I have my first college interview next week (at WashU). I also have interviews scheduled later in the summer at Yale and Harvard and will probably do some others also. I don’t have too much experience in formal interviewing, and so I’m a little nervous. What types of questions should I be prepared for? Any do’s/don’ts or tips? Thanks in advance…
<p>I second this. I have a WashU interview in July. Any tips would be helpful because I'm in the same boat.</p>
<p>make sure you ask the interviewer questions also. it shows that you are also prepared and are utilizing your resources. basically relax and dont try to impress. just be yourself. i know this sounds cliche, but sometimes cliche is good.</p>
<p>Make sure you review the colleges' web sites before interviewing. And, while it's important to ask questions, don't ask questions about things that the website answers. Ask questions that show that you've reviewed the website and are interested in further information.</p>
<p>how do you get an interview this early?</p>
<p>Search this site, there are already about a gazzion posts on this</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts everybody...</p>
<p>ronlivs: I have an interview now because it's a special Art/Architecture day where they tour that school in depth and talk about the application process and portfolio requirements, etc... and so they offered interviews. I guess I kinda thought that they had already started interviewing everybody though ...but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>kristen, the best way to prepare for an interview is to be relaxed and confident. (More easily said than done.) Most interviewers know that kids are nervous and will try their best to put them at ease. Curveball questions are really quite rare. Usually you will find a topic of mutual interest and the conversation will take off from there.</p>
<p>On campus interviewers are often students or recent graduates so they can really give you a firsthand impression of what campus life is like.</p>
<p>Most interviewers will ask if you have any questions, so have a few prepared.I definitely agree with NSM that you shouldn't ask the obvious -- what are the meal plans, etc? </p>
<p>A good idea is to cruise through the course catalog and ask some knowledgeable questions about your areas of interest. Also, general philosophical questions are always welcome, like how would you rate X students on intellectual curiosity?</p>
<p>I'd also strongly suggest that you interview at your less selectives as well as your reaches. This serves two purposes: it encourages the school to believe that you are a serious candidate (thus avoiding Tufts syndrome) and it also helps you get a better understanding and apprecation of your safeties.</p>
<p>Colleges begin interviews already? How do you sign up for them? I thuoght it was only after you have submitted your application.</p>
<p>ronlivs, For some colleges you can make an appointment for an on-campus interview either by telephone or by e-mail. Check the individual websites for information. If you interview on campus, it's good to take the tour and attend the information session first so you can be knowledgeable.</p>
<p>You are right that others do not interview on campus. After they've received your application they'll contact you to set up a local interview with an alumnus/a interviewer.</p>
<p>Others don't offer interviews at all.</p>
<p>Formal Interviews - Breathe (stuttering is not flattering)</p>
<p>Interview Queastions will generally follow a pattern</p>
<p>The Biggie </p>
<p>WHY DO YOU WANT TO COME TO OUR SCHOOL?
1) most common answer if because its a good school for _____
2) second most common answer because I just fell i love with this school!
3) and the third "OMgggg I just loveee the people here"</p>
<p>Whats wrong with those answers? Everything. IT SHOWS YOU DID NOT DO YOUR RESEARCH AT ALL! NILL This is the biggest killer in any interview - why do you want to come here? and im not talking just about college. Im talking about jobs interviews too!</p>
<p>What do I mean by research?
KNOW THE SCHOOL! Know what its famous for, at least the basics.
How do you do this?
1) KNOW WHAT YOU INTERESTED IN
2) Then find out what the school has done or offers in terms of yours interest (and choose something substantial not like "you have a nice library and cafeteria)
3) More in depth - for example find out someone connected to your interest like a professor that you might want to work with becaue of your interest and explain why and what intrigues you.
4) IF YOU ARE GENUINLY INTERESTED IN YOUR SUBJECT OF INTEREST YOU WILL NOT HAVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE YOU WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE MATERIAL!</p>
<p>Most people go into interviews without doing previous research so they give VERY generic answers. </p>
<p>Once you know what YOU want out of the school, your set. (assuming its not something trite like social life b/c assuming your interviewing at top colleges they want potential for academic success not your alcohol tolerance level success) </p>
<p>More tips
Common ettiqute
- dont play around with your hair, ears, hands, pants, tie, shair.
- dont shift around alot
- dont look away (eye contact)
(what does most of this revolve around? lie detection - people shift around and play around with stuff when they lie. Nerves are one thing and concealing is another thing)
For example a person who is nervous but genuinly prepared and interested in their subject will shift around some but they will be incroporating their shifting into their speech.
It is also FAR easier for someone to make eye contact when they are expalining somehting they KNOW about
- dont bring your mom and dad into the conversation in the way that makes it sound like THEY want you to go to the school
- everyhting should be ABOUT YOU (later connect to the school, but foundation is about u) contrary to populkar belief that your trying to talk all about the college.
