How to Prepare for a College Interview
Topics to reflect on:
Things to research:
The school
A final note: ask questions!
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How Should You Prepare for Your College Interview?
You’ve scheduled your first college interview - you’re meeting them at a local cafe, at the school during a campus tour, or even on Zoom. You might be nervous, but you want to make a good impression because you know this can help you get into your dream school. Have no fear: this guide will take you through everything you need to do before the interview to be fully prepared!
Topics to Reflect On:
Your strengths and weaknesses
You can expect that your interviewer will likely ask you to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. In preparation for this, try to pick a time in your life when you faced adversity and had to overcome it through effort and determination. This could be anything, from having difficulty in a certain class or with a particular assignment to a significant hurdle in your personal life - just identify the steps that you took to solve the problem. Ultimately, if you can demonstrate determination and problem-solving skills, then you have done yourself two massive favors!
Your academic interests
The interviewer will likely ask you if you know what you plan to study when you start college. You do not have to know your intended major, nor will the interviewer expect you to know it, but consider topics that you enjoy most and why you love them and prepare to talk about them. This is exactly what they will be looking for. For our Executive Director, during her Haverford interview she spent a good chunk of time just talking about why she loved math, and the interviewer fully appreciated her passion and drive as a student.Your extracurricular activites and hobbies
Your interviewer will want to get to know all of you, not just the part of you that relates to school. You can be sure that they will ask you to talk about what you like to do outside of the classroom and this is your time to talk about whatever it is that you love. Consider your hobbies and why, and prepare to talk about them. This can be the most enjoyable part of an interview, since you are talking about your interests. Don’t worry about boring the interviewer; if your passion is genuine, it will show and they will appreciate it.Things to Research:
The school
One question you are guaranteed to be asked is why you want to go to this school: what drew you and why you think that you would be a good fit. Although you don’t want to overly plan and script your response to this (or any other question) and sound disingenuine, you should definitely give it some thought. Make a list of 5 - 10 facts about the school or programs within the school and pick three talking points that you might use in your answer - it will show that this is not just another school on your list. (As an added benefit, this can help you figure out if you even want to go there in the first place! Even if you are already dead-set on this school, it can only help to further validate this assuredness.)The academic programs
If you know what you want to study, or even if you are just interested in a topic, take a look at the classes offered in that department and the professors who teach them. Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors and ask questions about the department or even to ask if you might sit in on a class to get a feel for the classroom setting. This way, you can talk even more directly about your academic interest in the school.A final note:
Ask questions
At the end, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions about the school that they can answer. In preparation for this, make a list of potential questions before the interview. Making a list is a sign that you have put a lot of thought into the interview and into the school as a whole. Some potential questions include:
How many students are in a typical class?
What is the study abroad program like? (Great question especially if the interviewer mentions his/her/their study abroad experience!)
What are the professors like?
Does your school have any traditions that you enjoy?
Asking questions shows that you are interested in the school beyond a superficial level; it shows that you care enough to ask. For that matter, this applies to any interview you may have in life, whether it’s for college or, later on, for a job!
With these tips, you’ll be fully prepared to present yourself in the best possible light and ready to answer any questions that come your way. With careful forethought, you’ll sound like a confident and capable candidate for admission! For more information on what to expect in your interview, stay tuned. Coming soon: “5 Tips to Nail A College Interview!”
