Practice Interviews
Getting Ready for a Conversation
When your child decides a college may be a good fit, requesting an interview is a good move. It’s a great way for your child to show interest in a particular college. It’s also a good opportunity for your child to ask questions or explain special circumstances that might affect the application.
Before your child does the real thing, suggest trying a practice interview. A family member or friend can play the role of a college interviewer and ask your child typical interview questions (see below). Your child should take turns being the interviewer as well as the interviewee, to get comfortable with both asking and answering questions.
Demonstrate Your Interest
Interviewers want to see that your child is really interested in their college. One way your child can show this is by doing some research and asking appropriate questions. Have your child practice interviewing with specific colleges in mind. For example your child may want to ask about the journalism program — but not if the college doesn’t have one.
An interview should be a conversation — now is not the time to give a speech. Your child should be able to respond to the interviewer as a real person with something beneficial to bring to the campus.
Know What to Expect
The questions asked by interviewers are often very similar from one college to the next. The admission staff members just want to make sure that your child can speak intelligently about grades, scores and goals. Your child should practice answering questions like:
- Why do you want to attend our college?
- What can you contribute?
- What courses have you enjoyed most?
- Are your grades an accurate reflection of your potential?
- Which of your activities is most rewarding and why?
- What has been your biggest achievement?
- What's your opinion on the immigration debate [or other current event]?
- How did you spend last summer?
- What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
- What's the most difficult situation you've faced?
- If you could change one thing about your high school, what would it be?
Be Prepared for Tough Questions
Although most interview questions are standard, your child may be asked one that is unusual — for example, "Can you conduct this entire interview without using the word 'I'?" or “Do you think that our colleges should discontinue athletics and spend the money on academic programs instead?” There isn't any way to prepare for this type of question except to recognize that the possibility exists.
If stumped by a tough question, your child should stay calm and respond with, "I'll have to think that over. Is it okay if I write you about this?" Remind your child that it's much better to say, "I don't know," than to pretend to be an expert.
The interviewer could also ask about something in your child’s application that needs explanation, such as a semester of poor grades. This is a chance to clarify any special circumstances that may have affected your child’s record. If an issue like this does exist, your child should practice introducing the topic and explaining it.
The First Interview
Your child should consider scheduling the first interview at a college where chances of admission are high, a "safety" school. This gives your child a taste of the real thing without as much pressure. Save the interviews at "reach" colleges for when your child has gained experience and confidence.