- SIT UP STRAIGHT (it drives me nuts when someone slouches or leans back into their chair
- guys DO NOT CROSS YOUR LEGS
-too much confidence is arrogance
- girls avoid crossing your legs. A better way is to tuck your left foot behind the heel or your right leg (right handed) moving both feet to the right and the other way for left handed. Its called the princess foot pose or something but the idea is that you are not the queen, the interviewer is. The interviewer is the one who leans back crosses his or her legs and has the air of superiority. </p>
<p>and after telling you its all about you im going to sound contradictory by saying - if you sound arrogant and you dont have the stuff to back it up - your already rejected</p>
<p>ARROGANCE AND BEING UNPREPARED ARE THE TWO MAJOR KILLERS IN AN INTERVIEW.</p>
<p>In the end - be yourself, know yourself, know what YOU want, then figure out what the college offers.</p>
<p>Other queastions are also gnereic like what are you interested in etc etc and those are lead in queastions for you to figure out what I just said above.</p>
<p>Some colleges (high ups usually) will spring some queastions about current affairs and those are generally toughy since not many kids these days read the news every day. Im not saying you should, but you should know what your interested in right? and that also includes current events in your subject area. </p>
<p>If you dont answer a queastion well its okay, just redeem yourself. HAHAH i know easy to say hard to do, but thats life. Be PREPARED</p>
<p>and dont fret, sometimes you give it your all, but they just have better people and they dont have space. If you make it congrats</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Ok here is what to avoid:</p>
<p>-Dont switch subjects.
-Never give a lot of credit to a school you wanted to go to when interviewed. This makes the interviewer think that he is incharge of a dumb school
-Dont choke. Speak gently, not too loud or too soft.
-The interviewer is an ordinary person, if you are getting afriad of him, relax, and imagine him with his cloth off (trick that a lawyer told me).
-Lastly, sit there ask some questions but not too much. Dont come there and already memorized 100 questions to ask the guy. Just sit there like a man/lady with you head straight and not talk consistently. Basically sit there and answer there questions as quick and possible. Just remember if you are talking a lot the interview is only thinking of one thing: S T F U. So talk deep breaths when talking not too deep though. and dont tilt your head when you are talking he might think you have a neck problem in that you cant keep your head stright and have a conversation.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>"-The interviewer is an ordinary person, if you are getting afriad of him, relax, and imagine him with his cloth off (trick that a lawyer told me)."</p>
<p>What if she is a hot interviewer?? Wouldn't that be a little distracting?</p>
<p>exellent attorneys would tell you the same :)</p>
<p>It is just a little humor to relax yourself in a tight position. If she is hot then that is even better just dont be shy. Just imagine that she was a male in a female outfit :D</p>
<p>As long as you are well researched about the school, and kinda sorta at ease, you'll do well (they understand that kids get nervous)</p>
<p>hi~</p>
<p>i will be interviewing with JHU + George Washington U + American U next month. i am so nervous!</p>
<p>i am interested in international relations. do you guys know what type of questions i should be expecting? maybe.. about current events? or everyone recieves the same interview quesitons?</p>
<p>thanks so much :D</p>
<p>tk101092, it's unlikely that your interviewer will quiz you on current events. The interviewer will ask you softball (easy) questions to get you to talk about yourself. Things like your interests, your favorite classes, what you do with your spare time. Think about what you want the interviewer to know about you. What are your strong points? Why would you be a good fit with each of these schools? (Because I LIKE them is not the right answer.)</p>
<p>You, on the other hand, should have some questions ready about the IR programs at each school. Go through the course catalogue on line and learn something about the major and the kind of classes that are offered. </p>
<p>The interviewer will be friendly and relaxed and will try to get you to relax and open up. This is good, but doesn't mean that your answers shouldn't be well thought out and serious. Just think about it logically. Afterwards the interviewer will write you up. What impression do you want to leave? What should s/he remember about you? Think about how you can get that across.</p>
<p>at WUSTL I would expect a question about where else you are applying. This is a loaded question. WUSTL is trying to move up in the rankings; that's why every HS student is going to get 15 lbs of email from them. And they're sensitive to being seen as a safety. If every other school you mention is an elite LAC or an ivy, they may deny you figuring that if you get into any of the other places you'll go there.</p>
<p>I know it offends many people's sense of purity or what-have-you to not answer the question honestly, but on the other hand its really none of their business. You should be judged on the strength of you as an applicant and not part of some strategic gaming on their part to raise their yield rate. But if asked, be prepared to give an answer. You could say its not their business, but thats unlikely to endear you to the interviewer :(</p>
<p>I'd suggest answering first of all by saying these are colleges you're considering; you haven't mailed off any apps yet, so even if you're 100% sure you're appying to X you haven't applied there until you've actually mailed the application. And the ones I'd name would put WUSTL (or whoever you're talking to) right in the middle; name 1 or 2 competitors that are seen as equals, 1 considered better than them, and 2 lesser schools. They should be schools you've really thought about, BTW, so you can field any follow-up questions about why them; in any answer to the followup, I'd avoid pointing out anything they have that WUSTL doesn't.</p>
<p>Leave with PLENTY of time to get there. I had three college interviews in Atlanta, about two hours away, and I had to drive myself. Two of the three times, one for my first choice, the "check oil" light came on in my car, so I had to get out on the side of the interstate to check the oil level in my car in a dress shirt and tie. When it happened on my first interview, I had to run halfway across campus to get there just in time (seriously, less than 30 seconds to spare), and I was out of breath for the first few minutes of the interview. Leave with way more time than you ever think you'll need just in case.
Unless they ask you, don't mention your SAT scores or anything like that.</p>
<p>why do you want to go to WUSTL
the dean of admissions gave STARS students a list of what she looked for in an WUSTL student, and how she selects them
any takers???</p>