Remember, any opportunity to meet someone in person is more powerful than an essay delivered electronically. Make a good impression by selecting an appropriate outfit, being on time, and demonstrating that you are prepared. Take this opportunity to show the interviewer who you are and what a great addition you would be to the student body.
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A college interview can be a vital opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants.
As a professional โheadhunter,โ I deal with interview processes on a daily basis. After years of preparing job-seekers for their interviews, I shared my know-how to my children and their friends as they prepared to apply to colleges.
Many an evening we would sit around the dining room table with some cookies and notes to talk about interviews and to practice answering some common questions. They learned how to evaluate a given schoolโs fit for them (and vice versa). As we worked together, I saw their confidence levels rise.
Hereโs some of the advice and information I shared:
Why Interview?
Even for applicants with strong essays, good grades, and stellar teacher recommendations, we found that interviews, either on or off campus (with alumni), were ย influential in admissions decisions. The advice we got from college counselors was to call before a campus visit, and ask for an interview with an admissions officer.
The in-person meeting had several goals and outcomes. By meeting with someone from the school, we were all able to learn more about the college and see if it was a good fit. The conversation also gave the admissions officer another perspective on the student. When admissions officers select their new freshman class, the impression they gain during an interview can sway them in the selection process. It can also be helpful to the parent and student in negotiating financial aid after admission.
Remember, any opportunity to meet someone in person is more powerful than an essay delivered electronically. Make a good impression by selecting an appropriate outfit, being on time, and demonstrating that you are prepared. Take this opportunity to show the interviewer who you are and what a great addition you would be to the student body.
Preparing for The Interview
When I am helping prepare someone for an interview, I like to put things in perspective. You would never present a paper or a project without doing your homework and preparing your presentation, so why show up to an interview without practice? An interview is a marketing presentation of yourself, so here are some important considerations.
Study The Universityโs Offerings
What you like and what you do best are often the same. Look for colleges that match your interests and have student cultures that align with your values. Being able to speak to why this university fits your personality will come in handy as you answer questions from the admissions officer.
Remember that an interview is also a chance for you to learn about the university. Make a list of what youโd like to ask. What you ask should demonstrate that youโve done some research. If the question could be answered by searching the schoolโs website or Google, then you shouldnโt bring it up. Instead, ask questions that give you new information and show youโve already done preliminary research.
For example, a question like โWhat are the challenges that students seem to struggle with the most at this school?โ will give you a new perspective on the college. Questions like โAs an aspiring architect, I would love to have professor X as my advisor, but I know she works in the graduate school. Would it be possible to work with her as an undergrad?โ show that youโve researched the schoolโs academic program.
Brainstorm Possible Questions
Anticipate questions the admissions officer may ask, and create some possible answers or scenarios to field them. You can expect questions that fall into these categories:
Questions about the university
The interviewer wants to find out if you are truly interested in their institution. These questions will try to determine whether you did your homework about the school or programs, and whether you really want to attend. Some examples:
- โWhat attracted you to this specific college?โ
- โHow do you feel about fulfilling our requirements?โ
- โWhat do you imagine that going to this college would be like?โ
Questions about how you stand out
The admissions officer would like to find a diverse student body and identify who will be successful at her school. These questions will try to pinpoint the characteristics that make you unique. Some common examples include:
- โWhat are you passionate about?โ
- โWhat was your proudest moment?โ
- โWhat do you hope to accomplish in the future?โ
Questions about your opinions
These questions are meant to make you think on your feet and assess your critical thinking skills. For example, โWhat is your opinion about X current affair?โ
FAB Presentation
With these questions in mind, itโs time to craft answers that will showcase your Features, Accomplishments, and Benefits, or FAB.
A feature is a fact about you. Think about your abilities, skills, and experience. A feature should be factual and objective and answer the question, โWhat do you do?โ For example, โI excel at biologyโ or โI play soccer.โ
An accomplishment is a significant achievement, such as high grades, publications, awards, or projects that stand the test of time. Accomplishments should include quantitative measures and brief stories that illustrate a feature and answer, โHow well do you do it?โ For example, โI won an award at my districtโs science fair,โ or โI was selected as the MVP of my soccer team.โ
A benefit is a potential contribution to the college community. The benefit takes into account your previously-stated features and accomplishments and translates the facts into something you have to offer. It answers the question, โHow do you add value?โ For example, โIโd be interested to work with Prof. X on her research about mitochondria,โ or โI would love to be a goalie on your collegeโs soccer team.โ
Before an interview, create at least 10 FAB statements. Write them down, and practice saying them out loud. Identify how you could use these FABs to answer the possible questions you brainstormed. Youโll gain confidence by recognizing that you have concrete skills and abilities to share. Youโll also be more succinct and less likely to forget an important idea or example.
Thank You Notes
Make sure to request a business card from the interviewer. Send a follow-up thank-you email. And donโt make it generic. This is another opportunity to differentiate yourself from others. Remind the interviewer about something unique or interesting that you discussed during your conversation.
