Interview Tips

Interviewing can be a great way to show interest at your colleges. Below are some tips on how to go about getting and preparing for the interview.

• Call the Admissions Office to schedule an appointment. Even if you can’t travel to visit the actual campus, many colleges are very happy to schedule an appointment with a graduate who lives in your local area. Many colleges also participate in college fairs and will be happy to schedule an interview appointment with an admissions officer when they are in town.
• Allow enough time for a campus tour and an information session. The more information you have about the college, the more prepared you will be for the interview.
• Keep your appointment, and if you can’t make it for some reason, be sure to call to cancel or reschedule ahead of time. You don’t want to start out with a reputation of being undependable.
• Bring along a copy of your most recent high school transcript or prepare a type-written resume of your high school courses. The resume can also include a list of your extracurricular activities, community service, jobs and a list of special skills or accomplishments.

• Do your research. Visit the college/university’s website or review the school’s catalogue. Look at the list of courses the programs you are interested in are offering. When you set up the appointment, ask if it might be possible for you to sit in on one of those classes. Prepare a list of questions you would like to ask.
• Spend some time thinking about how you might answer certain questions that come up. Remember, you don’t need to have a full presentation prepared for each question that is asked. It’s better to be prepared generally, so that you don’t panic when the interview begins.
• Keep in mind that the interview is NOT a test and there are no trick questions. The purpose of the interview is to give the admissions officer a chance to get see aspects of you that are not reflected in your application. So try to relax and be yourself. Here is a list of possible interview questions

1. Give me a brief autobiography of yourself
2. Tell me about high school
3. What kind of relationship do you have with your teachers/advisors?
4. Tell me about your transition to high school
5. What are your favorite subjects? What's the hardest?
6. What is your favorite book and why?
7. Tell me about a time when you felt misjudged or when you misjudged another person.
8. How important is diversity to you on a college campus?
9. If I asked your parents or friends, how would they describe you?
10. Do you have any regrets about high school?
11. What are you most looking forward to in college? What are your fears?
12. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 30?
13. Do you have any questions we haven't yet discussed?

• Try to arrive 15 minutes early to compose yourself
• Shake hands with your interviewer, smile and look pleasant.
• Answer questions fully and candidly. If necessary, you can ask for a moment to think about your answer.
• Breathe. Before you answer a question, take a nice slow breath first. When you finish answering, remember to continue to breathe. This is the key to staying relaxed.
• Bring along a list of questions you would like answered. It's fine to refer to the list and will show the interviewer that you have come prepared
• Listen to the question, then answer. Don't get ahead of yourself and start thinking about your answer before you've heard the whole question. By taking time to listen, you will also give yourself a few extra seconds to form your response.
• If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification.
• Make eye contact. You don't have to stare into the interviewer's eyes but you should make eye contact particularly when you are emphasizing a point. If you have trouble with eye contact, or are shy about making eye contact with a stranger, practice with friends.
• Try not to give one-word answers. If you are asked a yes or no question follow up your "yes" or "no" answer with an explanation.
• Say "yes" or "no" NOT "yeah", "uh-huh", "nah" or "nuh-uh" and never say "Whatever" in reply to a question or to finish a thought.
• Don't mumble. Enunciate your words. If you have a soft voice, make an effort to speak up. Practice. Take a cue from your interviewer. If he or she is leaning forward or straining to understand you, then you need to speak up.
• When the interview is over, say thank you and goodbye. Remember to smile and offer another friendly handshake.
• When you get home, write a thank you card or e-mail to your interviewer. You can also use that as an opportunity to ask any additional questions.

RELAX and ENJOY the interview!