The key to a great college interview? Making sure that you come across as a bright, talented, and accomplished student worthy of attending your college of choice! If that sounds just slightly overwhelming – that’s where we come in! Here are tips to help you shine during your college interview!
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Practice makes Perfect! You might want to have some idea of what you’ll say – without sounding too rehearsed! Go over potential questions and answers with a parent or friend. Think about your response before rushing in and rambling out an answer – your interviewer will appreciate it! Common questions include:
Why do you want to go to our school?
What do you hope to get out of your college experience?
What is your biggest high school accomplishment?
What are your interests and hobbies?
Which five famous people, dead or alive, would you invite to a dinner party? Why?
Oops. Did you receive poor grades during sophomore year because you were dealing with major life events like a serious illness or parents’ divorce? This is the perfect opportunity to explain why your test scores or GPA aren’t as high as they might otherwise be. If any extenuating circumstances have negatively affected your high school performance, explain them! Keep it brief and professional – you don’t need to go into great detail.
Dress for Success. Most college students don’t exactly dress up for class—but you’re not there yet! Dress a cut above so that you can make an excellent first impression. You can probably skip the business suit, but for guys – you may want to break out the khakis and a button-down shirt and girls: think nice top and slacks or a skirt. Stay away from jeans, shorts, baggy or torn pants, and anything too tight or revealing.
Phony Baloney! Students sometimes get so worked up and nervous over college admission interviews that they stick to pre-rehearsed responses to questions – and way too many “yes” and “no” type answers! That makes for a boring interview – for both of you! It’s awesome to be prepared but the admissions officer wants to see who you are. Don’t be afraid to tell an entertaining (and true!) story that reveals your personality and interests. Just, please, don’t share anything you wouldn’t be comfortable telling your grandparents.
How about a little Q & A? Psst! This interview isn’t just for the admissions officer! Shocking, we know. But an interview works both ways. Sure, your interviewer will have questions for you but it’s okay for you to have questions, too. In fact – it’s a wonderful way to show your interest in the school – and learn a little something in the process!
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- To be or Not to Be: The College Interview
- Avoid These 5 Costly College Interview Mistakes
- What You Should Wear To A College Interview?
- Factors of College Admission or How to Get Into Your Dream School
- Five Tips For Acing the PLAN Test.
Tags: college admissions, college admissions interview, college admissions panel, college admissions process, college alumni, college decision, College Interview, college interview process, Preparing for College, tips
