Fairview
High School
Counseling, Post-Grad
(revised 12/1/2007)
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE COLLEGE INTERVIEW
The interview is but one step in the college matchmaking
process. It provides a first-hand opportunity to meet
with an admissions officer on a college campus or with a campus alumnus near
your home. From the admissions perspective, the
interview is seen against the background of the entire application and can
either confirm or contradict the student profile that is presented in the rest
of the application.
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Few schools require interviews; most have
replaced them with group information sessions. Those
that do require interviews tend to be the very competitive colleges.
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For some colleges the interview is strictly
informational, whereas for others it is used in making admission
decisions.
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Some schools require interviews and suggest that
if you live within 200 miles of the college you should make the effort to
arrange an interview. If you are distant from the
college, you may be able to arrange an interview with an alumnus who lives near
you, or a phone interview with an admission officer.
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Even if an interview is not required, you may be
able to arrange an interview if you:
o Feel
that your application needs a personal
explanation of your academic strengths;
o Want
an opportunity to convince them that you are a good fit; or
o Want
to confirm for yourself that the college is right for you.
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If it is an option, an interview is strongly
recommended by competitive colleges, to demonstrate your interest in the
college. The most competitive schools are looking for
intellectual curiosity and something unique about you. They
want to:
o See
preparation, maturity, self-confidence, enthusiasm, honesty, and sincerity; and
o Hear
clear and thoughtful questions and answers.
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Contact the colleges that interest you during
spring of junior year to determine best dates to visit, and to make an
appointment for an interview, if applicable. Give the
admissions office at least 6 weeks’ notice before you visit. You
may call or write the college or, in some cases, sign up online for a tour and/
or interview. If you are planning an on-campus
interview, schedule it when school is in session to get the best sense of what
the school is like.
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Practice your interview technique in a
role-play, then at colleges that are far down on your list. The
goal is to be prepared, but not so thoroughly prepared that the interview
appears to be canned. Do enough preparation to boost
your confidence, then go forth and be yourself.
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And if
you feel that your interview did not go well? Rarely are admission
chances ruined as a result of an awkward or uncomfortable interview, so do not
despair.
On campus, one-on-one interview:
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An on-campus session will be the most
predictable of the one-on-one interviews, and you can expect the admissions
officer to be professional.
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The procedure may be more formal and less like a
conversation. Typically, it may last 30 to 60 minutes.
q Plan a campus interview if you need more convincing evidence to decide if this is the school for you.
Off campus, one-on-one interview:
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A local alumnus often conducts these. Frequently they occur during winter break and are
conducted at the home of the alumnus, at a coffee shop, or on the Fairview
campus.
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They tend to be more relaxed and may run longer. It is not unusual for the interview to last 1 ½ to 2
hours.
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If it has been many years since the alumnus
graduated from the campus, s/he may not be able to paint the most current
picture of the college. Occasionally, an
alumnus does a lot of talking about his/her experience on campus and you may
feel that you were not able to give any information about yourself. In extreme cases, you may call the admissions
office and ask for another interviewer but talk the situation over with your
counselor before contacting the college.
Group interview or informational meeting:
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An admission officer or a current student may
conduct these, when they are on-campus.
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A representative of the college may come to your
high school.
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This is an opportunity for you to ask questions
that go beyond the material in the college view book.
On Campus meeting with a professor:
q This is an opportunity for you to show your interest and talent, and get a sense of a particular department at a college.
There are three general areas of the interview for which you
can prepare. If you are preparing for a one-on-one
interview, all three areas are applicable. If,
however, you are preparing for a group interview or informational meeting, it
may well be that only the first area is applicable.
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Knowledge of the school
o Read
the college literature; then prepare some questions of your own that
demonstrate knowledge of the school and, in particular, programs in your
area(s) of interest.
o Be
sure that your questions are not answered in the college’s literature.
o See
“Questions You Might Ask,” below.
o Come
armed with at least one or two good questions.
