How Can I Avoid Screwing Up An Interview?

Applying to College
1

<p>I was contacted this week by two schools who are giving me the opportunity to have an interview. This really caught me off guard because I thought I applied too late to get an interview.</p>

<p>I have my interview in a few days and I'm nervous. I've only had one interview so far (with a Senior) and it went well, but this one is with an older alumni. I'm sure she's a great person but I know that I'll be even more nervous. It doesn't help that these are both schools that I would love to go to.</p>

<p>Are there any tips you can give me to do well? Any questions I should try to avoid or questions that she'll certainly ask? I know you'll probably say to just be myself but I used to have a stuttering problem and if I am extremely nervous, I'm worried it would become apparent again, even if it probably won't.</p>

2

<p>In my experience, interviews are pretty hard to fail at. </p>

<p>they tend to be really easygoing and casual.
ok this is kind of obvious, but the more relaxed you are, the better you'll come off to them</p>

3

<p>hcvops is right. Interviews are hard to "fail." In some cases, a really good one can push an applicant from the "Maybe" pile into "Admit," but only rarely will a lousy interview shunt a candidate into "Deny."</p>

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Any questions I should try to avoid

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<p>Go easy on the "creature comfort" questions ("Do the dorms have HD TV's?" "Can I bring my car?"). </p>

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or questions that she'll certainly ask?

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<p>You should definitely arrive prepared to explain why you have chosen the college in question. Avoid generalities like, "It's a really good school," and "It just felt right to me." Both of those responses are fine, but try to be more specific, too. Don't sound as if you've memorized the catalog, but it can't hurt to be able to mention several classes or academic programs that truly excite you. Don't, however, say something like, "Your school has the major I want, psychology." Duh ... so do most schools. Remember, be more specific. Or, similarly, offer anecdotes (e.g., "A student from my high school is a psych major at your college and she told me how much the profs help students find internship opportunities and about the terrific internship she was able to do last summer, thanks to one of her teachers.")</p>

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I used to have a stuttering problem and if I am extremely nervous, I'm worried it would become apparent again, even if it probably won't.

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<p>Your nervousness could be the proverbial "elephant" in the room, so don't hesitate to mention it at the start of the interview. It may make both you and also your interviewer more comfortable if you bring your fears to the forefront and begin by saying something like, "If I knock my coffee cup on the floor, it's because I'm really nervous, so I hope you can jump out of the way fast." </p>

<p>Finally, even if your interviewer graduated many years ago, get her talking about her own college days. She obviously cares about her school or she wouldn't be volunteering her time as an interviewer, so ask her to recount the highlights of her college experience or--better yet--ask "How do you think [name of college] is different now than it was when you were there and how do you think it's most the same?" She will probably enjoy the reminiscing, and so she'll leave the session feeling good about it ... and about you, too. Moreover, you are likely to learn something about the school from her that you didn't know before the interview started.</p>

<p>Good luck! Try to have some fun with it.</p>

4

<p>I have mine coming up too! It'll be my first one so I'm really nervous (it's for dream school :P) so what should I wear that's not overly formal yet still appropriate ?? The interview will be at the alumni's house..</p>

5

<p>Wear clothes that suggest, "I'm taking this occasion seriously." This doesn't necessarily mean a dress, suit, or skirt for females and a suitcoat/tie for males, though the older alums (~those who graduated in the early 60's or before) tend to appreciate (and even sometimes expect) formality more than the "younger" ones do. Just be sure to avoid clothes that scream "Casual" or "Careless." This includes flip-flops, t-shirts, jeans, shorts, very short skirts, anything that shows skin at the midriff, etc. Be yourself but be a neat, polished version of yourself.</p>

6

<p>so blouse and dress pants are good? :D</p>

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<p>Perfect. Clean, of course. :)</p>

8

<p>thank you! Btw, as I do possess a rather unusual accent, would it be possible for me to, at the beginning of the interview, explain how that came about? I have had people thinking it's fake or spending the rest of the conversation trying to figure it out, so I kind of want to get that in the clear first, but don't want to come off as rude.</p>

9

<p>Skip the interview, you will be 100% guaranteed not to screw it up</p>

10

<p>^Hahaha, bad advice. I'm sure she/he was kidding. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>Just relax, be confident (not cocky!) and figure out a good answer as to why you want to attend that college. Just be a polite, likable version of yourself :). </p>

<p>But seriously, there is nothing to worry about; it will not hurt your chances of admission to any dire extent!</p>

