as part of the college application process. This will be your chance to show the college or university that you are more than just your grades and test scores. The college interview is your opportunity to present yourself at your best, as well as to find out more about the particular college.

Practice Makes Perfect…Or, At Least, A Better Presentation

If a college interview is part of the application process for the school of your choice, the best way you can prepare is by practicing beforehand. So, set up as many mock interviews as possible before the actual event. This will allow you to practice articulating your thoughts, as well as to get tips and ideas from those who practice

with you,  in order to improve your presentation. Try to get your parents, school counselors, teachers, or friends to conduct mock interviews with you. Set up at least two practice sessions, where you dress as if you were being interviewed and role- play the entire college interview process from start to finish.

Presentation Points To Keep In Mind

As you complete these mock interviews, think about your appearance as well as your answers. Ask for feedback from those who are interviewing you. Listen to their impressions and advice, as you continue to practice for your college interview. 

• What are you doing with your hands? Do you need to develop a strategy to keep them from flailing about as you speak? Holding your hands together, clasped, or using them for small, controlled gestures as you speak is acceptable. Avoid nervous gestures, such as hair twisting, covering your mouth as you speak, or constantly fiddling with your clothing.
• What is your body language saying? At your interview, you want to appear attentive, yet relaxed. Sitting on the edge of your chair and leaning forward might signify that you are just thinking about running away. Slouching in a position that appears too comfortable, however, does not look good either. Consider your posture and appear as comfortable as possible Crossed arms and legs may give the impression that you are “stand-offish.”
• Eye contact is key to effective presentation. Practice looking at your interviewer directly in the eye as they speak. A stare-down is not necessary, but taking the time to look at your interviewer directly as they question you will help convey that you are calm, confident, and sure of what you are saying.
• Be aware of any tendencies you have to fidget, fiddle, or make noise. Foot tapping, finger snapping, clicking noises with your tongue, these are all habits that we develop that might present themselves when we are nervous. The college interview is not the time to chew or clean your fingernails. For example, do not grab the paper clip dispenser off the interviewer’s desk and start making daisy chains. Instead, exude calm, collected energy, and keep your focus on the task at hand, direct and complete responses to the interview questions.

Typical College Interview Questions

Though you do not want to write out and memorize answers for every potential question an interviewer might ask, it does help to have an idea of the types of questions that are often asked, and to think about your responses ahead of time.

Some typical questions of a college interview might include:

• Why are you interested in attending our school?
• Tell me about your greatest strengths and weaknesses.
• What experiences have you had that you think prepare you for college?
• What sparked your interest in a particular area of study?
• What are your plans for the future?
• Tell me about your favorite book, and express what you liked about it. 

Of course, the variations on these questions are endless. Your interviewer may approach the interview with a conversational tone or may have a more direct question-and-answer focus. Opinions on current events, social causes, questions about your own personal experiences, are all fair game in the college interview.

When The Interviewer Stumps You

No matter how many questions and scenarios you prepare for and practice ahead of time, it is always possible that the interviewer will come up with something for which you have no ready answer. So, prepare for that eventuality as well. When that question comes from out of left field, and your mind goes completely blank, how are you going to respond? Consider the limitations of silence, and determine how you are going to fill those silences. An acknowledgement of the question asked is probably a good skill to adopt. Admit that you might have to think about a particular question for a second. In short, develop a game plan in case you do not have a ready answer. This part of the interview will go even smoother, allowing you time to come up with an answer, rather than rambling off in an unrelated topic and losing your cool.