For our third and final installment of our Path to Acceptance series, we wanted to focus on the college interview. The college interview can be an important part of the acceptance process, as it is a chance for you to speak outside the confines of the application box and reveal aspects of yourself not readily seen from the application itself.
Some colleges require an interview, in which case you will often be contacted by an alum who lives in your hometown. At other schools, such as St. Mary’s, the interview is an optional but recommended part of the application process. We suggest that you try and schedule interviews at each of the schools that you plan on applying to during the fall of your senior year.
Already scheduled your interview? Here are some tips to make the best of it:
1. Dress comfortably but professionally.
This may seem completely obvious, but sometimes you have a combined visit with an interview and tour, so you need to be comfortable to walk around campus. On the other hand, it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. You know how they say to dress for the job you want, not the one you have? Dress for the college student you want to be, not the high school student that you are.
2. Turn off your phone. Please.
Or just leave it in the waiting room with your family. Enough said.
3. Be prepared to brag about yourself!
We know that it can be uncomfortable to brag about yourself, but this is the time to do it! Admissions counselors are looking for students with certain strengths and characteristics that would fit in well at their institutions, and the interview is one way for them to find out what yours are. What is your greatest academic strength? What are your best qualities? Have lots of volunteer experience? Are you a sports star? Written the Great American Novel already? Tell us about it!
4. Be honest about your shortcomings.
You should also be ready to own up to any shortcomings, academic or otherwise. Not so great at math? It’s okay to admit that. Wish you had taken harder classes your sophomore year? It’s okay to admit that too. Admissions counselors will run into those things in your application anyway, so it’s best to get everything out in the open now.
5. Come ready to answer questions about the following topics:
class schedule, academic interests, summer activities, community service, dream college characteristics, standardized tests, career goals, and extracurricular activities
Any of these topics are fair game in an interview. Make sure you have at least a few talking points for each. We want to see that you have thought critically about your future and what you want in a college. Oftentimes, the interview is also a good place to expand upon any of your internships, jobs, clubs, or meaningful volunteer experience.
6. Have a handful of questions for the interviewer.
^^and that one doesn’t count! Besides being a time for admissions to learn more about you, interviews are also a time for you to get real answers about some of the questions you might have about the college. If you have a specific program or major that you’re interested in, this is the perfect time to ask more about it. Have food allergies? Have a question about the dorms? Want college essay advice? Feel free to ask away at the end of the interview!
Hopefully the above tips will make you feel more confident when going into a college interview. Remember, the interview is just one part of the application process, but it can really be a place for you to shine. Good luck!
The Yellow Brick Path 