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Knowledge of yourself
o Know
your strengths but also know your weaknesses. Give
some thought to your personal areas of interest. What
are your passions?
o Consider
how, in thirty minutes to an hour, you can communicate that you are unique, interesting, and a good fit
for their college.
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Anticipation of questions
o Rehearse
answering tough questions that might come up. (See “Questions you may be asked,” below).
o Since
it is not what you say but what the other person hears, hold mock interviews so
that you can improve how you communicate.
o Do
not memorize potential answers on a word-for-word basis; do plan what you wish
to convey generally so that you are prepared, but sound natural, not rehearsed
and not robotic.
o Remember,
you can’t have a passionate answer for every question.
TIP - Practice your
interview technique in a role-play with a counselor, close friend, older
sibling or parent, then at the colleges that are far down on your list. Avoid slang and “you know,” “um,” and “like.” The mock interview is great for catching these habits, as
well as for helping you avoid any primate grooming behaviors.
This is also a good time to practice a solid handshake – not too mushy
and not too crushing- and good eye contact. Throughout
your preparation, ask yourself how you would like your interviewer to remember
you.
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Get a good night’s rest and start with a healthy
meal.
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Take a notebook, a pen, and your questions. Taking notes is okay.
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Have copies of your grades, SAT and/or ACT
scores, and a list of extra-curricular activities. (Many
interviewers do not require this, but if you are unsure, bring them along just
in case.)
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Even though your parents or other family members
should not accompany you into the interview, they can give reactions and
provide insights from walking around the campus with you. It is wise to consider their opinions since
they most likely have your best interests at heart.
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Make sure you know how to get to your
appointment location and where to park.
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Arrive early enough to give yourself time to
check-in and compose yourself.
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Wear comfortable but nice clothing -- nothing
distracting.
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Nervousness is entirely normal, and the person
on the other side of the desk wants to put you at ease. Think
of the interview as a friendly conversation, not an interrogation.
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Turn off your cell phone! Give
the interviewer your undivided attention.
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When introduced, remember to make direct eye
contact and offer a firm handshake. Say something
like: “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Smith. Thank you for taking the time to meet me.”
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Try to establish a bond and try to enjoy
yourself. Smile.
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Wait for the cue from the interviewer as to
whether s/he will begin or if you will be expected to start.
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Be yourself. Let your
true interests and passion shine through.
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Be honest if you do not know the answer to a
question and do not be afraid to ask for clarification.
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Be genuine and let your personality come out. Let your sense of humor show, but avoid sarcasm.
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You do not have to do all the talking, but be
prepared to talk more than you listen.
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Demonstrate sincere interest in the school you
are visiting.
TIP – If the
interviewer asks you a rather standard question, show your skill in moving the
conversation toward something that is meaningful to you.
Questions You May Be Asked
School Category:
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What are your academic interests, courses you
have enjoyed most, courses you found most difficult?
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Are your academic records an accurate reflection
of your ability and potential?
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Are there any outside circumstances that have
interfered with your academic performance such as home responsibilities,
illness, language issues, or course scheduling problems?
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What would you add to life at this college? What is the most significant contribution you have made to
your school or community?
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What did you like/dislike about high school and
what did you get out of it?
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What is the most important thing that you
learned in high school?
Activities, Interests and College Selection Category:
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What books (newspapers, magazines) have you read
lately that were not required? (This is a great
opportunity for you to talk about something you are passionate about.)
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What factors do you think will be most important
to you for your college selection?
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What living person would you like to talk to and
why?
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In your free time, is there anything you would
consider to be independent research?
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What are your most important activities and why
are they valuable?
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If you woke up one day and had nothing you had
to do, how would you spend that day?
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After a long hard day, what do you enjoy doing
most?
q How did you spend your summer?
Personality and Relationships Category:
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How would someone who knows you well describe
you?
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What are your finest qualities and your
conspicuous shortcomings?
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Describe the groups in your school. Which ones do you feel you belong to?
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What kind of people do you associate with and
admire?
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What do you expect of your peers in college?
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How do you respond to competition and pressure?
