College Interview Preparation Guide

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In the interview or on your application, you often have an opportunity to explain a bad grade or a bad semester. Be careful with this issue -- you don't want to come across as a whiner or as someone who blames others for a low grade. However, if you really did have extenuating circumstances, let the college know.

You don't need to pretend that you have your life figured out if you get a question like this. Very few students entering college could accurately predict their future professions. However, your interviewer does want to see that you think ahead. If you can see yourself doing three different things, say so -- honesty and open-mindedness will play in your favor.

A question like this can turn sour if you make the mistake of dwelling on things you regret. Try to put a positive spin on it. Perhaps you've always wondered if you would have enjoyed acting or music. Maybe you would have liked to give the student newspaper a try. Maybe, in retrospect, studying Chinese might have been more in line with your career goals than Spanish. A good answer shows that you didn't have the time in high school to explore everything that is of interest to you.

"Hangin' out and chillin'" is a weak answer for this question. College life obviously isn't all work, so the admissions folks want students who will do interesting and productive things even when they aren't studying. Do you write? hike? play tennis? Use a question such as this one to show that you are well-rounded with a variety of interests.

Most interviewers love this question and most students answer it with little thought. Think about this question. It's not enough to say you are a leader or you are a loyal friend. You need examples and incidents that communicate your strengths, and will help the judges understand why you believe they are strengths. When talking about a weakness, be honest. The key is to show that you are taking steps to minimize or overcome this weakness. For instance, if you are a procrastinator, explain how you are developing time management skills, goal setting, and using organization tools to correct it.

This question is designed to see what kind of problem solver you are. When confronted with a challenge, how do you handle the situation? College will be full of challenges, so the college wants to make sure they enroll students who can handle them.

Use this question to reveal something about yourself that they might not know. Don't state the obvious and say-because it's a top-tiered college, or they have majors that interest you, or your parents went there. Walk the interviewer through the thought process you took when selecting the college. This will communicate what's important to you and show them what you value, why you want to attend their college, and what you hope to gain from an education there.

You can almost guarantee that your interviewer will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions. Make sure you have some, and make sure your questions are thoughtful and specific to the particular college. Avoid questions like "when is the application deadline?" or "how many majors do you have?" This information is both uninteresting and readily available on the school's webpage. Come up with some probing and focused questions: "What would graduates of your college say was the most valuable thing about their four years here?" "I read that you offer a major in interdisciplinary studies. Could you tell me more about that?"

When interviewers ask this question they are trying to learn something about you through the person you admire most. It says something about you so it's important to explain your choice. It's not enough just to give a name, you need to know something about the person and why they inspire you. Don't be frivolous with this question, it shows what you value most in a person and how you will model your success based on that person's admirable attributes.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?"

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.

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.

► 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?

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?

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.