How to Prepare for a College Interview

College interviews can be one of the most nerve-wracking milestones of the college admissions process. However, a college interview is also your chance to reveal your personality, impress the admissions officer, and get into your dream schools.

While it’s only natural to be nervous when standing in front of a college interviewer, taking the time to go over college interview questions, learning a few college interview tips, and attending a mock interview or two will help you control your emotions and be ready for what’s ahead.

College interview preparation can give you an edge over other students because the interviewer will be able to tell that you have been taking the college interview process seriously and you’re treating it with the professionalism and the respect it deserves.

From going over the most common college interview questions to taking notes about the little details that matter, like posture and handshakes, there are many tips you can follow to make sure you nail your college interview. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you succeed:

Schedule Your Interviews

You will probably have more than one college interview to prepare for, as you probably have your top choice schools and safety schools. Try to have your interviews with your last choices first. This strategy allows you to get used to the college admissions interviews and consolidates your college interview prep. It also allows you to become familiar with the types of questions that you may be asked.

By the time you get to your first choice interview, you will have some practice under your belt and a boost in self-confidence to help you manage your anxieties and build a strong answer strategy.

Research the School

Research is key if you want to impress the college admissions office with convincing answers. Make sure you know everything there is to know about the school you are interviewing for. Some of the questions might be directly related to the college itself and you want to show the interviewer that you have done your research.

If you have visited the school, make sure to mention this in the interview and state what you liked about the school. It wouldn’t hurt to also name a few professors to show that you have researched the school’s faculty.

You might also want to mention the specific program you are interested in. Try not to make generic statements as this shows you haven’t really invested time into the school. One bogus answer is enough for the university admissions officers to lose interest in your entire application.

Prepare for the Most Common Questions

Interview questions change from person to person so there is no exact way to tell what questions you will have to answer during your university admission interviews. However, there are some common practice interview questions you can base your preparation on.

Research these questions in advance and formulate detailed answers in your head. If by chance, you get asked the questions you have prepared for, make sure your answers will not sound too rehearsed. You want the interview to flow more like a formal conversation rather than an audition.

When trying to decide what to say in the interview, just write down a few of your main points. If you write down full answers, you risk memorizing them and then sounding like you are too rehearsed during the interview.

Interviewers can usually tell if you have memorized answers and they will most likely start asking more creative questions to get a better idea of your personality. This might prolong your interview and impact that first good impression you’re trying to make on the person conducting the interview.

Learn to Give Creative Answers

While not every interview will be the same, here are a few of the most common university interview questions you can expect:

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
2. What can you contribute to our campus?
3. Why do you want to attend our college?
4. What was your favorite subject in high school?
5. What do you want to study in college?
6. What are three interesting things about you that can’t be learned from your application?

They might also ask other basic questions to help them get to know you better. For example, they could ask what your favorite book is or what extracurricular activities you like to do.

Make sure to use your research when talking about why you want to attend their school. This is a great time to show that you know some of the professors or the activities the school has. When talking about what you can contribute to their campus, you can discuss some of your high school accomplishments and how they will roll over into your college years.

Many people get stuck on the qualities and biggest weaknesses question because they aren’t sure what weaknesses to talk about to avoid giving the wrong impression about their personality or looking bad in front of the admissions representatives. However, the best thing you can do is mention a weakness and then follow with how you manage it.

For example, you can say you struggle with science classes but that you always make sure to give yourself time for extra studying so that you can still succeed. Make sure to always be honest in your answers. Try to not be too nervous and just let yourself relax and talk about yourself.

Ask Your Own Questions

Even though the interview’s purpose is to get to know you, you can still ask your own questions. You can ask things about the school or you can ask how the school helps prepare freshmen for success and helps them position themselves on their desired career paths. This shows you are interested in getting to know the school and the person interviewing you better.

You can also ask questions about the academic programs you are interested in to get more information that can help you decide which school you want to go to.

Set Up Mock Interviews

It’s always a good idea to plan a few mock interviews before the real interview. Ask someone you are comfortable talking with such as a friend or family member. They can also give you advice on what to do better as well as identify any problem areas.

Working with a professional college coach is always a good idea. Morzep college coaches are familiar with the entire college application process and can help you increase your chances of admission.

Our college coaches can set up mock interviews to help you practice answering questions and give you personalized tips to better handle your emotions before the interview and when faced with unforeseen questions, as well as show you how to improve your communication skills and critical thinking skills.

We can help you navigate the college interview preparation and give you insights on every aspect, from the broader questions you can expect to get asked to the importance of eye contact, a firm handshake, and a correct posture. Working with a college interview coach is essential, especially for students who don’t feel comfortable talking to friends and family.

Final Thoughts

Your college interview is a way for colleges to get to know you better. It can help them determine if the college is a good fit for you. Make sure to always prepare and practice for your interviews. Try not to get too nervous and just think of it more as a friendly conversation.