While not all schools offer them, interviews are sometimes part of the college application process. Some people are comfortable with interviews, while others find them daunting. Either way, interviews can absolutely be worth doing. Admissions officers read and sift through hundreds, if not thousands, of applications every year, so this gives you a chance to set yourself apart.
Here’s how to prepare, what to expect, and how to ace your college interview:
Why do an interview?
It’s helpful to think about why you are doing an interview and what the interviewers are looking for. An interview is a valuable chance to share with the school what can’t always be seen on an application. It’s also a time to introduce your unique self, personally express your desire to go to that school, and provide verbal context if you had a challenging year or semester.
What are the interviewers looking for?
Interviewers want to get to know you and gain a sense of who you are beyond your test scores and grades; they want to know what motivates, interests, and excites you. They like to know how you have been engaged in the things that matter to you.
Interviewers look for honest, authentic answers. If you don’t know what major or career you want to pursue, it’s okay to say that. Just be yourself and work to reveal the characteristics that you want them to see. You may not know what you want to do, but it’s worth mentioning those topics you’re really passionate about and how you’ve pursued them thus far.
Lastly, interviewers also like to see a genuine interest in their school… do you know much about it? Can you articulate why you like it? Will you be involved in and take advantage of the experiences and opportunities available?
So, now let’s talk details:
First impressions matter.
Reply ASAP when you get an email or phone call to schedule an interview. Then, the day before your interview, send a confirmation email, and let the interviewer know you’re looking forward to it. This detail will not go unnoticed!
Be on time. Timeliness is a very important sign of respect.
If it’s virtual, ditch the distractions and take the interview in a quiet place. This means no cell phones, no barking dogs, no cats sitting on the keyboard or walking in front of the camera, no siblings coming in to yell at you, no parents coming in the room to wave “hi” and kiss you on the head, etc.
Your background shouldn’t be a mess. If you’re in your bedroom, don’t have a pile of dirty laundry and your hockey gear on your unmade bed behind you.
Double check your tech before the meeting. Make sure your audio is connected correctly and that your camera is working and shows a clear frame of your face.
Whether in-person or virtual, dress appropriately. You don’t have to be formal, but don’t wear an old T-shirt or a hoodie. Business casual is a good starting point. If you have to ask yourself, “Is this appropriate to wear on interview day?”….then it probably isn’t. You also do not need to wear a suit, so save yourself some money. Consider wearing khakis/slacks, mid-length skirts, sweaters, button-down shirts, blouses, and casual dress shoes. Don’t wear: jeans, sneakers, ripped clothes, tank tops, or flip flops (if it’s in-person). Try to dress comfortably. It’s also totally okay to let your personality shine through a little with small accents. Oh, and no heavy perfumes or colognes if you’re meeting face-to-face!
If you’re meeting in person at a coffee shop or other location, make sure to sit and stand up straight (we probably sound like your mom here, but honestly, it exudes confidence). Smile and act excited to be there, and make eye contact. Also, take the initiative and introduce yourself to the interviewer when you meet him/her (if the interviewer doesn’t do it first) and shake hands with the interviewer while making eye contact. Practice your handshake with friends or family beforehand.
Be prepared to answer (and ask!) questions.
Review the following common interview questions and practice answering them with family or a friend beforehand:
- What is your favorite/least favorite high school/current class? Why?
- Talk about your favorite book/movie/TV show?
- What have been the best/worst things about high school?
- What is one thing you would change about high school?
- Who do you consider a role model? Why?
- What is a failure or obstacle you have overcome?
- Why do you want to attend our school?
- How will you contribute to our school?
- What are you good at?
- What do you think makes a great leader?
- What is your proudest achievement so far?
- How would your friends describe you?
- What do you do for fun?
As a side note, many students wonder if they can or should bring up mental health struggles, learning differences, or other challenging life experiences. Here’s the scoop:
It’s okay to talk about these topics, but don’t focus on them. These things don’t define you, but they are part of your story. Sharing how you overcame a challenge or obstacle can demonstrate your determination and empathy for others. If you want to bring these topics up, don’t focus on simply what happened, but instead focus on how you’ve grown through the experience, how it shaped you, what you’ve learned, and/or informed your decisions, goals, direction, etc.
Most interviewers also ask why you want to go to their school. What do you like about it? Why is it a good fit?
