SURVIVING THE INTERVIEW

Certain colleges and universities require an interview with the prospective student. The interview may be an integral part of the admissions process, and impressions gained from the interview may help or hinder the applicant's chance of admission. Other colleges may indicate that they prefer an interview but do not require it, and still other collegiate institutions seem convinced that an individual interview is largely unnecessary and, therefore, they do little to encourage one-to-one conversations between admissions officials and students. (Instead, they may offer group information sessions, during which an individual student's participation is seldom evaluated.)

One thing you can count on, however, is that once you do have an individual interview, whether on campus with an admissions officer or professor, or off-campus with an alumnus or alumna of the college, the impression you give of yourself is likely to be recorded and may have at least some bearing on your eventual admission. Undoubtedly there are some colleges that may interview you simply to maintain good public relations and will not use the results in their decision-making.

Speaking of process...That's exactly what the interview is--a process that evolves as two people (the student and the admissions officer) meet to discuss an area of mutual concern. Because of the great variations that exist among interview styles and formats, there is no way you can "totally" prepare for a college interview. Any given interview may strike you as artificial or dull or irrelevant or provocative, or stimulating; much depends upon the skill and interest of your interviewer as well as upon your own degree of enthusiasm and alertness. No matter what the outcome, the intended purpose of the interview is to serve as an information exchange. It is an opportunity for you to learn more about the college and the college to learn more about you.

• Arrange your interview at least three or four weeks in advance (allow more time during the busy fall season) by letter, email, or telephone with the college admissions office.
• Remember that the college is interested in interviewing you, the prospective student, and not your parents. It is perfectly acceptable for your parents to accompany you to the admissions office and even to greet the admissions representative or ask a pressing question or two. It is not wise for them to linger unless they are specifically invited to do so by the college official.
• Arrive for your appointment on time or perhaps a few minutes early, and dress suitably for the occasion.
• Expect some nervousness or tension on your part; this is only normal. Do keep the interview in perspective as just one aspect of your application to the college. Maintain your sense of humor and appreciate the fact that the college official may be equally anxious in his or her desire to impress you!
• Remember that your nonverbal messages, especially during the first several minutes and closing minutes of the interview, may have an overriding effect on the picture of you that is retained by the interviewer. A warm, firm handshake, good eye contact, reasonably erect posture, appropriate courtesy and responsiveness in facial expression will all do much to convey a positive interest.
• Prior to the interview, be sure to look over (with some thoroughness) a recent catalog of the college. Avoid asking questions that could be easily answered by a careful review of the college literature.
• Don't rely on the interviewer to do all of the talking--It is important (and indeed your responsibility) to contribute to the conversation. "Yes/No" answers with no elaboration will yield a very frustrated interviewer!
• Be prepared to discuss your academic and extracurricular record quite specifically. If your record has been sent to the college previously, it is possible that your interviewer will inquire very little about courses, grades and activities; instead, he/she will use the interview to explore new ground.
• Be prepared to ask quality questions.

Feel free to ask questions or raise concerns about any aspect of the college that may interest or even puzzle you. Social regulations, dormitory life, the strength of various majors, athletic policies, and the like, are all fair game.

Be ready to field any number of questions about yourself or miscellaneous topics, including any of the following:

• Which course in school do you most (least) enjoy? Why?
• Why are you interested in this college?
• How have you spent your summers?
• What are your hobby or leisure interests?
• What kind of work experience have you had?
• What is your probable major or career interest?
• What books have you read in the past years that were meaningful?
• Where do you see yourself five or ten years from now?
• What are your strong and weak points as a person?
• What are your reactions to (specific) current events?
• Do you have any heroes? Who? Why?
• What do you like (dislike) about your secondary school?
• What are you looking for in a college education?

Finally, be yourself, and don't hesitate to be original if that is your style. (Your interviewer has probably seen five or six other students that day who seemed altogether too much alike.)

AFTER THE INTERVIEW:

A thank-you letter to the admissions office for having seen you is a nice gesture. It will go in your folder and be a sign of your interest in the college. Such letters should be relatively noncommittal unless you have already made a firm decision.

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