The College Interview

assistants.)  How available are professors outside of class? (You can also ask about how frequently professors hold office hours.)  How does academic advising work at this school? (You’re looking to find out whether students have an advisor assigned to them or if they have to seek out their own advisor, as well as whether advisors generally play an important role in a student’s academic path at that school.)  Are there pre-professional advisors CORE CURRICULUM available? (This is a must if you are thinking about medical school or law school down A set of common courses  the road.) How frequently do undergraduates required of all undergraduate participate in research? (More broadly, you students. should try and find out how accessible research opportunities are for undergraduates, regardless of major or academic interest.)  What do students typically do after graduation? (As in, do most students go directly into the workforce following graduation?

Grad school? It’s also helpful to know what percentage of students haven’t yet found a job within six months of graduation.)  What does the career advising process look like at this school? (It’s helpful to think about how active a role the school plays in helping students find and prepare for internship and job opportunities. Similarly, asking about the activeness of the alumni network can help you get a sense of how their support can help students in this regard as well as give an indication of how much students enjoyed their time at the school!)

Questions for Actors/Musicians/Artists

 Do students need to be theatre majors and/or audition for a school theatre company in order to be a part of the casting pool for school productions, or are auditions open to all students?  What are the audition dates? (This should only be asked if you can’t find the answer on the school’s website.)  What space is available for studio work for freshman though to the senior year?  What is the availability of work and studio space outside a particular medium to each student? (For example, can a student use the ceramics studio if they’re a painter?)

For many colleges, an interview – typically with either an admissions officer or an alumni representative – is a great way to make a strong impression on a college while also learning more about what makes that school a good fit for you. Some schools require interviews; for those that don’t, it’s usually a good idea to sign up for one. If the interview isn’t required, it’s likely to be more of an informative interview rather than an evaluative one, but any feedback from an interview could make its way into your application and play a role in the admissions decision you receive.

For each college you are considering, you should review their website to learn about their specific interview policies and offerings. In some cases, a representative will contact you directly to schedule an interview. In other cases, you’ll need to schedule a time yourself (and those time slots fill up quickly). Interviews that aren’t held on a college campus are typically held in a coffee shop or some other public place.

Preparation

To prepare for these interviews make sure you consider the following:  Have a notebook/paper and either a pen or pencil.  Dress appropriately for the interview, which typically means dressing like you would for a normal school day at Calvert Hall.  Bring a copy of your transcript and résumé. In our junior college advising class, we work with students on crafting a résumé. This résumé should be updated with senior year activities prior to the interview. You can find a copy of your transcript in OnCampus.  Have a list of questions to ask the interviewer about the college. These questions should be ones that allow for more qualitative answers, rather than asking about the size of the campus, student population, or any questions that can be answered with a quick Google search. This guide has a list of sample questions you can ask, in case you are having difficulty creating a list of questions.  After the interview, make sure to obtain your interviewer’s contact in formation so that you can write them a thank you note for taking the time to meet with you. Emails can be used if absolutely necessary, but a handwritten card works best.

In the interview, you should shake hands with the interviewer and make good eye contact during the course of the conversation. The interviewer will notice your body language and conduct as much as – if not more than – your answers to their questions. In terms of the questions themselves, listed below are some frequently-asked questions during college interviews. Review these (along with the information on why a question is asked and how to prepare for it) and think through

your responses in advance of the actual interview.

(credit to PrepScholar for the sample interview questions)

1. Tell me about yourself.

Why they're asking this: Colleges are asking you to do this because they really do want to know more about you. That's one of the primary purposes of the interview, after all! What they're looking for: You need to paint a unique portrait of who you are to separate yourself from other applicants. Avoid clichés or descriptions that would be too common. For example, don’t just say you’re hardworking—explain what has driven you to become as diligent as you are and why you feel it is important. How to prepare: Rehearse answering this question. Try talking about your passions, hobbies, and interests. You can discuss what inspires you or what your friends like about you. Be specific. Again, you want to make yourself memorable.

2. Why are you interested in this college?

Why they're asking this: This is an important question and one you should definitely prepare for, since colleges want to see that you’re taking the application process seriously and have a legitimate interest in attending the school. What they're looking for: Talk about your interest in a major or academic program, the cultural values of the school, or extracurricular activities that drew you to the college. Again, be thorough and specific. Don’t talk about prestige or rankings, and don't say you just want to go there because it’s close to home; none of this shows genuine interest in this specific college! How to prepare: To answer this question well, you'll need to conduct extensive college research before the interview. You should be able to cite specifics when answering this question.

