{"id":8756,"date":"2017-01-23t15:24:03","date_gmt":"2017-01-23t23:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/?p=8756"},"modified":"2017-01-23t15:42:55","modified_gmt":"2017-01-23t23:42:55","slug":"ultimate-guide-college-interviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/ultimate-guide-college-interviews\/","title":{"rendered":"the ultimate guide to college interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"
by jessica tomer, editor-in-chief, collegexpress<\/a><\/p>\n the admission interview is about getting to know you as a person, not just a collection of test scores and extracurricular activities. of course, that sounds nice, but it doesn\u2019t make interviews less nerve-wracking. as if applying for college wasn\u2019t stressful enough, you\u2019re supposed to sit down with a stranger and sell them on why you\u2019re a good fit for their school too?! ugh. <\/p>\n but before you start panicking, think of admission interviews this way: they\u2019re your chance to show colleges how excited you are to attend their school\u2014and that can give your application a major boost. it\u2019s like your secret weapon for getting admitted! <\/p>\n so if you want to rock your college admission interviews (and you probably do), follow this advice\u2026 <\/p>\n the more you practice, the easier your college interview will be. you can start by reading sample interview questions and writing some notes down. then say your answers aloud. if you want to level up, try practicing in front of a mirror and\/or with a recording device. (oh, it\u2019ll be awkward as hell, but it can also be super helpful!) <\/p>\n perhaps the best practice of all is with another person, especially someone with admission interview experience. that could be a parent or guidance counselor, or it could be an older sibling or friend who\u2019s already had a college interview. <\/p>\n here are some common\u2014and a few not so common\u2014admission interview questions to practice with:<\/p>\n here are 13 more helpful college interview questions to practice with. <\/a><\/p>\n you\u2019ll be expected to talk about your strengths and accomplishments during your interviews. and you want to have some specific ideas and anecdotes in the back of your mind on interview day. <\/p>\n make a list of five to 10 personality traits you want to highlight in your interview; for example, are you particularly determined, empathetic, creative? then try to come up with a few specific examples from your life that illustrate those traits. these interview talking points<\/a> can get you started:<\/p>\n maybe you showed great determination by spearheading a high school cleanup club. or you demonstrated your empathy by knitting scarves and hats for deployed soldiers. or you spent weeks painting a creative picture that now hangs in your high school guidance office. these are the things the admission committee wants to hear about. <\/p>\n during the interview admission folks are trying to figure out if you\u2019re a good fit for their school\u2014and you can\u2019t show you\u2019re a good fit unless you know what the school is all about. do your research to get a sense of what the college values, its mission statement, its strengths, and its weaknesses. try to make connections between those things and your own interests, goals, and experiences. <\/p>\n you should also find out the logistics of the admission interview itself. will your interview be one-on-one with an admission rep or alumnus? will you be in a small group? how long should it last? gather as much info about the interview as you can so you go in feeling prepared. <\/p>\n this is the kind of life hack you can use way after your college interviews. the gist is to develop a calming routine around something you look forward to and do regularly. maybe it\u2019s seeing your best friend on the weekend or going to baseball practice. before you head out to those activities, do the exact some routine every time: for example, you might take a shower, stretch for two minutes, listen to your favorite song, and eat an apple. then, the next time you have to do something stressful (like an interview), go through your same calming routine, as if you were about to do that thing you enjoy. it will trick your brain, and it works like magic. <\/p>\n two words: business casual. if you\u2019re not sure what that means, there are oodles of outfit guides online (i like this infographic<\/a> from purdue university\u2019s career center). but, in general, we\u2019re talking dress pants, sweaters, button-down shirts, nice shoes, etc. no jeans, no graphic t-shirts, no sneakers, and no ripped or stained clothing. if you\u2019re going to be touring the campus or just walking around a lot before or after your interview, you may want to pack a change of clothes. <\/p>\n that means taking your time (remember, we\u2019re prone to rushing when we\u2019re nervous!) and trying to eliminate \u201cumms,\u201d \u201cahs,\u201d and \u201clikes\u201d from your speech. it\u2019s also okay to pause for a few seconds to collect your thoughts; in fact, it shows just how thoughtful you are!<\/p>\n at the end of your admission interview, you will almost certainly hear this: \u201cdo you have any questions for me?\u201d do not say \u201cno\u201d to this question! after doing the research mentioned above, you should be able to come up with three to five meaningful questions for your admission interviewer. (pro tip: write your questions down on paper, just in case your phone dies.) for example, \u201cwhat does student-faculty mentoring look like here?\u201d or \u201cwhat kinds of students are happiest here?\u201d<\/p>\n but, whatever you do, don\u2019t ask basic questions you could easily answer with a google search. your interviewer will not appreciate hearing \u201chow much is tuition?\u201d trust. <\/p>\n be yourself. sure, it\u2019s clich\u00e9, but it\u2019s also your best bet and a good mantra. after all, you\u2019ve been you your whole life\u2014so you\u2019re ready for whatever the interviewer throws at you!<\/p>\n jessica tomer is the editor-in-chief for collegexpress<\/a>, a free college and scholarship search site designed to guide students through the entire college journey\u2014admission, financial aid, majors, campus visits, you name it. she is an education advocate, storyteller, and grammar nerd. like many of her fellow emerson college alumni, jessica is a news junkie and bookworm. you can get in touch with her on twitter: @collegexpress<\/a> or @jessicatomer<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by jessica tomer, editor-in-chief, collegexpress the admission interview is about getting to know you as a person, not just a collection of test scores and extracurricular activities. of course, that sounds nice, but it doesn\u2019t make interviews less nerve-wracking. as if applying for college wasn\u2019t stressful enough, you\u2019re supposed to sit down with a stranger […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[92],"ppma_author":[24880],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\npractice, practice, practice!<\/h2>\n
\n
write down your talking points in advance<\/h2>\n
\n
do your homework<\/h2>\n
develop a calming routine<\/h2>\n
dress appropriately<\/h2>\n
speak thoughtfully<\/h2>\n
ask insightful questions<\/h2>\n
the most important admission interview advice of all\u2026<\/h2>\n
bonus: rapid-fire interview tips!<\/h2>\n
\n