<p>OK, there's a thread on what NOT to say during interviews. But is there anything that you can say to help the admissions people favor you a bit better?</p>
<p>personal stuff. tragedy overcame stories. imo.</p>
<p>"you're my first choice" (but be sure to back that up; ED/EA, visit, etc)</p>
<p>The interview is your chance to let the college know about the real person behind the application.</p>
<p>I disagree with the other poster's suggestion that somehow the point is to tell the best sob story.</p>
<p>The interview is your chance to talk about your intellectual and extracurricular passions, to provide details about what you enjoyed about your ECs and classes, what you've contributed to those things, what kinds of things you want from your college experience, what kinds of this that have occurred in your life to make you the person that you are.</p>
<p>It's not a time for modesty. The interviewer can't peek into your mind to learn that, for instance, you traveled out of town to do research, spent hours in the local university's archives, and spent time tracking down knowledgeable experts to produce a history paper that was supposed to be 5 pages long, but in your case was 20 pages long -- because you are so darned interested in history!</p>
<p>The interview also is your chance to get your questions answered that aren't answered on the web site. You get to interview the interviewer to find out if the college really is a good fit for you. It's not just a time for the interviewer to question you.</p>
<p>I would have answered prepared for the questions you know you are going to be asked: why X University? What EC's did you do in high school? In what do you want to major? (that last one can be I don't know, but have something to say about why or in what direction you're leaning). Oh, and to what other schools did you apply? (don't forget that one). This way you know you won't accidentally leave out that very impressive award or to mention that you visited campus and loved it, etc.</p>
<p>Expanding on what NSM (who's an interviewer if you didn't know), I think some of the best preparation you can do is be prepared with plenty of good questions of your own. This is often the main focus of an interview.</p>