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Cracking the Code on the College Interview (Part 2)
The college interview can be your ticket to the thick envelope.
5. Prepare at least three substantive questions to ask your interviewer.
Most interviewers will ask if you have questions for them. Take advantage of the opportunity. Ask questions that exhibit your interests and passions. Even if you don’t ask the questions you prepared, you’ll be more confident because you thought ahead. Think of it as arming yourself with preparation. Skip administrative questions you could find on your own. Remember that people like to talk about their own experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask an alum, “Who was your favorite professor? Why?” “What was your residence hall experience like?”
Your interviewer may ask questions about current events or your community. Brush up—watch the news, read the paper, and listen to the radio.
6. Silence can be your best friend.
If your interviewer asks a question and you are not sure how to answer it right away, don’t feel rushed to speak immediately. Say, “That’s a great question. Let me think about that for a moment.” The silence feels much longer to you than it really is. It may seem like hours, but several seconds of silence is comfortable and appropriate. Be sure not to fill silent spaces with “Um’s.”
7. Train your brain.
Preparation is the best path to a great interview. Review questions your interviewer may ask. Anticipate themes and types of questions beforehand; get comfortable with how you’d answer each one. This will exercise your brain and help you anticipate real interview conditions. The “brain train” will also give you a vital advantage: your answers will be concise and substantive.
Ask your dad, friend, or teacher to do a fifteen minute mock interview with you each day for a week. Have your brother ask questions your interviewer may ask; answer them as you would during the real thing. You can also do this on your own in front of the mirror as you get ready for school. Talk to yourself—it’s OK! Ask yourself the questions and reply—out loud! It may seem weird, but it works. The result: you will have trained your brain for a great interview.
The parting thought
You know how you feel after you’ve seen an inspiring movie or a speaker at school who makes you want to change the world? With these tips, your interviewer will leave inspired with one critical thought: “We need this person on our campus!”
To learn more, visit thewayinconsulting.com.