If you’re stressing about a college interview, take heart: Experts say these talks are an opportunity rather than another stressor in the college application process. Think of it as a chance for both parties to get to know each other better and gauge if there might be a potential fit.
“While an interview generally isn’t the make or break of an application, it certainly plays a role in reinforcing the candidate’s interests, experience, and passions while also showcasing their knowledge of the school,” said Ian Mullane, senior mentor at Command Education, a top college admissions consulting company based in New York City.
The main types of college admission interviews are alumni interviews and admission officer interviews. Regardless of the interview format, Mullane stressed that such meetings provide an opportunity to add additional insight into your candidacy beyond the personal statement, essays and resume you’ve submitted.
In most cases, most interviews these days happen after you apply, said Cindy Chanin, founder and director of Rainbow Education Consulting & Tutoring in Los Angeles, Calif. “Usually, you don’t request an interview — the school will reach out to you if they would like to interview you,” she said. “Sometimes students think if they don’t get an interview, they won’t get in. That’s not true at all.”
First, a brief primer on what to expect.
“The most common college interview will be an alumni interview, where the student will answer questions from an alumni volunteer who will later submit a report back to the school,” said Mullane. “The goal is to have the report complement your overall application and profile.”
The other type of interviews are those with admission officers. These are less common, said Mullane.
Last but not least, informational interviews may take place at college info sessions hosted at your school or elsewhere. These are not something you’ll be evaluated on, but rather an opportunity for you to suss out more intel about the institution and get a sense of what the school has to offer academically and in terms of extracurriculars. Here are some tips for each:
1. Rehearse ‘til you burst
“While the college interview may be categorized as optional, we always advise our students to take advantage of this valuable opportunity,” shared Laurie Kopp Weingarten, CEP, president and co-founder of One-Stop College Counseling, which specializes in working with high-performing students, based in Marlboro, NJ. “Engaging with a college representative through an interview allows you to convey your genuine interest in the school,” she continued, noting that doing so increases your desirability as an applicant.
That is, if you prepare. And prepare. And then prepare some more.
“Practice. Prepare a few go-to answers for likely questions and rehearse at home until you feel comfortable speaking naturally without notes,” said Jake Beckman, founding partner, SLB Education Consultants, in Scarsdale, NY. Beckman further commented that you should also be sure to do your research about the school — nothing looks worse than seeming unprepared.
Case in point: “We’ve had students state that they want to study a particular major (business, engineering) at colleges that don’t offer those majors, or they can’t wait to attend football games at schools where there is not a football team,” shared Kopp Weingarten.
Thankfully, these faux pas happened at mock interviews her firm runs. So, yeah, don’t skip a run-through or eight.
Mullane advised that the best way to prepare for the college interview is to anticipate questions that will most likely be asked and craft responses. A good place to start is with the inevitable “Why our school?” and “Why do you want to study your major?”.
“You should think about these questions and develop answers to them in a Word document,” said Mullane. Then, Mullane suggested practicing delivering your answers in front of a mirror in a way that sounds conversational. “I encourage students to record themselves to assess how they sound,” he said. “Show these recordings to your friends and family, asking them if you sound like your normal self. If the answer is ‘no’—you need to be more natural.”
For extra credit interview prep points, Mullane has another genius tip: Perform mock interviews with individuals whom you don’t know. This way, you’re less comfortable, which will help simulate the actual interview with the school representative, he said.
2. Know your elevator pitch
“Be able to tell your own personal story in one way or another — from your background to your academic experience to your plans for the future,” said Beckman. “You will absolutely be asked about this in some way, and it’s best to know what you’re going to say before you have to say it.”
Riffing on that, Chanin shared that “understanding your own superpowers as a student and an applicant is incredibly important to the interview process.”
That’s why she recommended contemplating these interests of yours before going into your interview. “Get giddy and excited to share your ideas,” she continued, noting that the more effusive you are about the ideas and projects that light you up, the better understanding an interviewer will have of you.
3. Be true to you
Be yourself. It’s a cliché for a reason.
“In a world where we can carefully craft our image on social media, authenticity is your best asset when it comes to the interview,” said Mullane. “A common mistake students commit is trying to impress the interviewer with exaggerations or falsifying their interests because they think it’ll ‘sound better.’”
If asked the oh-so-common “what are your hobbies?” question, Mullane said you don’t have to say you research Einstein’s theories or deduce Kant’s categorical imperative in your spare time. “It’s perfectly acceptable to mention your favorite Netflix show or your love for the outdoors. In fact, the more authentic the answer, the better,” he said. “Remember: most interviewers have gone through the process themselves and are attuned to recognizing inauthenticity.”
4. Stay poised and polite
Some basic etiquette goes a long way. Among other common sense formalities, Kopp Weingarten reminds prospective students to show up for on time for interviews (virtual or in-person), don’t underdress, don’t chew gum and don’t bring the parents. (“Hard to imagine, but it happens,” she said.)
Afterwards, don’t forget to e-mail a thank-you note, and let them know a handwritten note will follow.
If your interview is taking place virtually, some proper protocols include charging your computer; cleaning the camera lens; turning off email notification sounds; making sure the light source is in front of you, not behind you; avoiding wearing a color that blends into the background; not having a mess behind you, said Kopp Weingarten. The college admissions’ guru also suggested placing a “do not disturb sign” on your door so nobody enters the room during your interview.
Remember that being polite doesn’t mean you have to sound like a robot. Mullane cautioned that many students come off as overly rehearsed when answering questions. “While you should rehearse questions, practice sounding natural as if you were having a conversation,” he said, adding that for online interviews, make sure you don’t read directly off a notes page as “it’s incredibly embarrassing and easily apparent to the interviewer.”
Again, be as conversational as possible while still maintaining professional etiquette. “Don’t be afraid to play off the interviewer and interject when appropriate. If you have a question—ask!” said Mullane. “Most candidates wait until the end to ask their questions. The more natural and interactive the interview, the better.”
5. It’s not all about you
You want to take as much interest in the person who is interviewing you as you hope they would take in you. Do research,” said Chanin. “Ask thoughtful questions that you can’t just Google. Find out where they went to college, take interest in their academic and professional life, and take interest in the school itself. Admissions reps are looking for interesting and interested students.”
To that point, Chanin said that it is always useful to ask questions about the school you are applying to that will instigate deep conversation. “For example, ask about initiatives that are in development at the institution, or ask about recent academic trends that the admissions rep has noticed — what kinds of majors are students gravitating towards? Who are some exciting professors currently working at the school?” Another great question, said Chanin, is inquiring if any new programs are coming to fruition over the next four years.
6. Find your bond
“Even if you don’t share an esoteric hobby with your interviewer, you will likely have more in common as human beings than you think,” said Chanin. “If you find those commonalities and lean into them, you will have a fantastic interview.”
It’s not always automatic, but don’t be discouraged.
“Like an actor, you want to pay attention and react to what the interviewer is giving you,” said Chanin. “Some interviewers won’t show a lot of emotion. Even if they aren’t giving you anything to work with, talk about what delights you with enthusiasm and humor.”
