College Interview
The College Admissions Interview
For most college Admissions Representatives, interacting with students who are interested in their college is a high point in their day. Being able to meet students who are considering the school that they represent is rewarding and give them a chance to help guide students in the process. Here are some of the top suggestions that might help you succeed in these interviews.
Be Aware - There are several kinds of interviews and while each one has similarities, it is important to know which kind of interview you will have in advance.
Required Interview – some colleges and scholarship programs require interviews for all students or for students who have made the decision to apply to a particular college that does not require the submission of SAT or ACT scores.
Evaluative Interview – the interviewer’s comments and thoughts about the interview will play some role in the admissions process.
Non-evaluative / Informational Interview – the interview serves an opportunity to get to know the student and to answer questions for the student and the family.
Alumni Interview – an interview conducted off-campus by an alum of the college and is usually non-evaluative, as above.
Be Prepared – Know the basics about the school and know why you are interested. Have three thoughtful questions ready to ask the interviewer. Make sure these questions aren’t already answered in the school’s admission materials. Perhaps you might ask something specific about the department or major you hope to study or about the internships available in the department. Practice interviewing with a friend or parent.
Be the leader – When you walk into the admissions office (or hop on Zoom), take charge. This is your chance to introduce yourself as the leader in the college process.
Be Relaxed/Yourself – The interview is an opportunity for you to get to know the college and for them to get to know you. Take a deep breath and be yourself during the interview and it will go well. Have a conversation; do not memorize a script. Feel free to ask questions.
Be Professional – Admission officers understand that you are a high school student, so they are not expecting you to show up all dressed up. However, good impressions are important. Make sure you are neat and tidy so that the interviewer knows you are taking the interview seriously. (No wearing pajamas to school that day!)
Be Careful – If the interview is in person, remember that the “interview” starts the minute you walk in the door. They will notice everything, so be on your best behavior.
Stay up-to-date - on news and current events. Do you have strong opinions on certain issues? Can you explain your position? Try to spell out your system of values to yourself and think about how you apply it.
Before and After the interview
Use this checklist to prepare for your college interviews and to take care of details afterward. Being prepared will help you stay calm and confident. It's also important to be honest about who you are and what you've done. You'll be more convincing — and appealing — if you stick to what's real.
Before
Make an interview appointment with one of the colleges you want to attend.
Mark the date and time on your calendar.
Research the college by checking out its website (including your major's departmental website), brochure, sample curriculum for your major and course catalog.
Make notes about why you want to attend this college.
Make notes about your academic background and high school experiences.
Make notes about your life outside the classroom, including activities, community service and hobbies.
Get familiar with common interview questions and do some practice interviews with a friend or family member. Take turns being the interviewee and the interviewer.
Prepare questions about the school to ask the interviewer.
If it is in person, get directions to the interview.
Choose appropriate clothes to wear.
Gather documents you might need, such as resume, test scores, high school transcript, or any other document you feel is needed.
After
Make notes about the interview.
Add any rep or interviewer's contact information to your phone.
Send a thank-you note to the interviewer. Thank the person for his or her time and refer to something specific you discussed.
Interviewers may ask questions like these
Why do you want to attend our college?
What can you contribute to our college campus?
Why they ask: They want to know that you're really interested in their college. They also want to know what you can bring to the campus.
Talk about what you've learned about the college and why you feel it's the right place for you. (Remember that you have to research a college ahead of time to answer this type of question well.) Discuss your extracurricular activities and achievements that show your character.
What three adjectives best describe you?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why they ask: They want to see that you can think and speak about yourself.
Give examples of how your chosen adjectives describe you. Talk about how you've used your strengths to accomplish something. Talk about how you overcome your weaknesses. For example, you can say, "I have a hard time learning new languages, so I set aside more time to study them."
What activities do you find most rewarding?
What is your favorite book?
What do you want to do after graduating from college?
Why they ask: They want to get to know you better and learn about what's important to you.
Think about the why: Why are those activities the most rewarding? Why is a book your favorite? If you have a major in mind, talk about why you're interested in that subject. Discuss how you think college can help you meet your goals. Be sincere and honest in your answer — don't say things just to impress the interviewer.
If you had a thousand dollars to give away, what would you do with it?
What's your opinion on the immigration debate (or another topic in the news)?
If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?
Why they ask: They want to see that you are informed and curious and a careful thinker.
Tips for virtual interviews
DO:
Find a quiet, appropriate space where you can have the call.
Be aware of your background—plain and uncluttered is ideal.
Make sure your computer is charged-up if you’re using a laptop—better yet, plug it in!Check your lighting and try to position the camera so that you are facing a light source and not the other way around.
Test the technology. Before the interview, schedule a test call with a friend, family member or anyone who has been working with you throughout the application process.
Ensure your microphone and speakers are working on the day of the interview and that your internet connection is stable and supports high-quality live video.
Secure your device if using a phone or tablet—shaky or wobbly video is annoying.
Be sure to use a professional screen name (first and last) that will be easy for the interviewer to recognize.
Eliminate background noise and distractions—barking dogs, while sometimes unavoidable, distract you as much as your interviewer. Keep Fido out of the interview, if possible. Close windows and turn off the TV.
Silence personal devices.
Choose a small, comfortable and upright chair. Slouching on a couch isn’t engaging and sprawled out on a bed is disrespectful.
Dress appropriately—top and bottom (you never know). Logo gear is not advisable, especially when it’s from another college. Avoid clothing featuring small patterns or colors that might not come across well on the screen.
Try to make eye contact by looking directly into the camera. Nodding will show the interviewer that you are involved and listening attentively. Feel free to use your hands if it comes naturally to you.
Have a backup plan in case of glitches. Transitioning to a phone or rescheduling for an alternate time are both possible solutions for technical difficulties. Try not to panic if your software experiences an issue. If the problem is outside of your control, the interviewer will understand.
Follow-up with a thank-you note.
DO NOT:
Schedule an appointment without noting it on your calendar.
Assume the interview will be in your time zone. Verify with the interviewer the time zone of the interview and be ready to begin at the agreed-upon time.
Have your parent(s) sit in on the meeting. There’s nothing worse than having someone lurking off camera prompting responses. And don’t let them hover anxiously outside the room. Hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign outside your door if necessary.
Neglect to introduce yourself.
Come to the interview unprepared. An interviewer can tell in a minute if you have absolutely no knowledge of the college for which you are interviewing.
Get too cute with virtual backgrounds or screen names. If you must use a virtual background, choose something professional—not a picture of a closet filled with toilet paper as one student recently used.
Turn off or disable your webcam. Part of the purpose of the face-to-face interview is for the interviewer to see how you interact as well as how you respond to specific questions.
Try to record the interview.
Forget to smile. Speaking into a computer is a little unnatural, but it’s important to try not to act like a robot.
Sit in a dark room—it’s a little creepy.
Watch yourself instead of the interviewer.
Talk over your interviewer. Zoom has a built-in lag and it’s sometimes easy to jump in too soon. Practice your timing and use the pause to your advantage as a moment to consider your answer.
Check email/phone/web while on the call as others can easily tell when you are distracted. And it’s a clear signal that you’re disinterested.
Eat or chew gum or wear a hat unless there is a religious reason to do so.
Fail to say thank you and follow-up with a note.