What are College Interviews?

A College interview is simply a meeting with an alumni or admissions official - sometimes volunteers who are affiliated with the school. Interviews give students the opportunity to present themselves to a representative of the school and to ask questions about the college as a result. ​Most interviews are conducted in casual places such as coffee shops, libraries, and schools. It is crucial that students are well prepared for a specific school interview, and that you always have a few questions to ask after the interview is competed(huge tip). This part of the application process is to simply showcase yourself to a particular school, and learn more about that university through that interview as well. Most interviews are simply a way for the college to understand your interests and passions beyond the written component of the college application, and to share a perspective on your personality, strengths, personal ambitions, and weaknesses to the admission officers.

How Do You Set Up an Interview?

 Colleges will likely vary in their procedures when it comes to interviews. Some ask you to set one up after you've applied and they've begun to process your application. Others may ask you to indicate on your application whether or not you'd like to have an interview (these are the optional ones). Some colleges set interview request deadlines like MIT, and Wellesley. These deadlines are a couple of weeks earlier than your application deadline, so you'll need to research the process at your prospective colleges early. If you have any interviews, you'll have to keep track of the interview deadline, not just your overall application due date. Once you've made your request, the college will usually put you in touch with a local alum. Then you'll set up a time and place that works for both of you. Due to COVID-19, it is highly likely that most colleges will conduct virtual interviews over various platforms such as Zoom or Google -Meets, so please do not worry if you are unable to attend an interview for the upcoming admissions cycle! Please research the universities in your colleges list, and determine whether or not interviews are optional, required, or recommend.

Preparation?

• Practice answering potential college interview questions with a friend, family member, or a mentor 
• Write some information or notes down related to these questions, so your brain can process it in a clearer manner!!
• Do not make it feel rehearsed, this is supposed to be a conversation in order for the interviewer to get to know you, and whether or not you would be a great fit for their institution.
• Try to always list three things during the interview that you want your interviewer to know most about you. This really helps you stand out amongst other qualified applicants.

Last Tips!

• College interviews are most definitely not the most important part of the college admissions process whatsoever.
• College interviews are not mandatory at most universities, they are simply a chance to validate the information that you have presented in your  application, and for the school to understand you in a better light.
• In some cases, you will not immediately not know an answer to a question presented by the interviewer. If this happens; simply breathe for some seconds, and go from there. Again, college interviewers do not want rehearsed answers, try to make it feel natural!
• You will do wonderful, believe in yourself and your abilities!