After all of the hard work you put into your Common App, essay, and supplements, it’s easy for the college interview to feel like an afterthought. And it’s true that, traditionally, the interview was among the less important aspects of your college application. But in 2020, with many students’ school transcripts and SAT/ACT testing disrupted, the interview has taken on a new importance in the college admissions process. Below, we dive into the most important things to know as you prepare for a successful interview.
1. College Interview 101
What do college applicants need to know about the interview process? In this video, we discuss the purpose of college interviews, different interview types, and strategies for scheduling.
The college interview is a part of the application process at many schools across the United States. Interviews act as a supplement to all of the written materials applicants submit, allowing colleges to get to know an applicant better and to see whether the real-life student lives up to the person they see on paper.
It’s a chance for students to talk about the things they are passionate about, to share what makes them unique, and to demonstrate their interest in attending a particular school. It’s also an opportunity for students to ask questions about a college that they were unable to answer through other research.
Traditionally, interviews have been one of the least important parts of a college application. In a usual admissions cycle, a student’s grades and course load are the most important factors in admissions decisions, followed by test scores. This year, however, many students’ academic transcripts have been disrupted due to school closures and the patchy rollout of remote learning. And with all colleges going test-optional, many students won’t submit test scores, either. This means that the relative importance of the interview has increased as schools seek to compensate for the lack of data elsewhere. As a result, this year it is doubly important to take advantage of the opportunity to interview if available as well as to put real effort into preparation.
Types of interview:
- Alumni. Alumni interviews are fairly common among larger and more prestigious universities, including the Ivy League, and usually take place with an alum who lives in your region.
- Admissions Rep. Interviews with an admissions representative are usually more significant than other interview types. Your interviewer will be evaluating you and their comments can hold real weight in admissions decisions.
- Current student. Interviews with current students usually hold less weight in your admissions decision, but they can be very helpful nevertheless since they provide you with an opportunity to speak with somebody who has their finger on the pulse of campus life.
Tip: if you are interviewing with an alum or an admissions rep, do some research on them before the interview takes place. Doing so will help to guide your preparation and might direct you to some interesting questions you can ask your interviewer.
Scheduling
As you come to scheduling your college interviews, try to be strategic. If possible, start with the schools at the bottom of your list and work your way up to your first choice. By the time you’re interviewing with your top school, you’ll feel more comfortable, confident, and ready to deliver your best performance.
Don’t worry if you are not offered an interview. Even at the best of times, many schools find it tricky to arrange interviews for every applicant. If this is the case, it will not disadvantage your application.
However, if you are given the option to interview, take it! It shows that you are genuinely interested in attending the school, and in a very competitive applicant pool, the interview can give you the extra advantage you need to pull ahead of other candidates.
Remember that you may be responsible for booking an interview slot proactively. Don’t rely on the college to prompt you and know that interview spots may be limited.
2. Know the School’s Priorities
As you prepare for your college interviews, it is important to think about which qualities each particular school is looking for. In this video, we outline the factors to consider.
So how can students prepare for a successful interview? It starts with knowing what kinds of candidates each particular school is hoping to attract. You might get a feel for this from school’s informational or promotional materials: Which words or ideas keep coming up as they describe their current students? What do the admissions officers say they are looking for? What can you learn from the colleges’ supplemental application questions?
Once you have a sense of the school’s desired applicant profile, try thinking about how you personally demonstrate these traits, in terms of your intellectual interests and achievements, extracurriculars, personal qualities, engagement in your community, and so on.
All schools want candidates who can demonstrate a strong and informed interest in their institution. Find out what makes the school special and be prepared to talk about the specific aspects that appeal to you. For instance:
- Why are you applying to this school in particular?
- What makes this school special? (For example, perhaps you are passionate about the history of the Russian revolution and the foremost scholar on this period teaches at this university. If that’s the case, say so.)
- What do you plan to contribute to this school, specifically? (This might be a particular extracurricular group you hope to join, a service project you wish to become involved with, an academic program you want to apply to, etc.). Remember to express not only why the school is a good match for you, but also why you are a good match for the school.
Avoid generic statements about why you are applying, e.g. “I want to study with professors at the top of their fields.” If what you are saying could easily apply to another school of the same caliber, it’s probably not worth saying.
Interviewer Worksheet
When you do an admissions interview, you might notice your interviewer taking notes. This is because the interviewer must email a report on the interview to the admissions committee. Our sample interviewer worksheet gives you a sense of what your interviewer will be reporting back to the college. Take a close look to get a better sense of what you need to prepare.
