Admissions Interview

  • ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW

     

    Many colleges allow you to interview with an admissions representative, either on campus or in your hometown.  Not all schools will grant interviews.  If you do score an interview, take it seriously.  But rest assured that it will not make you or break you.  Admissions officers will consider it when evaluating your application, but they will be much more interested in your grades, test scores, and essays.  Here are some tips to make the most out of your interview:

     

    1. Prepare Specific Questions

     

    Your interviewer will expect you to ask some questions about the school and talk about why you want to go there.

     

    Think about why the school appeals to you, what you want to study and what you might do after graduation (Don’t go overboard - you don’t need a fifty year plan!)  Challenge yourself to come up with creative questions that can’t easily be answered by the college’s website.  Bizarre or obvious questions will not impress the interviewer – but thoughtful and specific inquires will.  Some examples of good questions are:

     

    • What departments/majors are most popular?
    • What are the current issues on campus?
    • What do most students do after graduation?
    • What are the weekends like on campus?

     

    1. Practice like a Prizefighter

     

    Being interviewed is a skill, and it requires practice.  Sit down with one of your parents/guardians, a teacher or friend and have him or her ask you questions.  Answer them honestly and seriously.  Then ask your “interviewer” how you came across.

     

    The practice interview is a great way to become aware of little things you might not have known you were doing.  Do you talk like a stuttering valley girl?  If so, cut down on the “ums” and “likes” and make sure to answer in complete sentences.

     

    1. Be Yourself

     

    Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.  Remember, the key to getting admitted (and being happy at college) is matchmaking.  You want to be yourself so that the person interviewing you can discern if you would be a good fit.

     

    Showcase the side of yourself that is professional, mature, and confident.  Smile, use your sense of humor and remember that your interviewer wants the interview to go well too!  They’ll feel comfortable if you are comfortable.

     

    1. Schedule Wisely

     

    You’ll get better each time you interview.  Try to arrange your schedule so that your first interviews are with the schools you care about least (or those most likely to accept you).  You can even schedule interviews at schools in which you have no interest at all, just for the practice. You’ll be much more comfortable with the process by the time you get to your top choice schools.

     

    1. Stop Looking at the Clock

     

    Most interviews last approximately thirty minutes.  Occasionally they’ll run as long as an hour.

     

    Students are sometimes told that the sign of a good interview is a long one.  But most colleges schedule interviews back-to-back, so your interviewer is likely on a tight schedule.  If you notice them checking the time, it’s not (necessarily) because they think you’re boring.

     

    1. Be Thankful

     

    Send a thank-you note.  If there’s something about the interview that was helpful to you, let your interviewer know.  If you connected with your interviewer over a book, common experience, band you’re both into, etc., then mention it!

     

    Otherwise, simply express your continued interest in the school and thank your interviewer for taking the time to meet with you.

     

    Source: Princeton Review