<p>My son has an interview in a couple weeks for a scholarship opportunity with an essay and some other criteria. The interview might run 30 minutes. During this time, should he just go with the flow of what they are asking? Or should he be assertive and be asking his own list of questions? I wasn't sure if this is the time for that or if that comes later or comes from an admissions rep, not the interviewer. I thought maybe having a few questions on tap to ask would show a demonstrated interest in the school without trying to control the pace of the interview. I don't want him to seem too bold or anything since there are a lot of other students waiting to be interviewed and they have to stick to a schedule.</p>
<p>How do these things work? I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be mostly one-sided or not.</p>
<p>At the end of most interviews, the interviewer will ask the applicant if s/he has any questions. This is the time for that, although an occasional applicant question prior to that point is okay. The questions should not be about anything that is easily answered by the school’s Web site or printed materials. In-depth (penetrating) questions are a plus, but some interviewers might not know all the answers.</p>
<p>My D. has had very many interviews for both selective programs and scholarships. Some of them were few minutes, others many hours with lunch included and many people involved. She kept repeating the same comment / advice: BE YOURSELF. They will detect if you are pretending to be something else. They want to see authentic person. D said that this is the only way to be successful at interview. She never prepared for them.</p>
<p>I think he should go with the flow of what they are asking. They have their own criteria for vetting candidates and it is not to his benefit if he interrupts that flow. When they ask for his questions, then he should try to come up with some questions that are not answerable by anyone other than these folks. Not questions that can be answered from website or admissions interviews. In order to do this, he must pay close attention to the flow of the interview so that he can pick up a thread of it with his question. If he cannot do that, then I would say his only question should be something like, When will I hear about your decision?, if they haven’t already outlined that. </p>
<p>Great advice to Be Yourself. Also pay attention to everything that transpires during the “official” activities that may preceed the actual interview. </p>
<p>Instead of having a long list of questions to ask at the interview, a student should take the time beforehand to carefully review the school’s website. No reason to waste precious interview time asking questions that are answered on the school’s website.</p>
<p>The student also shouldn’t ask questions that are so specific that the interviewer isn’t likely to know the answer. An example: Asking about the content of a specific course. If that’s the student’s question, s/he can get the answer by e-mailing the professor.</p>
<p>And be careful with the questions - D’s interviewer was quite old - retired for MANY years. We had prepped some questions for the end of the interview, and when she asked how the “Shopping Week” went for him, and how he utilized it, he looked befuddled and said he thought there were some nice shops in the area…LOL. D was rejected. We still think it had something to do with the interviewer thinking she had clothes and shopping on her mind.</p>
<p>LOL - D. asked on interview the meanning of one very common word that was part of interviewer’s question. I practically flipped when she told me that, thinking that it is definately going to be a rejection. She got accepted to this program that has only 10 spots for incoming freshmen!! And she decieded to attend there. Go figure!!</p>
<p>I do think it’s important to prepare for an interview like this by reading the school’s website carefully (and perhaps parts of the catalog, if it’s available online). I would also prepare a couple questions that are not answered by the online materials and the answers to which are genuinely of interest. I’ve never interviewed people for scholarships, but I’ve interviewed people for jobs, and I hate asking a candidate if they have any questions and hearing that they don’t. I can’t fathom that someone wouldn’t have at least one question if they were truly interested - websites and interviewers generally aren’t good enough to answer everything without being asked.</p>
<p>Asking questions at the end of the interview didn’t ever feel natural to my reserved DDs so rather than appear disinterested and sit there questionless at the end they came up with a couple of questions each about, intramurals, outdoor rec and pre vet preparation. This helped them to feel more at ease knowing they wouldn’t be deer in the headlights at the end when they were asked “Do you have any questions about fabulous U that I can answer for U”</p>
<p>I always wished I could be a fly on the wall for these but made myself scarce instead</p>