The admission interview is outlined as one of the important factors that colleges look at before selecting high school graduates for enrollment, the National Association for College Admission Counseling reports. This is also a part of the admission process that school students struggle with.
College interviews can also be one of the most nerve-wracking milestones of the college admissions process. However, a college interview is your chance to reveal your personality, impress the admissions officer, and get into your dream schools. It’s just as important as the college essay, and a good interview can significantly increase your chances of admission.
As an applicant, you’ll have to go through an intense process, especially if you’re going for a popular college or you’d like to secure a good scholarship. Learning about the interview is a part of the application process that can help you ace the step and feel more confident.
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 when learning how to prepare for a college interview.
- Reasons why the interview is such an important part of the application process
- The best way to prepare for an upcoming interview
- Simple college interview tips that will help you succeed
- Common questions asked during the interview and how to answer those without sounding rehearsed
Let’s explore how to prepare for a college interview the smart way!
The Importance of the College Admission Interview
While the college application interview isn’t what determines the success of your candidacy, it’s definitely important. Through this interaction, admissions professionals get to discover additional details about your behavior in stressful situations, your communication skills, and your ability to provide relevant information upon request.
A college admission interview matters because:
- It provides a good picture of your communication skills.
- You’ll get to clarify or emphasize points you made in your application documents, the things that make you stand out.
- It is a three-dimensional approach to acquiring information about you (through the examination of soft skills, body language, eye contact, etc.).
- It delivers a chance to present your authentic self (chances are that you’re much more formal and edited on paper).
In a sense, you should be viewing the interview as an opportunity rather than a threat. Making a great impression and showing admissions professionals how passionate you are about your candidacy. Demonstrate your interest in the school, your passions, and your strengths. If you use the opportunity correctly, even something simple like talking about a hobby can help you stand out in the right way.
Additional Reading: Getting ready for college admission? Start early: Start with This Junior Year of High School Checklist and make the most of the available time.
Rule No. 1: 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 consolidate your college interview prep. It also allows you to become familiar with the types of questions that you may be asked.
Rule No. 2: Research the College Before the Admission Interview
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. Understand curricula, academic, and extracurricular strengths. You can even do some research on a famous alumnus to demonstrate attention to detail and a super profound interest.
Additional Reading: Visiting a college is a great way to prepare for the interview. Check out Creating an Effective College Visit Plan: Making the Most of Campus Visit Tours.
Rule No. 3: Prepare for the Most Common College Interview Questions
Certain questions tend to be asked more often than others during college admission interviews. Consider an interview preparation checklist like this one to get ready for typical inquiries:
- Why do you want to attend this university? This is your chance to show a good understanding of the program’s specifics and merits. You can also tie this information to your skills and academic successes in high school. Make sure the chosen reason is thoughtful and deep enough. Saying the college is great or that you like the location will only make you seem shallow.
- What makes you different from other candidates? Here, you have an opportunity to get really specific. Extracurricular activities, strong leadership skills (expressed through participation in clubs or competitions, for example), academic successes, volunteering work, and even personal projects can be mentioned here.
- What are your academic strengths and weaknesses? College admission officers want to get to know you as a student. Give them a detailed answer and don’t just say, “I’m good at math and I struggle with oral presentations.” Demonstrate confidence, but also acknowledge your weaknesses and your desire to work on them.
- Why do you want to major in X? Even if you’re not confident about the college major you’d like to pursue, you have to demonstrate a degree of self-awareness. Reputable colleges are looking for driven individuals who are ready to pursue a specific goal. The question is also used to find out whether your academic goal is properly aligned with the respective college’s curriculum.
- How will your friends describe you? This is the perfect opportunity to talk about your personality and not your academic background. Answer questions like this one honestly and openly. A bit of vulnerability and a focus on your soft skills are always a good idea.
- What achievement are you most proud of? With this question, interviewers are directing you towards your strengths. They’re also using it to get a better understanding of your values and priorities. Talk about a prize you won, the difference you made in someone’s life through volunteering work or a weakness you managed to overcome.
Practicing these common interview questions aloud in front of the mirror at home will help you deliver the most convincing delivery. Answering challenging questions on the spot can be very demanding, so the more you are prepared, the better you’ll feel during the big day.
At the same time, don’t memorize answers. Be sincere and honest, explain your position, try to think before saying anything, and focus on things you’re passionate about. Otherwise, you risk sounding like you’ve rehearsed excessively, and that’s never a good thing.
Rule No. 4: Ask Your Own Questions and Show You’re Interested
Do you have a list of questions to ask your college interviewer? Did you know that you can use interviews to have a conversation that also focuses on some of the things you’d like to learn?
Even though the interview’s purpose is to get to know you, you can still ask your own questions. You can ask questions 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.
Rule No. 5: 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.
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 and critical thinking skills.
How to Prepare for a College Interview: Smart College Interview Tips and Hacks
A bad university interview is the result of a few things – lacking confidence, being unprepared, and delivering the wrong kind of information (whether through your answers or behavior). To ace the college admission interview, you may want to check out our simple but highly effective college interview tips:
- Work on important admissions interview skills: Good communication, authenticity, confidence, preparedness, and critical thinking.
- Don’t overprepare: Having answers to the most common questions is a good thing. Overpreparing, however, can have a negative impact on your performance. Prepping too much in advance will make you sound rehearsed and cliché. A bit of spontaneity is always a good thing.
- Work on your body language and choose the right outfit: Attire is an important component of interview etiquette. Dress appropriately to show the interviewer you’re serious. You don’t have to be as formal as in the case of a job interview, but do leave the shorts, jeans, and flip-flops at home. As far as body language goes, work on confidence. A firm handshake is a good start. Make eye contact, smile, and take some time to form an answer that sounds convincing. You can use practice interview settings at home to address involuntary signs of stress or anxiety. When in doubt, breathe, think, and speak after a small pause. Such a little trick will allow you to regain your composure and overcome your weaknesses when the going gets tough.
- Be punctual: Nothing is more irritating for a busy professional than someone who doesn’t value their time. Always be punctual. Arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is even better, as you’ll have an opportunity to compose yourself and impress the interviewer.
- Be genuine: While there are certain ways to answer common questions, be genuine when responding. Trying to present the type of information you think interviewers want to hear will reduce the depth and substance of the communication.
- Show gratitude: Making it to the college admission interview is huge. Make sure the admission officers know how grateful and excited you are about the opportunity.
- Keep your answers short, sweet, and precise: Here’s one final tip for you – don’t ramble. If you need to, take a few seconds to think through the answer before responding. This approach works well when working on job interview skills, and it’s also appropriate for high school students.
You’ll find working with a professional college coach or counselor is always a good idea. Morzep college coaches are familiar with the entire college application process and can increase your chances of getting into college.
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.
Get in touch today and let’s ace your college interview!
Post Update: The article was updated on May 20th, 2025, and originally published on May 27th, 2022. It has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
