College Interviews

An Interview with an Admission Officer

To prepare for your interview, read the college literature and visit their website. Review notes from your campus visit. Be aware of course offerings, whether there is a major in your field, etc. Arrive early (15 minutes) for the interview and try to relax.

You will be asked if you have any questions. Have some questions prepared in advance. It won’t hurt to have them written out. Interviewers will be favorably impressed with your preparation. This will also give you a chance to control the direction of the interview, to obtain useful answers, and to learn more about your interviewer.

Before entering the interview, you should have in mind some objectives regarding the interview and your means for accomplishing these objectives. Be yourself. Be prepared. Do not come on with a self-centered sales pitch. You can’t talk your way into college. You can talk your way out!

Typical Questions Used in College Interviews

Why are you considering this college? How did you come to include us among your choices? What makes you think this college would be a good fit for you?
Where else are you applying and why? Which is your first choice? Why?
What do you hope to major in? Why? What are your plans for the future? What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?
What have you liked or disliked about your high school? If you were the principal of your school, what would you change?
What newspapers and magazines do you read? How often? What interesting books have you read recently? What television shows do you watch?
How do you spend a typical afternoon after school? Evening? Weekend? How do you spend your vacations?
What extracurricular activities have you found most satisfying? What is the most significant contribution you have made to your school or community?
What would you like to tell us about yourself? What events have been crucial in your life? Tell us about your innermost fears. Tell us about your family.
Do you have any heroes, contemporary or historical? If you could talk with any one living person, who would it be and why? What historical event do you feel has had the most impact on the 20th century? How do you feel about the nuclear freeze, nuclear power, the use of drugs and alcohol, advertising, gun control, etc.?
What is the most important thing you have learned in high school?
What do you want to get out of your college experience?

These are all questions that have been used by college interviewers in evaluation of prospective students. Preparation for this type of questions will give you confidence in your ability to handle the interview process. Don’t forget to send a prompt “Thank You” note to the person who gave the interview.

Be brief, be personal,
be positive,
and be enthusiastic.

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