College Interview Questions and Tips

Through much of the college application process, you are defined by your hard numbers—GPA, class rank, ACT or SAT score, number of rigorous courses taken, performance on AP exams, and so on. The virtual college admissions interview presents an opportunity to show off your less tangible attributes, that certain je ne sais quoi unique to you; your verve, your emotional intelligence, your older-than-your-years presence, your real-life equivalent of a Hollywood Q Score. Of course, in order to let these one-of-a-kind qualities shine through, you’ll need to have all of the basics covered first as you ready yourself for an in-person or Zoom interaction with representatives from your prospective schools. The intent of this blog is to examine common college interview questions and offer tips to prepare so that a question as simple as “Tell me about yourself” doesn’t end up causing you to stumble.

For many applicants, the prospect of meeting face-to-face (even virtually) with an admissions officer can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. With good preparation and a sound understanding of the process, you can ace your interview and leave a positive, lasting impression on your potential colleges. Here’s what you should know about the college interview:

1. Schedule your interview early.

Since appointments tend to fill up quickly, especially during the height of application season, you should schedule an interview with your prospective school’s admissions office as early in the cycle as a given school will allow.

2. Meet with your rep.

If offered an admissions interview, request to meet with the representative who is assigned to your high school or region, as he or she will most likely be the one evaluating your application.

3. Know your school.

Here’s an important college interview tip: peruse your prospective school’s website, particularly the pages of the site that focus upon your areas of interest. Learn about the courses, professors, and extracurricular activities from which you would benefit if offered admission. If you can demonstrate knowledge of the college’s offerings, your admissions officer is more likely to regard you as a serious and genuinely interested candidate.

4. Prepare to answer a variety of college interview questions.

Before the interview, make sure to obtain a copy of your transcript, your resume or student activities sheet, and a list of any standardized test scores. This information will allow your admissions representative to realistically assess your chances of admission, as well as offer any advice that he or she may have on how to improve your application.

During the interview, be prepared to discuss your courses, your extracurricular experiences, and your reasons for applying to the college. Be specific! Here are some common college interview questions that you may encounter:

• So, what sparked your interest in our college?
• What classes, programs, or activities at our college excite you the most?
• Any particular major you’re interested in pursuing at our college? Why is that?
• What’s been the most important extracurricular activity to you in high school? Why?
• What have you liked most about your high school?
• If you could change one thing about your high school what would it be?

College Interview Questions (Continued)

• What subject do you enjoy most?
• What has been your most challenging course during high school? How did you cope with/overcome the challenges associated with this course?
• What do you consider your proudest achievement so far?
• What do you like to do for fun?
• How would you friends describe you?
• What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

5. Prepare to ask your own college interview questions.

Another interview tip: come to the interview with several questions of your own that will help you to learn more about the college and simultaneously demonstrate to your rep that you have done your college research.  Here are some common college interview questions that you might consider asking:

• How does the college help students secure employment and/or prepare for graduate school?
• Could you talk about the advantages associated with being part of the college’s alumni network?
• If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would that be?
• How does your college differ from other comparable colleges?
• What type of career services are available?
• Where do students land internships?
• Is it possible to participate in undergraduate research?

6. Practice makes perfect.

If possible, attempt to simulate the conditions that you will encounter on interview day.  Solicit help from a friend or relative who is willing to play the role of interviewer. This person should also be comfortable enough to critique your performance. Finding a good practice partner will enable you to discover and subsequently improve upon weaknesses in your interview technique.

College Interview Questions (Continued)

As you practice responding to the above questions, avoid the temptation to memorize or script your answers. The best interviews proceed like a good conversation, so be yourself and be sincere.

7. Remember etiquette, even on Zoom.

When the big day arrives, make sure you’re on time to your virtual platform. Dress appropriately (at least from the waist-up), have a clean (or at least appropriate) background for video chat, and maintain eye contact throughout the meeting. Presentation is also key to a successful interview.

8. Troubleshoot technology ahead of time.

After so many months of living through the coronavirus pandemic, you are likely all too familiar with every virtual communication platform on the planet. However, it’s still a good idea to double-check your ability to log in as well as your audio settings and camera settings prior to the meeting. Think of it as the modern-day equivalent of looking in the mirror one last time and popping a breath mint before entering a physical room (remember those?). The last thing you want is to be ten minutes late because you couldn’t remember if the special character in your Zoom password was an exclamation point or whatever the heck the “^” sign is.

9. Send a thank you note.

After the interview, take the time to send your interviewer a brief thank you note that reiterates your interest in the college as well as appreciation for their time.

Final Thoughts — College Interview Tips

If your prospective college(s) offer interviews as part of the admissions process, you should jump at the opportunity. It’s also important to realize that your admissions rep is just as anxious to impress you as you are to impress her. So, relax and use your college interview as an opportunity to enter into great conversation and learn a bit more about your prospective school. If you do, your intangible awesomeness is certain to shine through.