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With Rachel Korn, former admissions officer at several top universities.
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What to Ask College Students
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Prepare For Interviews
HEAD Start
TASK: You're scheduled to meet an alumnus for your interview. It's time to think how you want to present yourself, and prepare some answers to possible questions to maximize your interview.

WHY: While interviews rarely make or break a candidate, they're still a piece of the admissions process, and it's wise to have a positive interview for your file. An interview is the chance for the committee to have you evaluated by someone not in your community, but if you are who you say you are, there are no surprises.

HEAD Lines
METHOD: Think about the following to give yourself stories and material:
  • Your favorite classes

  • Your favorite activities and extra curriculars

  • Your strengths and weaknesses - and examples of how they've helped you (or how you've overcome them)

  • Something at which you excel, or something unusual about your background (this will set you apart from all the other students they meet...)

  • What you think you might study (undecided is fine, as long as you can narrow it down a little)

  • Why you are interested in this particular college (and be specific!)
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General college admissions interview tips:
  • Do not be afraid to pause. If asked something that you are not prepared for, it is perfectly OK to say something like "Let me think about that for a minute" or "Hmm. That's a good question." and then pause to gather your thoughts before answering a question. It is better to pause for a few seconds to gather your thoughts than to start talking before you are ready to answer a question.

  • If you are feeling nervous, wiggle your toes in your shoes. The interviewer will not see you doing it and it will help you relax. It will also help you keep your upper body still i.e. no playing with hair or earrings, no excessive hand gestures.

  • Wear something you would wear to a nice restaurant with your grandparents, in other words, dress the part. Do not wear anything you tend to fidget with.

  • Make sure you arrive early to your interview so you can find the office in plenty of time and you are not stressed. Bring a bottle of water.

  • Spend at least 30 minutes reviewing the school's website before the interview so names and programs are fresh in your mind; be prepared to discuss why you are applying to the school, why the school is a good fit for you, why you are a good fit for it and what you'll contribute when you get there.

  • It is a good idea to bring in notes to the interview in a folder, i.e. names of programs you like, classes that are of interest, reasons you want to attend the school or names of people you have talked to. Chances are you won't need to refer to them, but they will be there if you need them.

  • Practice answering the following questions in front of a mirror so you can get comfortable with talking about your college plans. This will help cut down on nerves.
Practice Interview Questions
  • Tell me about why you decided to apply to this school?
  • What academic programs are you interested in?
  • What is your favorite high school class? Why?
  • What academic experience has been most challenging for you?
  • Tell me about a situation in which you used something you learned in school outside of school.
  • What is your least favorite high school class? Why?
  • If you could change one thing about your high school, what would it be?
  • What do you like to do in your free time?
  • Tell me about your extracurricular activities?
  • What is your favorite activity and why?
  • Tell me about a person who has influenced you.
  • What was the last book you read for fun?
  • Pick an adjective that describes you.
  • What would your friends say about you?
  • If you were an inanimate object, what would you be?
  • If you found 3,000 pennies, what would you do with them?
  • What would be your dream job after college?
  • What is your legacy to your high school?
Jennifer Tabbush, MBA, CEP
An educational consultant and college counselor
formerly Associate Director of MBA Admissions at UCLA
jtabbush@gmail.com
www.headedforcollege.com



The views expressed herein are those of their authors alone, and do not necessarily represent the views of Hundreds of Heads or of IECA.

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From Other HEADS
MAKE A POINT OF LEARNING ABOUT THAT SCHOOL'S VALUES, because you'll impress the interviewer more if it's clear that you cared enough to do your research. Also, if they've given you an idea of what sort of questions you'll be asked, be sure to think about your answers in advance. I waited until I was in the car the morning of my interview before I even thought about what I was going to say, and I had to brainstorm with my mom the whole way.

-- EMILY ROSE
AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE


DURING THE INTERVIEW, SMILE A LOT. When you smile, it shows that your attitude and heart are in the interview; your nerves will also settle down so that you can answer questions clearly.

-- MAILE CERIZO
POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY


Web Resources
For more Interview Tips, try:
www.interviewtips.org/college-interview-tips/college-interview-tips.html


HoH Tip
Also prepare questions for the interviewer about himself and the school - things that cannot be found by reading the internet. This is the alumnus's chance to talk, sell the school, and give you new information. Don't skip this critical opportunity. A student with no questions seems disinterested - a bad sign that will get noted in the evaluation.


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