The Importance of College Admission Interviews

College interview may have different purposes for each school. For some of them, the interview can be an informational step during the admission process. Meanwhile, it can be evaluative process for other schools. Some people may see it as unimportant procedure and irrelevant to the admission process. Some also say it is unlikely to seriously boost an applicant’s odds for admission. However, you should treat it as another data point colleges are collecting, especially when some schools are putting less emphasis on ACT or SAT scores.

What to expect from college admission interview

Even if the interview is only another step you need to take for the admission process, you have to plan how to ace it. Hence, you increase the chance of your acceptance over other competitors. If you and another applicant have the same scores and all, you may get chosen if your interview went better. During the interview for college admission, you need to anticipate various questions asked by committee or interviewer. It is best that you make preparation by researching the university in advance, and practice mock interview with your family or friends.

Academic and non-academic factors to ask

During the interview, you need to expect the interviewers to ask more about your academic and non-academic points. They want to see your potential for success in your next journey at the university. They also want to know your readiness for it. Keep in mind that your academic track record can be seen from your transcript. Hence, the interview is more about how you tell the story of your academic and non-academic journey to the interviewer.

Anticipate common questions

Each college admission committee may list their own questions for the applicants. You will never know what kind of questions they will ask of you. However, you may anticipate most common questions such as:

What do you think are the benefits of an education from this school

What do your transcript say about you as a student?

If you could change one thing about your past education, what would it be and why?

What kind of school are you looking for?

What do you think is the most important thing to consider when deciding where to attend college?

What activities are you hoping to be involved in?

What are your potential areas of study?

What type of student do you hope to be at this school?

Those are pretty common questions college admission committee ask to applicants during the interview. Even if you don’t know what the interviewers will ask, at least you can prepare your best answer to those questions above. The point is to make sure you know what to expect for your future education at the university, your goals, and potential.

How to ace your college admission interview

To ace your college admission interview, you need to make preparation both physically and mentally. Make sure you are in good condition for the interview. Practice deep breathing to help calm your nerves. Arrive early, be respectful and stay confident throughout the process.