Interview preparation

Applying to College
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What’s the best way to prepare for an interview, and what are typical interview questions?

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bump

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Many threads on this topic, do a search. In fact, I thinkthere is a whole forum on interviewing.

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This is useful: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/810532-brown-interview-faq-and-answers.html You can google “college interview questions” too

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  1. If you google college interview questions you will get plenty of help with sample questions. Don’t over prepare to the point where your answers sound robotic…
  2. If you have a resume, bring it. It is a good jumping off point for a conversation.
  3. Be sure to dress appropriately (business casual).
  4. Prepare some questions you have about the college (that cannot be answered by the school website).
  5. Know some reasons why you particularly like that college - why it is good for you, why you are a good fit for the school, what you can bring to the school etc.
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The other thing to think about is “What is a college looking for?”

They are looking for intellectual curiosity, community involvement, leadership, if you have overcome obsticals, interest in their college. So weave those into your answers.

So don’t just say you were French Club Vice President, but that you planned an advertised an event that 100 students attended…you had to interact with the administration at your school, etc etc.

I do interviews and I talked to someone who didn’t have a ton of Extracurriculars…but it turned out that his parents were divorcing and he spent a great deal of time taking care of his brother…so we talked about the leadership aspects of that, etc.

Questions you can ask:

(if the interviewer attended the college) What made you choose the college?
What is your favorite and least favorite aspects of the college?
What do you wish you did at college that you didn’t get to?
What were some of your favorite traditions at the college?

Do bring your resume (in whatever format you have)…it is useful to have to cover all bases.

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Thank you all, that’s very helpful!

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Make sure you have an answer to the “Why This School?” question. Almost all interviews have this, and adcoms use it to determine your interest in the school. Research specific programs and how you would fit within them and the school in general.