<p>It turns out that my dad had requested an interview for me with an admission officer at Carnegie Mellon, and it is in two weeks. I want to cancel, but I also want to go through the experience of an interview so I can prepare for later ones (obviously, CMU isn't my top pick). </p>
<p>Just so that I don't make a complete fool of myself, what exactly goes on in an interview? As in...what kind of questions do they ask?</p>
<p>what you're doing is a good idea; interview with a school that isn't your number one choice before the real deal comes up.</p>
<p>Get a book on job interviewing and practice answering those questions. Colleges are going to ask much of the same thing -- "tell me about yourself", "what do you consider your strengths", "tell me about a problem you had with a friend and how you solved it", etc. These are all pretty standard; just substitute "enroll here" for "work here" and the work-specific ones translate too. Practice first in front of a mirror, then have a parent or friend play the role of interviewer.</p>
<p>One of the most important times, BTW, is when they turn to you and ask if you have any questions. I guarantee you'll be asked this, and its not just to fill time. Its your turn to show you've done your homework and can ask cogent questions that show you know about the particulars of the school and have read the material available in the viewbook, on the web, etc. and have considered yourself as a student there and what questions would arise.</p>
<p>I agree about the questions. Even if you don't really have any, ask some that you already know the answers too!</p>
<p>As far as the questions go, a good technique take the latest news bit about the program you are interested in and elaborate on it. For instance, next week, I will be visiting a school (It's not an official interview, though my summer visit at that school last year might as well have been an interview with only one other student in attendance, and I expect this year to be similar) with a business program that was recently ranked in the top 20 for undergrads. I'm planning to ask something to the effect of "I read recently that the business school was ranked in the top 20 by BusinessWeek for its undergraduate program. One of my major factors in choosing a school, however, is not just that ranking, but also how well the school prepares a student for graduate school or a career. Could you please share some insight on how the program compares to other schools as far as placement in graduate school, as well as how the program prepares students for entry into careers."</p>
<p>A well-informed question like that should go a long way.</p>