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Bring at least one copy of your resume to give to the interviewer, so he or she can refer to it during your interview, use it to take notes, and look at it after you leave, when writing up their recommendation. Be on time. Wear appropriate attire (no jeans, make sure your hair is out of your face, no strong perfume, etc) Smile, make eye contact, shake hands. Be as natural as you can. Listen carefully to the questions that are asked. It is OK to take a moment to collect your thoughts, or ask for a clarification before answering. Make sure you answer their question – but don’t be afraid to add some additional thoughts or ideas, if you think they would help you! Try to remain calm, confident and friendly. Smile! Try to tell your story – what is your background? What are your goals? What drives you? What unusual circumstances have you faced or overcome? Is it possible (but very rare) that the interviewer may ask you questions that seem difficult. How you answer the question is as important as what you answer – they might be trying to see if you can calmly defend a point of view or navigate a complicated issue without getting flustered. At some point, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. You should have prepared some questions beforehand. The most successful questions are those that ask the interviewer to talk about their own college experience. If you can ask something like, “What about your college experience most shaped the career you chose?” or “What was the most memorable part of college for you?” or “What advice would you give me when I arrive at college?” At the end of the interview, make sure you have your interviewer’s contact information (email, phone and mailing address). Thank them. As soon as you get home, write a thank-you note and mail it to the interviewer. You can also send a thank-you email. Thank the interviewer for his or her time, express that you really enjoyed the conversation, and re-state your strong interest in their school. Also, let them know how to contact you if they have more questions or need any additional information. Double-check your thank-you note for spelling or grammar errors!
More interview tips are available both here and here.
8. Financial aid. Financial aid (assistance paying for college) is a very important part of the college admissions process. Some colleges provide need-based financial aid (money based on your family’s income) for international students. Some colleges provide merit-based (money based on your accomplishments) scholarships or financial aid, and some only offer loans to international students. If the cost of college is an important concern for you, you should make sure to research the financial aid programs for the colleges you are interested in. There are several important forms that you will need to fill out to apply for financial aid (you can access them through the Common Application web site by clicking on “Financial Aid”). The financial aid offices at colleges are usually very helpful with this. Here is a list of colleges that frequently offer financial aid to international students and some advice about financial aid. You can also apply for outside scholarships, either in your country or abroad. This site has a list of scholarships that you can apply for. You should also talk to Seeds of Peace staff and fellow Seeds who are studying in the United States to get information about financial aid options. (See below for specific information about the financial aid program at Harvard).
9. Getting a visa. Once you are accepted to a college, and decide where to go, you will need to apply for a student visa. This can take a long time, and it is important to start the process right away. Here is some good information on applying for a student visa. You should also be in touch with Seeds of Peace staff for additional help and information.