College interviews provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate aspects of their personality and interests that may not have been apparent in their written application. Although not all colleges include interviews as part of the admissions process, a successful interview can play a role in the decision to accept an applicant. If you think you may have a college interview in your future, it may be helpful to reflect on the following questions and prepare thoughtful responses.
Why the interviewer is asking admission questions
This means that the interviewer’s job is not only to find out if you’re academically qualified, but also to see if you would be a good addition to the school and fit in with their mission.
There are several elements that are important for colleges and universities:
- Will you bring something to the school’s campus community that they value?
- Can you contribute to an academic or extracurricular program that is valued by the college/university?
The decision about who gets in is based on the interview and the impression you make during the admissions process. This doesn’t mean that they will try to trip you up or put you on the spot, but they will use the interviews to get to know you better. During the interview, the interviewer will try to get a sense of your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
An interviewer will want to discuss your passions and interests in order to see if the college you are interviewing for is a good match for what you hope to achieve.
What the interviewer is interested in
Various colleges and universities have different interview procedures. The purpose of the interview, whether it is for evaluation or for information, is for the interviewer to get to know you and to see if the school is the right match for you. They want to find out why you are interested in the school and what you can bring to the campus.
Even though it may not be clear exactly how admission committees make their decisions, a great interview could give you an advantage over other applicants with similar credentials.
The conversation with the interviewer will start with your application and supporting documents, such as your motivation letter. They will also discuss the academic interests you mentioned in these documents.
The interviewer is interested in the following things during the admission interview:
- Your motivation why you’re interested in this particular school.
- More information on your academic interests and motivation for your study.
- What you can bring to the school. In other words,
- What makes you different from the other candidates.
- If you have any questions, admission interviews are two-way streets, and by asking the right questions, you show that you prepared well and that you’re genuinely interested in the school and the study.
Question One: Tell Me About Yourself
Why They’re Asking This Question
If the interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself, you want to be prepared to give a great answer. They ask this for two reasons: to learn about you and to see what makes you unique. It’s important that your answer isn’t cliché or generic. This is your chance to show why you would be a valuable addition to the university, so take advantage of it!
What They Are Looking For
Universities want to know what makes you unique compared to other applicants. They want to see that you are sincere and passionate about what you do. They also want to see that you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses and have a plan for personal growth. Interviewers want to hear about your specific passions, the obstacles you’ve overcome, and your long-term goals. They also want to know how this university aligns with your goals.
How to Prepare
Craft a unique story about your background, interests, and future goals that speaks to why you are suited for the university. Ask for feedback from people you trust, and rehearse the story ahead of any interviews.
Question Two: Why Are You Interested in This College?
The question of why you want to attend a particular college is one of the most important questions you can be asked in an interview for college. This is your chance to explain why you would be a good addition to that university and how you would contribute to the student body. Keep in mind that colleges usually have more qualified candidates than they have spots, so they want to be sure that they only accept students who are genuinely interested in and would benefit from attending that particular school. Furthermore, colleges want to know what kind of value you would add to their student population, so it is important to think about this in advance.
What They Are Looking For
Colleges are looking for candidates who will add to the diversity of the university and who are a good match for the school’s programs.
How to Prepare
The best way to answer this question is to do your research ahead of time. Familiarize yourself with the university, its location, and any departments or majors that interest you. If you have any connections to the school (such as relatives who attended there), be sure to mention them. Explain why the school’s culture, location, and/or focus appeals to you. The more specific you can be, the better. This will show the school that you’re serious about attending and that you would be a valuable addition to their student body.
Question Three: Why Are You Pursuing This Major?
Why They’re Asking This Question
Admissions officers are looking to see if you are prioritizing your academic goals and interests and if you have a plan to discover your future major and potential career choice. They want to see that you are intellectually curious and driven towards your long-term goals.
What They Are Looking For
Colleges want to see that you have thought about your future and why you are interested in specific subjects or industries. They want to understand what has influenced your decisions so far.
How to Prepare
To prepare for this question, consider both your current interests and the university’s offerings. First, look into the departments and majors that the university is strong in. Then, think about your current interests and passions, and any topics you want to explore further in college. With this information, you can explain why you’re interested in a particular major or discipline and why you want to study it at this school.
Question Four: What Are Your Academic Strengths?
Why They’re Asking This Question
They are looking for introspective and self-aware students. Being able to identify and articulate your strengths is one way to show this. When they ask about your academic strengths, they want to see if you have evidence and examples to back up your answer. They also want to know how you discovered these strengths and if you plan on using them in the future.
What They Are Looking For
Colleges want to hear about the areas in which students excel academically. They want to know about the student’s reasoning behind this, how the student has put these strengths to use, and how these strengths may have influenced the student’s future goals. It doesn’t matter which subjects or aspects of the student’s academic career are the strengths, but admissions officers want to see how the student has discovered these strengths and how the student has been able to capitalize on them in the student’s studies.
How to Prepare
You should think about your academic career, what subjects you’re good at, and any feedback you’ve gotten from others when you’re preparing for this question. Once you figure out which strengths you want to focus on, explain how and when you found out about them and how they’ve affected your academic career up to this point. Also, try to answer how you think you’ll use those strengths in the future, in college and for a specific job.
Question Five: What Are Your Academic Weaknesses?
Why They’re Asking This Question
Colleges are interested in students who are self-aware, open to growth, and able to accept constructive criticism. Acknowledging your weaknesses shows that you have these qualities. Colleges know that no student is perfect, and a student who is not aware of their flaws will be more difficult to work with academically and professionally.
