<p>Hey! I'm in 8th grade, and I love this site, but only because I want to be prepared. ^.~</p>
<p>Okay, I guess you should just be</p>
<ol>
<li>happy</li>
<li>cheerful</li>
<li>excited about the interview</li>
<li>yet not hyper or bouncy or anything</li>
<li>And be funny, if you are.</li>
<li>If you're not, just relax and be confident!</li>
<li>Cliche, but be yourself! It wouldn't be right to have a great interview and be accepted or anything for it for being this fake, jubilant, fashionable, yet smart person if you're not. Well, of course you have to be smart, but you get my jist. :)</li>
</ol>
<p>How does one research a university thoroughly that they have not visited? In my case, I've read several books including College *******, visited the school's website, read up on the school's paper, but still fear that I may not know enough about the school to really distinguish it from the others on my list, even though it's by far my favorite.</p>
<p>Umm. I wore a jacket (not a real formal jacket, the cold weather kind) and a polo shirt to my Yale interview. Dressing doesn't really mean sh$% in the end. Being able to articulate yourself and show that you're intelligent does.</p>
<p>Be able to answer the most common questions. Like:</p>
<p>Why do you want to go to this school?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What's your most important extracurricular activity?
What's your favorite subject in school?</p>
<p>You don't have to have speeches memorized ahead of time, but have a general idea of what you want to say at least. </p>
<p>The interviewer might throw some curveballs, but I think when it comes to those, you should try your best to be articulate, even if your answer's lame.</p>
<p>Behavior? Just be polite. Don't interrupt your interviewer, thank him for his time at the end of the interview, show interest, etc. I remember having a horrible time trying not to interrupt my interviewer because he had a tendency to draw out his answers, and I never knew when it was safe for me to talk.</p>
<p>The first thing they see is how you are dressed. Sure, they may move beyond that, but it's not reasonable to think that all or most interviewers will not take how you dress into account on some small level. Before you open your mouth, before the two of you make eye contact, what they see is how you are dressed for this. Does your look say, "I made no effort for this interview, and I don't think you taking time out of your day for me means I should have woken up and brushed my hair," or does it say, "I respect you"? </p>
<p>It is better to think for a second and explain what aspect of the question you don't know the answer to than to babble on trying to save face if you are unsure of what to say.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that when you are asked a question for which your answer could cover most of the different aspects of your life ("Tell me about yourself", etc.), the order in which you say things will be seen to reflect the order in which you prioritize things. Put what is most important to you first.</p>
<p>It is better to think for a second and explain what aspect of the question you don't know the answer to than to babble on trying to save face if you are unsure of what to say.</p>
<p>^ Excellent advice, couldn't have said it better myself. You look a bit stupid for sitting there going.... "Uhhhh I want to go to this college because.... uhhh... uhhhh.... uhhhh." instead of pausing, thinking and going "I want to go to this college because blah blah blah."</p>
<p>I'm generally a nervous person, so I like to research the college ahead of time, write down questions on a piece of paper and put it in a neat little folder. I also like to write down answers to the typical questions (Why do you want to go here, what are three traits to describe you...) that way I've at least thought about them before just going in there. It helps me to have that little "cheat sheet", even if I never look at it.</p>
<p>Oh- one more good tip. If you can, bring along/wear something that relates to an EC or something you're passionate about. I know that might sound weird, but I had a bag with me when I went into an interview that said "Live to Surf" and my interviewer commented on it, which led into us talking about my participation in a drum corps called Jersey Surf.</p>
<p>There's no use preparing NOW... a little too early...
Spend your time doing something that is more productive. I mean, you're a frosh. Do other things other than worrying that would increase your chances.</p>
<p>Don't even stress about interviews until 1st semester junior year... and even that might be early.</p>
<p>my vassar interviewer was dressed as casually as possible, jeans and tennis shoes. Don't stress too much, as long as you have like a collared shirt on you'll be fine. You don't need to wear a suit or anything.</p>