3. Why Do You Want to Major in _______

Why they're asking this: Colleges are interested in your academic goals and want to see that you’re academically inclined. If you've indicated that you want to major in a certain subject, you might be asked why you’re interested in that particular field. What they're looking for: Talk about why a certain subject inspires you or why you're passionate about it. Don’t say that you’re pursuing a certain major to make a lot of money or have job security. That doesn’t demonstrate genuine academic interest; it just makes you seem shallow. How to prepare: Think deeply about why you want to pursue a specific major. Why do you find it fascinating? What experiences provoked your interest in the subject? How will the major enable you to reach your future professional goals?

- 24 -

4. What Are Your Academic Strengths?

Why they're asking this: In an effort to get to know you as a student, colleges are interested in getting your perspective on where you excel academically. What they're looking for: Don’t make this answer too short. Don’t just say, "I’m good at science." When discussing your academic strengths, explain how you’ve capitalized on your strengths. If you’re an excellent writer, for example, how have you used your writing skills to excel in school? How do you plan on continuing to use your strengths? How to prepare: Make sure you know your academic strengths. You should be able to explain how you recognized your strengths, how you're currently using them, and how you plan to use them in the future.

5. What Are Your Academic Weaknesses? How Have You Addressed Them?

Why they're asking this: Colleges want to admit good students, but they’re aware everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Colleges want to see that you have the persistence and work ethic to succeed despite your challenges. What they're looking for: Schools want students who can demonstrate their ability to confront and overcome challenges. Try revealing strategies or specific approaches you’ve taken to improve your academic weaknesses. You could also tell a specific story about how you managed to do well in a subject that was especially difficult for you. How to prepare: Be aware of your academic weaknesses and how you've addressed them. It's not good to say that you don't have any weaknesses. That's not very believable, and you'll come off as arrogant.

6. What Do You Plan to Contribute to This School?

Why they're asking this: Colleges want to admit students who will make positive contributions to campus and academic life. Essentially, they’re looking for students who will make the school better. What they're looking for: In short, specifics. Don’t limit your answer to vague positive traits. Don’t just say you’ll contribute a good work ethic and a regard for others. Is there specific research you wish to pursue? Do you want to have a leadership position in an extracurricular activity? Are there specific community service projects you want to do? How will your presence on campus and in the classroom make a difference? How to prepare: Know the specific contributions you want to make to the school. Identify your college goals as well as the activities you want to pursue while you're in college.

7. What Do You Expect to Be Doing 10 Years From Now?

Why they're asking this: Just to set the record straight, you don’t need to have your entire future figured out. Colleges understand that you probably won’t have everything decided and your plans are likely to change. What they do want is students with direction. What they're looking for: Colleges want students who are motivated to achieve their goals. The bad, general answer is to only say you expect to have a fulfilling career and be making a positive impact on the world. What are some specific activities you’d like to do? How do you plan on impacting the world? You don’t have to limit your plans to professional goals. Do you want to take your mom on a vacation? Or have weekly gatherings with your best friends from high school? How to prepare: You can write down some detailed notes answering this question. Paint a picture of the life you want to have in 10 years. That picture should reveal your uniqueness.

8. What Would You Change About Your High School?

Why they're asking this: With this question, colleges are looking for your ability to identify problems and get a better understanding of what you’re looking for in a school. By learning what you’d change, they get a chance to learn more about what matters to you. What they're looking for: Colleges want a thoughtful response. Be specific and respectful. Don’t say, "I’d get better teachers." Say that you’d allocate more resources to the music department so that more students can have the opportunity to learn how to play new instruments. Discuss how learning an instrument helped you, and describe the current state of the music department. Try to make it clear that you want to improve your school to benefit the personal and academic growth of all of its students. How to prepare: Think about the strengths and weaknesses of your high school. What are some specific problems it has? What are the consequences of those problems? What steps would you take to make improvements?

9. Whom Do You Most Admire?

Why they're asking this: From this question, colleges can get a sense of your values. If the person you most admire is Justin Bieber, for example, colleges might wonder about your priorities. What they're looking for: Don’t limit your answer just to naming the person. Why do you admire that person? For instance, many people say that the person they most admire is a parent. But what specifically has that parent done that you admire so much? In short, don’t forget the details. How to prepare: Think deeply about your response to this question. If the person you admire is somebody you know, practice by giving your answer to that person. You'll know you've answered the question well if you're rewarded with a hug or even a few tears from your audience.