What They Are Looking For
Admissions officers want to know about your specific weaknesses and how you plan to improve them. They don’t want to hear about general weaknesses that don’t have anything to do with your academic journey. It’s important to show that you’re always trying to improve yourself, even if that means learning from your mistakes.
How to Prepare
To prepare for this question, think about your experiences in all the classes you have taken. Consider any common weaknesses or areas of difficulty. For example, was test-taking always a time crunch for you? Or, were you nervous about presenting in front of big groups? In addition to your experiences, think about any feedback and constructive criticism you have been given by peers, teachers, and mentors. Based on all this information, build your answer around strengths that you can actively improve on. Make sure to include a plan of improvement as well. There is one thing you should never include in your answer: a lack of motivation or a disinterest in learning. These could be deal breakers when it comes to college acceptance.
Question Six: What Do You Expect to Be Doing in 10 Years?
Why They’re Asking This Question
Colleges are looking for students who have a sense of direction, are ambitious, and have some sort of passion. They also want to see that students have the ability to think about their future and have considered potential career paths. Even if a student’s plans change after college, it is important to the college that the student is thoughtful and motivated enough to have a plan.
What They Are Looking For
The admissions officers want to know if you have found your strengths, interests and passions and if you have a plan on how to use them in the future. They want to hear which career paths you are considering and why. They want to know what you are doing now to explore any of those paths. This could be through your elective class schedule, extracurriculars, an apprenticeship, internship, or any type of personal project or independent research. If you go above and beyond to explore these potential areas of interest outside the classroom, it will demonstrate that you have real drive and intellectual curiosity and this will give you an advantage over your peers.
How to Prepare
Think about which subjects or industries you are passionate about and which you might pursue in higher education and a future career. Try to be honest in your answer, rather than just saying something that sounds impressive. Remember that admissions officers are more interested in how you came to your conclusions and what you have been doing to discover them, rather than what you say you will be doing in ten years.
Question Seven: Who Do You Most Admire?
What They Are Looking For
The question of who has had the biggest influence on your life is one without a definitive answer. The answer you give, and the reasoning behind it, however, can say a lot about you. Choosing someone for this question based solely on their fame or wealth is not likely to make a good impression. It is better to choose someone whose actions have had a significant impact on you and your future plans. This person could be anyone from a parent or mentor to a CEO or scientist. As long as you can provide a justification for your choice, you should be in good shape.
How to Prepare
Think about people in your life who have influenced you, either through personal interactions or through their public persona. Consider what traits you admire in them and how those traits have affected you. Be prepared to explain your reasoning in detail and how the person has impacted your plans and goals.
Question Eight: Why Is College Important to You?
Why They’re Asking This Question
Many high school graduates are choosing not to go to college, so universities want to know why their applicants have chosen this path. They also want to know what the students believe they will get out of the experience. This question may also help expose students who are truly interested in learning, versus those whose parents are simply forcing them to attend university.
What They Are Looking For
Interviewers are hoping to hear a response which makes it clear that the applicant is aware of why attending college is important and how it will help them to achieve their goals. Too many students either drop out, fail or become distracted by social activities and forget their original purpose for going to university. Admissions tutors want to recruit students who are highly motivated and have a clear focus on why they are there. This question is an opportunity for the applicant to show that they understand this.
How to Prepare
Why do you want to attend college?
Question Nine: What Do You Like to Do For Fun?
Why They’re Asking This Question
The most important question you may be asked is not “What do you do for fun?” However, this question provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are an interesting person with diverse hobbies or passions. If you have any hobbies or interests that are uncommon or unique, now would be the time to share them. Colleges want to ensure that they are admitting students who are well-rounded and who will contribute to a student body with a wide variety of hobbies, talents, and interests. This question allows you to show how you can contribute to that.
What They Are Looking For
The interviewer is looking to see if the interviewee has anything unique to add to the company. They want to see if the interviewee is an individual with unique passions, gifts, hobbies, or talents that would set them apart from other candidates.
How to Prepare
To prepare for this question, think about your hobbies and interests outside of school. What have you been doing with your free time? Have you been working on any personal projects? If so, what are you proud of that you have created? Build your answer around the interests that have taken up most of your time outside of school. The more sincere and enthusiastic you are about your answer, the more your passion will be apparent to your interviewer.
Question Ten: What Makes You Unique?
Why They’re Asking This Question
Why do you want to attend this college? This question is asked to get to the heart of what the interviewer has been searching for in the previous questions. They want to know why you would be a valuable addition to their university and what makes you special. You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to answer this question well, but you do need to plan ahead. The key to a good answer is specificity, sincerity, and proof.
What They Are Looking For
The interviewer is looking for evidence that confirms that you are unique, special, and an individual. They want to know about your background and experiences, your talents and passions, and your future goals. Be sure to back up your claims with examples of how your uniqueness has played a part in your life. If you can, show how you will uniquely contribute to the university or student body.
How to Prepare
Think about your experiences, accomplishments, passions, and goals to find aspects of your life that make you unique. These unique traits can be build into stories that show how they have impacted your life and how they would be beneficial to the university.
Conclusion
The key to nailing a college interview is preparation, confidence, and poise. Be sure to review your answers to common questions ahead of time so you can go into the interview with peace of mind. If you are asked a question you weren’t expecting, don’t panic— simply take your time to provide a well-thought-out answer. Your interviewers are interested in hearing your story, so give it your all.
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