12

<p>Well, I have found that I have done better in interviews when I go through possible questions and answers. Or you can get someone to go through the interview with you. That way, you won't be put on the spot when answering a difficult question. Once you have had "practice" running through the interview yourself, you'll get a hang of it.</p>

<p>Also, say you are really interested in a particular area, like science or a social justice issue. It helps to know your area well as the interviewer will be impressed when they ask you questions about it. </p>

<p>And yes, ask specific questions as it shows that you have taken an interest in their school. </p>

<p>GOOD LUCK! :)</p>

13

<p>i have an interview with USC in march, and i feel unprepared?
i have no idea what to wear (im a guy)...does anyone have any suggestions? i don't want to wear a suite or anything and look like a complete ******bag..
and i didn't apply to a particular major, i am going undecided. what questions should i expect on my major? should i be prepared on anything or be ready to explain why i am going open?</p>

14

<p>athenegoddess, I think that it would be a good idea to explain where your accent came from because you don't want the interviewer to focus on your voice rather than what your saying. Also, it sounds like it would be a good story that she would appreciate to get the conversation started! Maybe try to make a joke about it to ease the nerves and not come off as a rude girl w/ attitude</p>

15

<p>"thank you! Btw, as I do possess a rather unusual accent, would it be possible for me to, at the beginning of the interview, explain how that came about? "</p>

<p>Sure, it probably would interest the interviewer, too, and be a good way of breaking the ice. In fact, it's probably a good idea to do this whenever you meet someone new.</p>

16

<p>Don't wear a suit; a collared shirt and khakis is fine.</p>

<p>The interview is a two-way process. The college is supposed to learn about you, obviously, but you should also learn about the college. Be prepared to answer the usual questions, but don't rehearse your answers or you'll sound like you're reading off a script.</p>

<p>Most of the time, the interviewer will get the formalities out of the way in the beginning. After that, you'll have a nice conversation about the college.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
thank you! Btw, as I do possess a rather unusual accent, would it be possible for me to, at the beginning of the interview, explain how that came about? I have had people thinking it's fake or spending the rest of the conversation trying to figure it out, so I kind of want to get that in the clear first, but don't want to come off as rude.

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</p>

<p>I agree with Northstarmom and rachmt17. Explaining your accent should be a great ice-breaker. Chances are, you can bring it up easily as soon as the interview begins. It's almost a sure thing that your interviewer will provide an "opening" for you (e.g., "Where are you from?" or "Tell me about your background" or "Have you always lived in __________ (current locale)?") But, if you're comfortable doing so, just jump right in and volunteer the info right at the start of the session. Your interviewer will most likely appreciate it and will definitely be interested in your story.</p>

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<p>nishanthlux: Check out this thread from the USC forum for LOTS of information on the scholarship interviews: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/454572-scholarship-information.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/454572-scholarship-information.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Plenty of the guys were wearing suits - you would not feel out of place - but a dress shirt, tie and slacks was what the majority of the guys were wearing at my session last year. A few had sweaters on over their shirts and ties, which turned out to be a mistake because it was about 90 degrees that week!</p>

<p>The interviews are with three people - two faculty or administrators and a USC upperclassmen. They are VERY nice - they won't be grilling you or anything. Being undeclared is fine. Have a few questions ready to ask THEM (look on the USC website so your questions address actual USC programs!). A suggestion: Check out the "Thematic Option" honors program Thematic</a> Option on the USC website and ask a question or two about it - they LOVE students who really want to challenge themselves and take on Thematic Option. Also on the website, investigate SOAR SOAR:</a> Student Opportunities for Academic Research which is the undergraduate research funding program. (Available even to freshmen.) Express an interest in research, even if you don't yet know what field.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK!</p>

19

<p>The interview is more of a conversation than a drill session. The interviewer is usually very outgoing and does most of the talking. All you have to do is have a mild understanding of the school be good at talking about yourself and your plans.</p>

<p>if all else fails get the interviewer to keep talking...</p>

20

<p>
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The interviewer is usually very outgoing ...

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<p>Ideally, this is true indeed. However, when it comes to alumni interviewers, there isn't usually as much "quality control" as there should be. Thus, some alum interviewers are terrific and some are not so hot. Applicants can sometimes leave interview sessions thinking that maybe they didn't do well themselves, when it's really the alum who wasn't up to snuff.</p>

<p>So, if you're discouraged by the way an interview went, don't assume that you only have yourself to blame, because that may not be the case at all.</p>