College Interview Questions And Answers

This question comes in different forms including, "In what ways have you contributed to your high school?," "How will you be a valuable addition to the college?" Before the interview, pick a few positive adjectives that describe you and explain why. Then turn that into the answer to any of these questions. For example, "I'm very self-motivated. If I see that something needs to get done, I take it upon myself to do it. In my high school glee club, for instance …" An answer like this will work for more than one type of question. "Don't just give the three adjectives though. Pretend you were thrown a ball and now you have to run with the ball. Relax and answer the question, but give more than just the answers,"

Realize that you don't need to have decided upon a major when you apply to college, and your interviewer will not be disappointed if you say you have many interests and you need to take more classes before choosing a major. However, if you have identified a potential major, be prepared to explain why. Avoid saying that you want to major in something because you'll make a lot of money -- your passion for a subject will make you a good college student, not your greed.

Use this question to communicate your passions and even your quirks. This makes you a "person"and not just a name on an application. Find something that makes you memorable and use it to give the interviewer a snapshot into who you are. You could answer, "I love exercising and create competitions with my friends to see who can run the furthest over a given period of time."Or you could say, "I do my best thinking in the shower."Be creative and make this a memorable answer. The colleges have your grades and your application. They want to know what makes you unique.

You can draw from many different types of challenges: academic, personal, work, goals, tragedy, and even an ethical dilemma. This question is designed to determine what type of problem solver you are; college is about developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. The answer to this question will help the interviewer see that you have demonstrated these abilities by overcoming a challenge.

Almost everyone says yes to this question. But it is not just a yes/no question. You need to provide behavioral examples to back up your answer.

A sample answer: "Yes, I'm very much a team player. In fact, I've had opportunities in my work, school and athletics to develop my skills as a team player. For example, on a recent project…"

Emphasize teamwork behavioral examples and focus on your openness to diversity of backgrounds. Talk about the strength of the team above the individual. And note that this question may be used as a lead in to questions around how you handle conflict within a team, so be prepared.

Colleges look for students who will be a good match for their school. Your interviewer wants to see a genuine interest in the college. "There's always going to be a question 'Why do you want to come to our school?' so you really have to know the school," says Bev Taylor, an independent college counselor and director of the Ivy Coach. Spend time before the interview thinking about why that college would be a good match for you. "It's important to talk about yourself. Students need to do their homework before an interview. Find out what it is about themselves that can make them happy at that college," Taylor says.

You'll want to be specific when answering this question. An answer like "I'm hard-working" is rather bland and generic. Think about what it is that makes you uniquely you. What exactly will you bring to diversify the college's community?

The interviewer is trying to accomplish a few things with this question. First, the question asks whether or not you've actually read much. Second, it asks you to apply some critical skills as you articulate why a book is worth reading. And finally, your interviewer might get a good book recommendation!

An interview is a chance for you to meet with someone who represents the college. It's a great way to show your interest in the college, to start a relationship with people there and to show what you're all about. Here are some types of questions you may encounter and tips for answering them.

Even if you're an excellent student, there will be subjects that challenge you. Use this opportunity to show how you tackled the challenge (tutoring, one-on-one with the teacher, study groups, etc.). This shows colleges that even if you face difficulty in a college course, you know how to get help.

The easy answer is that you are the best person for the job. And don't be afraid to say so. But then back it up with what specifically differentiates you.

For example: "You should hire me because I'm the best person for the job. I realize that there are likely other candidates who also have the ability to do this job. Yet I bring an additional quality that makes me the best person for the job-my passion for excellence. I am passionately committed to producing truly world class results. For example…"

Are you the best person for the job? Show it by your passionate examples.

This is a broad question and you need to focus on the behavioral examples in your educational background which specifically align to the required competencies for the career.

An example: "My education has focused on not only the learning the fundamentals, but also on the practical application of the information learned within those classes. For example, I played a lead role in a class project where we gathered and analyzed best practice data from this industry. Let me tell you more about the results…"

Focus on behavioral examples supporting the key competencies for the career. Then ask if they would like to hear more examples.

This interview question frequently comes up and is an easy one to prepare an answer to. Try not to pick a book that you were assigned to read for class, but if you do, try not to mention that it was an assignment. "Know about a book and don't just stop at the name of the book and the author. Know something about the book and something that you enjoyed about that book … You have to know the answer to this one," Taylor says. Use this opportunity to share something about yourself. Talk about why the book had special meaning for you and try to reveal your interests and personality in the process.