3. Know Yourself Well
To keep the conversation flowing in your college interview, it helps to go in with a clear understanding of your key admissions “selling points.” In this video, we discuss what this means in practice.
After you have identified what the colleges on your list are looking for, it’s time to ensure that you know yourself. To help you talk about yourself articulately and persuasively in the interview, it is useful to engage in some structured self-reflection.
- As a starting point, try asking yourself the following questions:
- My strongest academic subjects are _____
- Specific examples of my academic success are _____
- My demonstrated extracurricular interests are _____
- For my college major, I am considering _____
- Why? Think deeply about why you find the major(s) interesting, where you hope they will take you, which experiences provoked your interest in the subject(s), and so on.
- In the future, I see myself working as a _____
- I am enthusiastic about _____I addressed an academic weakness or challenge by _____
- My friends say the most unique or best thing about me is _____
- A unique accomplishment of mine involves _____
- I’m proud of the time that I _____I really care about _____
- A common denominator to my academics and activities is _____
- In college, I would really like to _____
- I chose the particular activities I participated in because _____
- My goals for the future include _____
Next, select your five strongest “selling points.” These should be targeted to each specific school as much as possible. They are your biggest accomplishments, and they are reasons why you would contribute to life at your targeted school. During the interview, you want to respond to the questions asked while weaving in your five selling points.
4. Anticipate the Questions
Nobody wants to feel caught out in their college interview. In this video, we explain how to anticipate and prepare for the questions your interviewer is most likely to ask.
We have prepared an extensive list of sample questions that you might encounter. Try to answer these questions for yourself, finding ways to incorporate your five top selling points wherever possible.
We recommend that you do not write out full answers; instead, jot down the main points you would like to cover in your answer. This will encourage you not to simply memorize your responses, which might cause you to sound robotic in the interview. Remember, your interviewer is a real person and wants the interview to be a conversation.
Often, your interviewer will ask purposefully open-ended or vague questions. This is to encourage you to share information about yourself—to give you a chance to explain yourself and your experiences. If you are asked a closed-ended question (i.e. a question that leads to a simple yes/no response), be prepared to explain your answer and to offer additional pertinent information. In general, you should avoid giving one-word responses to interview questions.
5. Tips for Virtual Interviews
Increasingly, college interviews are taking place over videoconference rather than in person. In this video, we provide our top tips for succeeding in a virtual interview format.
First and foremost: a virtual interview is no less important than an in-person interview and you should treat it just the same. Dress up, do your preparation, and take it seriously. With that in mind, let’s move on to our top virtual interview tips:
Get your tech in order
- Make sure that you are familiar with the technical requirements of the interview well in advance:
- Which video platform will you use? If you have to install any software or plugins, do so in advance and test it on the day of your interview to ensure it is working.
- Test that your webcam and microphone are functioning correctly.
- Ensure that you have a stable internet connection.
- Ideally, conduct the interview on your computer. Mobile devices may be less reliable.
- Make sure that your online accounts don’t have inappropriate usernames or profile pictures.
- Have a backup plan in case the technology fails. This may be as simple as providing your phone number to the interviewer in advance. Check to see if the college or individual interviewer has specified a particular backup plan.
Prep your shot
- Try to find a space with a clean, neutral background that will not distract your interviewer. Make sure that nothing inappropriate or embarrassing is in shot.
- Make sure that you are well-lit. If possible, try to face a window and make the most of natural light.
- Set up your webcam so that your head and shoulders are centered in the camera’s view. You may want to try propping your laptop up on a stack of books.
- Be careful with clothing, as certain colors and styles can cause camera issues. Avoid dense, repeating patterns, which may produce a distracting moiré effect. Similarly, skip all-white, bright red, and all-black outfits, which may cause problems with exposure.
Find a private space free from distractions
- Avoid public and communal spaces where you could be interrupted and have less control over background noise.
- If you are taking the interview at home, make sure that everybody in the house knows to be quiet and not to disturb you.
- Turn off notifications on your computer and mobile devices. Shut down all other programs on the device from which you are running the interview software.
- Choose somewhere with a power outlet nearby and plug in your device.
Stay cool and focused
- Be friendly, engaged, and enthusiastic, just like you would during an in-person conversation.
- Maintain eye contact with the camera and try not to stare at the screen.
- Try to avoid fidgeting, swiveling in your chair, or making distracting gestures, such as covering parts of your face.
Looking for more guidance?
Our admissions experts can help you prep, run a mock interview, and advise on all other aspects of the college application process. To get started, please contact us.
