College Interview Tips

WRITTEN BY JOANNA O’LEARY

First, a word, or disclaimer — my credentials with regard to giving advice on college interviews are derived from being on both sides of the table. For 15 years, I served as an alumna interviewer for my Ivy league undergraduate institution whose name I will not officially disclose but whose official color is crimson and mascot is a pilgrim. Capeesh? Prior to that, I myself completed three interviews for said aforementioned institution and secured admission when the acceptance rates were historically low (11%). From that personal experience and then in the course of interviewing dozens of (mostly) extremely qualified candidates for some very coveted spots in the freshman class, I have learned a few things about how to approach college interviews. 

Prepare Ahead of Time

Before the interview, prepare answers for all those standard questions you are likely to be asked. These include but are not limited to: “Why do you want to go to this college?”; “What contributions or unique experiences would you bring as a member of the freshman class?”; “What is a significant challenge or obstacle you have faced?”; and “Describe an accomplishment of which you are proud.”

Someone wiser than me who also is a seasoned interviewer once said nailing any interview is a matter of matching your great life stories with the appropriate questions. To that end, go to the college interview with an arsenal of anecdotes that illustrate your best traits, noteworthy scholarly achievements, and life experiences. If possible, do at least two mock interviews with a trusted friend or family member and solicit their honest feedback. 

Colleges are as diverse as their applicants, but in general, admission counselors are looking for students who are intellectually curious, serious about committing to higher education, and who will make contributions to student life. They like to see candidates who excel inside and outside the classroom and who have extracurricular pursuits in various forms (football! painting! bee-keeping! volunteering!). However, being a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none is not as good as being “well lop-sided,” i.e., having a few selected passions and pursuing them vigorously. 

Dress the Part

When it’s time for the actual interview, first, dress the part: formal is always better though no need to go over the top (i.e., cocktail dresses and tuxedos). Business suits with well-chosen jewelry (less is more) work well for the gamut (guys, gals, and our nonbinary brethren). It should go without saying, but attend the interview by yourself. Do not bring your one or both of your parents, your best friend, or your dog (unless it’s a support animal). Also, do not think your interviewer will not notice if your mother is “casually” seated at an adjacent table looking on.

Meet & Greet Tips

Arrive early and greet your interview with a firm handshake (a ‘dead fish’ grip suggests you are unenthusiastic) and a hearty hello (“Nice to meet you!”) while looking him/her/them straight in the eye. Your interviewer is likely to return the favor and follow-up with something akin to, “How are you today?” Answer only in the positive (“Great, thank you”) even if you are so nervous you could cry or (as in the case of one of my interviewees) your boyfriend has dumped you minutes before by text message. A college interview is not a therapy session nor is it your time to unload your pet peeves, pedestrian health issues (“I’ve got this wart…”), etc.  

Over the course of the interview, maintain good eye contact, speak slowly and carefully, and try not to ramble. Never clap back to a challenging query with “That’s a good question.” The interviewer knows it’s a good question and that response makes it look like you’re stalling. Which you probably are. Instead, take a breath and think; there’s no shame in pausing a beat or two before answering a tough question.

Be Ready with Questions

At the conclusion of the interview, the interviewer will likely ask if you have any questions. You always should have questions prepared. There are dumb questions you can ask, many in fact, but for the scope of this article let’s focus on the ones regarding the institution or program to which you are applying that can easily and readily be answered by cursory research and/or search engine queries. Examples include: how much is the tuition? How many students are from out of state? I once had an interviewee ask if the university was co-ed. Not only did this tell me she had done little to no research but it also cast doubt on her so-called “great interest” in the school. If you are so smitten with a particular college, you should want to learn more about it.  

A good question is one that demonstrates your knowledge of the school and delves into greater detail not readily apparent from the promotional materials. For example, if the school’s study-abroad program has attracted your eye, read all available materials associated with that program and identify the gaps in information. Perhaps, there’s little information (and this is often the case) about how credits from the partner university transfer to your home university (and vice versa), or statistics regarding post-graduate job placement rates for students who opt for these experiences. 

Fake It Til You Make It

Finally, you may not feel confident in your candidacy but in the words of Kurt Vonnegut (a college dropout, btw), “We are who we pretend to be.” Walk the walk and talk the talk of a qualified applicant, i.e., emulate the person you strive to become… and you will. 

When the interview is over, give the interviewer another firm handshake and thank him/her/them for the opportunity. Do not linger and do not follow them to their car (this also happened to me and it was, as you might expect, very off-putting). Within 24 hours, send the interviewer an email (or even better — a hand-written note) reiterating your gratitude and providing any additional materials requested. 

Don’t beat yourself up if you think the interview went fine and you are not admitted. It probably did. College admissions are very competitive and sadly, sometimes completely inscrutable. What you did (or did not) in the years leading up to your application have a far greater impact in the long run than the hour you spent in the interview.