The College Admissions Interview

Some colleges require an interview before they accept people as new students. This can be a nasty surprise if you are unprepared for it, especially if you get nervous in new situations or while around authority figures. While you can prepare for a college interview, there will always be some level of the unknown. This is the case with all interviews because there’s no way to predict exactly what the interviewer will ask you and in what way they will ask it. Preparation comes in the form of practicing answers to questions that are most commonly asked during an admissions interview.

Common Questions

Before you go in for an admissions interview, have someone close to you help you prepare for the interview by asking you questions. Now, since colleges typically understand that this will be your first interview, ever, they’re not going to grill you on all the details. So long as you prepare, you should do just fine.

Some common interview questions include:

  • What do you want to major in?
  • Why have you selected this field of study?
  • Why do you want to go to this school?
  • How do you see yourself contributing to this school?
  • What is your favorite extracurricular activity?
  • What are some of your hobbies?
  • What is your favorite class?
  • What is your favorite book?
  • In what ways have you been a leader?
  • How do you see yourself participating on campus?

There are more questions you could practice, but these are the ones that are typically asked in admissions interviews. You see, it won’t be that bad!

How To Do Well

It’s easy to say don’t be nervous, but if you can, try not to be! The interview may be a bit nerve-wracking at first, but you have to know that the interviewers are not there to scare or intimidate you. Come prepared and you will do fine.

Here are some ways to knock the interview out of the park:

Be Yourself

You don’t have to put on an elevated manner of speech to impress the interviewers. In fact, admissions interviewers are much more interested in learning who you really are as a person, not who you think they want you to be. So, rather than trying to speak more formally than is natural for you, speak as you normally would speak to your parents or friends—omitting slang and “ums” and “like” whenever possible, of course. Try to think of the experience as a conversation rather than an interview. That way, you will contribute to it as though you were just talking to someone that’s inquiring about your life and you’ll be much more likely to provide candid and thoughtful answers.

Be Passionate

One of the worst things you can do for yourself during an admissions interview is to appear uninterested. You really need to be enthusiastic. After all, a college wants to accept students that are committed to their studies, are outgoing and that enjoy participating on campus. You’re not going to make them want you if you have the enthusiasm of a slug. Show passion for what you’re interested in and a genuine interest in the campus. Though, there is such a thing as going overboard on the enthusiasm as well. Try to find a nice balance between sluggish and over the top.

Don’t Memorize Your Answers

Even though it’s beneficial to practice your answers, you don’t want to practice them so much you memorize them. Memorizing your answers will make it so you answer in a monotone, boring voice. You’ll show no personality and appear over-rehearsed. It will also make it difficult for you to come up with answers on the fly, having merely memorized answers rather than becoming familiar with their meaning.