Still, the general attitude among students who want to get into the most competitive schools seems to be that it can’t hurt. They want to take advantage of any oppor tunity to make a personal impression on the admissions staff, to show that they are more than just a set of test scores, that they have something special to offer. You may feel this way yourself.
However, if you really freeze up in such situations, you may want to consider skipping the interview rather than taking the chance of making a bad impression, which the interviewer is likely to remember. If you do decide to have an interview, be sure to prepare for it.
In some cases the interviewer will be more interested in evaluating you, comparing you with the kinds of stu dents the college likes to accept. He or she may want to know how your interests, abilities, personality, and goals match up with the college’s goals. The interviewer may be looking for that something special that you have to offer.
The following questions are among those often asked by college interviewers. Read them over and think of what your general approach would be to answering them. Some suggestions as to how to think about each question are included. Don’t have pat answers prepared; be ready for anything!
What kinds of self growth would you like to see in your self in the next four years. You might talk about learning to set goals, taking responsibility for yourself, learning about yourself as an individual and as a member of society, gain ing historical perspective about today’s world (if you’re terested in history), improving your communication trying out new ways of being and new ideas, learn ing to relate to people with different backgrounds, learning to take risks, or overcoming high school stereotypes starting over (or building on your past). Choose one or two specific goals and really think about them so that you speak honestly and intelligently about what you want expect.
If I visited your high school, what might I find as your in the community? This question gives the interviewer sense of what special qualities you could contribute to college community. Are you a person who simply to be a top student and doesn’t tend to get involved other activities? Do you like to focus your energy on one extracurricular activity, or do you participate in a of activities that represent different sides of you. Do you spend a great deal of time and energy on social activities? Are you a leader or a follower? Have afterschool jobs taken up much of your time? Have you been actively involved in student government?
What might your teachers say is your greatest strength as a person and as a student, and what are your weaknesses in each area? Be prepared to talk about your weaknesses as well as your strengths, but you might also mention how you have worked or hope to work to overcome such short comings. Are you a leader who sparks classroom discus sions? Or do you have ideas that you hesitate to express? Do you investigate subjects independently or do you stop at just completing your homework? Are you too indepen dent sometimes? Are you organized and disciplined? Do you tend to procrastinate or do you plan ahead? Try to remember both the positive and somewhat negative things that people have said about you, and be prepared to talk about changes and hopedfor changes.
What books or articles have you read in the last year that have had special meaning for you’ Never pretend to have read something you have not or claim that some thing was important to you if it was not. The best way to prepare for this question is to read and search for books and articles that really touch you in some way, that make you think about yourself and the world. See the reading list for suggestions.
What events or experiences in your life have been most crucial to you. ’ Do some serious thinking about an event or experience that has really changed your way of thinking. It might be something you did on your own or something you did with other people. It might be something in which you were actively involved or something you observed as a bystander. It might be a fleeting experience or one that has developed over a long period of time. It might be an intense interest of yours, a sudden recognition about someone or something familiar in your life, something that did not turn out the way you expected, a family crisis, an experience that tested you in new ways anything that has truly made a difference in your life. Try to be as spe cific as possible in your memories and to focus on how the experience influenced you.
What do you see as the good life for you twenty years from now? The interviewer wants to know about your goals and values, who you would like to become. What is your idea of success? Is having a home and family impor tant to you? Making a lot of money? Where would you like to live? How would you like to invest your time and en ergy? Do you see yourself behind a desk, climbing moun tains, working with people, working alone? Are change and variety more important to you than stability? If you could reach for a telephone and call anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Do you have a hero or heroine you admire? An author? Would you call a friend, an enemy:, A world leader? A great musician? Why? This question is another way at getting at what is most impor tant to you.
Last year we had ten thousand applicants and were able to accept only two thousand. Why should we accept you? This question can really hit you hard if you are not expect ing it. The interviewer is not trying to insult you, so do not take it personally. He or she is simply stating the facts and allowing you to make the best case you can for why you have something special to offer the college. What sets you apart from others? Do you have a special talent or inter est? Are you good with people? Are you a leader? Have you overcome a major handicap? Are you very independent? Have you assumed an unusual amount of responsibility for someone your age? Have you shown great initiative in setting up new activities or in setting up your own busi ness? Are you an athlete? Are you especially persistent? Loyal? Think hard about what you have to offer the col lege community.
Other similar questions: Have you ever thought of not goals to college and of what you might choose to do instead? Ifl asked your best friend to describe you, what would I hear? Describe your best friend. How do YOU see the role ofthe sttldent on campus and in the commtinity? What, in your opinion, is a college edtlcation?
Admissions directors say the most important thing to do in an interview is to be yourself. Remember, you will be interviewing the college at the same time the college is interviewing you. Some colleges actually use the inter view as a recruiting tool, a chance to persuade you to accept them. But be careful not to judge the school by how charming or obnoxious the interviewer is. Remember, even if you get into the school, you will probably never have any contact with the admissions department again, so do not let the interviewer change your overall positive or negative impression of a college.
Do not try to monopolize the conversation or have a “script in mind so that you are constantly manipulating the interviewer to talk about the topics you have re hearsed. Be prepared to talk about your accomplishments if asked, but do not rattle on and on about them. In gen eral, it is not a good idea to make lots of excuses for a poor record, but if there was some major handicap that held you back, now is the time to bring it up. Never lie about or exaggerate your accomplishments in an interview, but do know how to present yourself in the best possible way. Finally, if you ave seriously interested in the school, make sure your enthusiasm comes across, especially if the college is your first or second choice. Colleges like to accept students who are likely to accept their offer of admis sion.
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