There are other variations of this question: Who's your hero? What historical or fictional character would you most like to be like? This can be an awkward question if you haven't thought about it, so spend a few minutes considering how you would answer. Identify a few real, historical, and fictional characters you admire, and be prepared to articulate WHY you admire them.

This is six years after you've graduated from college. Who knows what they will be doing ten years from now? Odds are you have no idea and haven't even thought about it. It's acceptable to answer, "I don't know", if you explain your answer. You are just out of high school and entering into college. Explain that college will shape who you are, what you pursue, and what career path you take. An honest response is always the best response.

Why are you considering this college?
What makes you think that this college would be a good match?
Where else are you applying and why?
What do you hope to major in?
What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?How do you define "success?"
What have you liked or disliked about your school?
What would you change?
How would you describe yourself to someone who did not know you?
What newspapers and magazines do you read?
What books not required for school have you read recently?
What television shows do you watch?
Tell us about your family.
How do you spend a typical afternoon after school? Evening? Weekend?
What extracurricular activities have you found most satisfying?
What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
What has been your proudest achievement so far?
If you could talk with any one living (or deceased) person, whom would it be and why?
What events have been crucial in your life?
What is the most important thing you've learned in high school?
What mark do you feel you've left on your school?
What do you want to get out of your college experience?What about you is unique?
What could you contribute to our college community?
Talk about a significant challenge you have encountered.
Is there anything you'd like to tell us about your transcript?
What is your greatest passion?
How would your friends describe you?
If you had high school to do over again, what might you have done differently?
What are your goals for your senior year?

► What is the most important thing you've learned in high school?
► What do you expect to be doing ten years from now?
► How do you define "success?"
► What have you liked or disliked about your school? What would you change?
► How would you describe yourself to someone who did not know you?
► What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
► What has been your proudest achievement so far?
► If you could talk with any one living (or deceased) person, whom would it be and why?
► What events have been crucial in your life?
► What mark do you feel you've left on your school?
► What do you want to get out of your college experience?
► What about you is unique?
► What could you contribute to our college community?

You don't have to know what you'll major in, but be able to explain your academic interests, why they interest you, and how you can pursue those interests at their college. Colleges are looking for students who are excited about learning, not students who feel they need to get a college degree but aren't sure why.

The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

For example: "Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what I'm presently doing to prepare myself…"

Then go on to show by your examples what you are doing to reach your goals and objectives.

That's going to come up at the end, guaranteed. Too often students will say, 'I think you've answered them all. That's probably the worst answer you can give. You need to have some questions," Taylor says. Asking your interviewer questions shows them that you've spent time thinking about their school. It's okay to bring a list of questions you wrote beforehand.

Ask the right sorts of questions. Don't ask something that can easily be found on the school's Web site. Show you've done some research. Ask questions that relate to your interests, not just general questions. You also don't want to ask a question that will put their school in a negative light. Instead of asking a yes or no question like, "Are research opportunities available to freshmen?" ask a more open-ended question like, "How can a freshman get involved in research?"

Don't list off a bunch of titles and positions. Focus on one specific leadership position and give detail to show the depth of your commitment. Cite concrete accomplishments like organizing a drive to gather toys for the Ronald McDonald House or enlisting a group of volunteers to teach senior citizens how to use social media. Remember that you don't have to hold an office or title or elected position to be a leader. Describing how you organized something or motivated a group of people is just as impressive. Leadership isn't communicated by titles, but by action.

This question seems easier than it is. How do you reduce your whole life to a few sentences? And it's hard to avoid commonplace answers like "I'm friendly" or "I'm a good student." Of course you want to demonstrate that you're friendly and studious, but try also to say something memorable here that really makes you different from other college applicants. Can you hold your breath longer than anyone in your school? Do you have a huge collection of Pez dispensers?

They are not looking for a book report. What they want is to learn more about who you are from the books you read, which are in an indicator of your interests, beliefs, goals, likes and dislikes. Did the book make you think differently or cause you to take action? How did you relate to a particular character or setting? It doesn't have to be a literary classic, but you should be ready to explain why you love it.

Be specific when answering this question. Since the question asks about the community, it should be community oriented. How will you make the college a better place? Think about how you see yourself interacting with other students on campus and how you will enhance your experience there by becoming involved in activities outside the classroom. Think outside the box on this one and find a way that your own uniqueness will contribute to the community.

Be specific when answering this, and show that you've done your research. Also, avoid answers like "I want to make a lot of money" or "Graduates of your college get good job placement." You want to highlight your intellectual interests, not your materialistic desires. What specifically about the college distinguishes it from other schools you're considering?