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How do you react to failure, disappointment, or
criticism?
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How do you feel about making choices and
decisions for yourself?
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What are the best decisions you have made
recently?
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How much do you rely on direction, guidance, and
advice from others?
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Have you ever chosen something because it was
new or interesting?
The World Around You Category:
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How would you feel about being in a college
community with people who are very different from you?
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How has your environment influenced your way of
thinking?
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How have your interests and abilities been
acknowledged by your school and home?
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What do your parents and friends expect of
you? How have their expectations
influenced the goals and standards you set for yourself?
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What has been the most controversial issue in
your school community?
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What distresses you most about the world around
you? Assuming the obligation and
opportunity to change the world, where would you start?
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How do you feel about: nuclear power, the Iraq
war, the use of drugs and alcohol, gun control?
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By asking questions you are trying to accomplish
three things:
o Demonstrate
interest.
o Show
initiative and maturity by taking partial responsibility for the conversation.
o Obtain
answers that will help you decide if this is the school for you.
TIP - A solid
format for framing the question is: make a statement about your interest (“Art
is a very strong interest of mine”), add the relevant facts based on your
knowledge of the school (“...and I read about the extensive art history courses
you offer”), and end with your question (“Can you tell me more about the
extracurricular field work that would be available to me?”).
Sample Questions to Ask (If the Answers Are Not in the School’s Literature):
If your interviewer is an admissions officer:
1. How
many students apply and how many will you admit to the freshmen class this
year?
2. What
kinds of internships are available? Do you assist in
finding internships in the area of academic interest?
3. What
safety and security systems are in place?
4. What
factors does the college consider for scholarships? (For
example, are they need-based only? Merit only? Athletics-related?)
Whether your interviewer is an admissions officer or an
alumnus:
1. How large are freshmen classes? Are classes primarily taught by professors or teaching
assistants?
2. What
does the institution do to promote student/faculty contact?
3. How
do students receive help selecting classes? Does a
student have the same advisor for all four years?
4. How
and when are majors selected and can they be self-designed?
5. What
kinds of leadership opportunities are available?
6. What
kinds of special projects, seminars, or other experiences are offered or
required?
7. How
important an element is community service? Is it a
focus of this college?
8. What
opportunities are there to do research for faculty?
9. Do
you encourage and help students find part-time jobs freshmen year?
10. How do
students receive help with career plans and job placement?
11. Where do
students live? Are there special communities such as
honors dorms or theme floors?
12. What was
your favorite memory or experience on campus?
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When you stand up, shake hands and thank the
interviewer by name.
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Express that you learned valuable information
and are appreciative.
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Ask for the interviewer’s business card and
attach it to your information packet.
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As soon as possible, send a sincere thank you
note to the interviewer.
o Help
the interviewer remember who you are.
Personalize the note by referring to something specific that you talked
about and how it affected you such as, “I really appreciated your encouraging
words on my volunteerism,” or “I took your suggestion to repeat my SAT test
very seriously and have registered for the next testing date.”
o Check
your spelling and grammar.
Berger, S.
Effective Interviews. College Planning for Gifted
Students, second edition. Reston, Virginia: The
Council for Exceptional Children, 1994.
Campus Tours and
Interviews. The Guidance Information System. Riverside Publishing Company, 1992.
Boyden, Richard F., The Campus Visit and Interview: Making
Them Pay Off. Private Colleges, 1993.
pp. 154+ 155.
Charbonneau,
Danielle, and Adrianne Cohen, eds. The Guide to
Getting In. New York: St Martin’s Griffin, 2002. pp. 171-190.
Capararo, Anthony F. Strategy for the College Interview. The College Digest. pp. 1+2.
Fiske, Edward. How to Get Into the
Right College. New York: Times Books, pp. 92-98.
Pugh, Mike. The College Admissions Interview. FastFocus @www.fastweb.com. pp. 1+2.
Fairview Post Graduate Center materials.
Not surprisingly, a wealth of information also can be found
about this topic by doing an Internet search.