Do your research ahead of time and be specific. (Avoid vague comments like, “I like the programs offered and the clubs.”) They know an abstract, non-specific answer when they hear one, and that will likely signal to them that their school is not your top priority. The most memorable students have the most concrete answers to their questions. If you visited, mentally bookmark some of your favorite parts of the campus or the tour. These kinds of small details can make you stand out to your interviewer
Make sure to discuss a blend of things you like about the school, from academics to particular research centers, extracurricular organizations, or even specific professors/labs. But focus less on how pretty the campus is (unless you add that on as a bonus), the location of the campus (unless you’re leveraging that answer to talk about how the location feeds into your research or extracurricular interests—like a public school system you want to volunteer in), or how nice the dorms are. These answers are cosmetic in nature, and most interviewers want you to say something more. Feel free to discuss these points, but after you establish your love for the school in more in-depth ways.
If you’re asked if you have any questions for the interviewer, the answer is always “yes!”—so prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer. These questions demonstrate the depth of your research and thus your interest in the school, and they help the interviewer learn what you value. Ask about the interviewer’s knowledge, experience, and opinions about the school. Also, be sure to tailor your questions depending on whether your interviewer is currently on staff or an alumni.
Here are a few examples of questions you could ask an alumni interviewer:
- What was your favorite experience when you were in school?
- What was your favorite class and why?
- What was it like living on campus?
- How much does the nearest town/city factor into student life?
- Ask about the interviewer's positive and negative experiences at the school.
Here are some additional examples of questions you could ask an admissions officer:
- What do you think the school does well, and where could it improve?
- What about the school makes you most proud?
- What kind of student would do well at this school?
- Are there people you don’t think would thrive there?
- If you could give one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would that be?
You should ask anything you are curious about, even if it seems silly or random. These are the questions that best show your personality and curiosity and can lead to interesting conversations.
A really big part of making sure your interview goes as well as possible is to practice beforehand. Ask your best friend, your cousin, or an independent college counselor to simulate an interview for you. Do one full run-through and have the mock interviewer give you feedback on what you did well and what you could work on. For instance, did your answers go on for too long? Did you talk too quickly? Did you fidget (SO common)? Now you know what to keep in check on interview day.
Don’ts for the interview:
Don’t ask about information that can easily be found on the website, such as, “How many students go to the school?”
Don’t ask purely “yes” or “no” questions that won’t lead to a meaningful discussion.
Don’t ask if your interviewer liked the school (they wouldn’t be an interviewer if they didn’t).
Don’t have a script or a prepared intro. This should be an organic conversation, so there’s no need to sound rehearsed. It’s totally okay to have notes—such as a short list of things you don’t want to forget—taped to the side of your screen.
Don’t give answers you think the interviewer wants to hear; they can tell.
Don’t try to use big words that you wouldn’t normally use or try to sound extra impressive. Just speak as you would naturally.
After it’s over:
After the interview, thank the interviewer for their time, and if you don’t have it, ask for their contact information so that you can send a thank you note or email within 24 to 48 hours. Thank the interviewer for what they shared with you about their own experience and perspective, and reiterate your interest in the school. And, if you have questions, you can ask them a couple of brief follow-up questions. Few people do this, and it goes a long way.
(If you get in and decide to attend, it’s also nice to reach out to them to tell them. They want to know!)
What happens next:
The interviewer will report back to the school what they learned about you and if they think you’d be a good fit. You want them to walk away from your interview thinking, this kid is interesting, inquisitive, resourceful, and excited about our school, and I know they’d be a great addition to the school’s community.
A note on nerves:
For some people, interviewing can be very awkward, scary, or uncomfortable. If you’re one of these people, know that this is common.
If you’re nervous, just show up and let the interviewer know this is hard for you. The fact that you’re there showcases a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone and do hard things. These are admirable qualities that colleges look for in prospective students. And, it lets them know that you really like that school and want to go there, so much so that you’ll do something this challenging. After a few minutes, most students are able to relax and have terrific conversations.
Take deep breaths, maybe keep some water nearby, think of this as a conversation, and tell yourself you can do this.
Finally, it’s important to remember that as much as you want to leave a good impression, your college interviewer wants to impress you, too, and leave you with even more excitement about their school. So, do your best to enter this conversation with sincerity, enthusiasm, and curiosity. Your awesomeness will surely shine through.
.png)
