I went for a college interview today and it was for my dream school. I handed the interviewer a copy of my resume and was about to take a seat when she said “what did you do in girls who code?” I was very nervous so I started explaining and I ended up sounding very confused and flustered. And then she said “tell me a about yourself” I explained a couple things like where I was born and what languages I speak and paused a little and I think she thought I was done and she said “do you have any questions for me?” Being very new to interviews I was very shocked because I thought they asked this question at the end of the interview l. I should have known not all interviews are the same. I then asked a couple questions and she replied to them, then she went on a said “anything else” and she kept wanting me to ask her questions. She didn’t ask me anything else. I was so flustered and I didn’t know what to ask. She was very nice and kind but she didn’t ask me anything about my academics or extra curriculars. Not even why I want to go to that particular school. She kept asking me what questions I had for her but I was done with all my questions. I don’t know if I really messed up. Do you think I really messed up? I couldn’t think at that time. She kept asking me to ask her questions about dorming and campus life. I was so blank. Was this a bad interview ?
I wouldn’t worry about it. Most schools no longer use alumni interviews in any kind of evaluative way.
Honestly it sounds like a bad interviewer. I met with a student last week who totally blanked on his questions so I just shared some of my own experiences and also what I’m usually asked. That helped jog his memory and we ended up with a nice meeting.
Assuming this is an alumni interviewer, we also don’t get an awful lot of training and direction. My alma mater sends us a slide show every year with tips and updates, but that’s about it.
Thank you so much for replying so fast! I hope I get into this college because I genuinely love this college.
Sounds like an interviewer issue. Decent interviewers have a number of stock questions in hand and good ones have follow on questions at the ready depending upon the flow of conversation. You can help yourself for purposes of future interviews by a) being prepared to answer the what, why and how of everything on your resume and b) having an idea of where you want to steer the conversation/interview in terms of academic and nonacademic (sports, arts, community service) interest and accomplishments. If the interviewer is insistent on wanting you to ask them questions, good ones to have in your back pocket are: why did you choose XYZ college; what did you enjoy the most about XYZ college; did XYZ college turn out to be what you expected, how was it different; how did XYZ shape your career direction/decisions. Listen carefully, and when appropriate connect her/his answers to your own concerns and situation. The point is to turn this into a conversation, not a Q&A.
Thank you so much for your reply I’ll make sure to follow your advice!
She would have expected you to be nervous, and you appeared to have come across exactly that. No harm done. At least you had questions prepared. This could have gone much worse.
For others reading this, however, do an interview at a match and safety school before the meeting for your #1 school to gain some practice and confidence.
You can also prepare a series of specific questions written out on a sheet of paper, bring it with you and even read from it if needed. You can explain if asked that you wanted to make sure not to miss anything given how important the school is to you.
No one will criticise you for being both over prepared and nervous. It happens don’t worry.
Agree with @Nocreativity1 - many, many students bring notes with their questions.
I would add another question to @BKSquared’s list - What would you change about your alma mater?
Thank you all so much for replying. I will try to follow your advices for my upcoming interviews!
Agree – if it was an alumni interview they are hit and miss and really don’t count for much in the admissions process. I would email a thank you note and include a sentence about why you are particularly interested in that college/feel it is a great fit for you – that way even though you didn’t get the information through on the interview itself you can let him/her know.
Don’t worry, interviews are simply a factor in admissions not the sole reason.
I’m curious, Tara… did you get into your dream school? I’m sure either way you will end up where you’re meant to be!
For future readers of this thread:
I do alumni interviews…the first thing I try to tell the interviewee is to not be nervous. My goal is to help the student present a more rounded image of themselves…fill in the blanks that the Common App doesn’t show.
For example, I had a student that didn’t seem to have many ECs, which was odd for for applicants to this college. I asked him about it and it turned out his parents were divorcing and he had to watch his little brother. We talked more and it turns out he noticed his brother was sort of falling through the cracks, so he made sure to help him with his homework and got his parents to sign him up for baseball and he took him to practices and games. He was showing leadership.
I woudl say the only time I had a really bad interview when was we had to do it over skype/the phone. I only do them in person now.
Also I have to say sometimes you are assigned a bunch of interviews and it is stressful doing them all…so maybe it was a bad interviewer or maybe it was a bad day.
ALso maybe the interviewer doesn’t ask about things on the applications. Each college may do it differently.
Sadly, there are bad interviewers, interviewees and interviews. Also bad days. They can hurt you. Part of the process.