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CHAPTER FIVE

WINNING IN WORDS: THE ALSO-IMPORTANT COLLEGE INTERVIEW

You may or may not have won over those admissions officers or committee members with your written words, so now it’s time to dazzle them with your verbal wit. The college interview is important as it is another chance to show a school just who you are, why you want to attend their college and why they should count themselves lucky to get you (in a humble fashion, of course). It is also another chance to explain why your numbers are not as high as they could be.

While not all colleges require an interview, if you are given the opportunity, take it. Interviews may be held at the college with an admissions officer, which requires a trip to the school. But sometimes interviews are conducted in your community by local alumni. You should look forward to the opportunity of an interview. In fact, you might find it easier to discuss issues face to face rather than on paper.

Of course, unlike the essay, an interview doesn’t afford you the chance to brainstorm, outline, think about, mull over, ponder and weigh the questions. Your responses are going to be on the spot, so preparation is the key to not looking like a befuddled idiot desperately searching for the right answers.

What kinds of questions will you be asked during the interview? They are similar to the kinds of questions that are used as essay topics. But the essay has just one question to answer or one topic to explore. In the interview, however, you typically answer a number of questions and converse with an interviewer or panel for 15 minutes to an hour. Topics to be discussed are often divided into categories like school/classes, teachers, extracurricular activities, community, college and the world in general. Here are some typical examples. As you read these questions, think about how you would answer each one.

• How would you describe your high school?

• How do you fit into your school?

• If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? Why?

• What has been your favorite/least favorite class in school?

• Who was your favorite/least favorite teacher in school? Why?

• How do you spend your free time and/or summers?

• Do you have a hobby of some kind? Tell me about it.

• Why are you interested in coming to this college?

• Where do you see yourself four years from now?

• What would you like to change about yourself?

• What are the three words that best describe you?

• What accomplishment are you most proud of?

• Why do you think you are a good match for this college?

• What do you think about _______________ (current event, literature, art, music or other contemporary subject)?

DON’T JUST TALK ABOUT YOU

Since the interviewers are real people, they value real conversations. Which would you prefer: listening to a one-hour soliloquy with Socratic references on the merits of academia as perceived through the eyes of an 18-year-old, or participating in an intriguing conversation about current events, life experiences and personal opinions? Needless to say, interviewers prefer the latter as well.

Throughout your interviews, remind yourself that your goal is to achieve two-way conversation. Be careful of any interview where the subject is you and you dominate the interview talking about your accomplishments. Don’t worry about trying to mention all your achievements—your interviewer will ask about them. At the same time, however, this is not the only thing the interview is about.

Common sense tells us that most people enjoy talking about themselves, and interviewers are no different. Your interviewers volunteered for this job because they enjoyed their college experience and they like talking to potential students. Interviewers are usually the kind of people who love to give advice to young prospects. Think of this as a time not only for your interviewers to learn about you but also for you to find out as much as you can about them and their experiences.

Reprinted with permission from Get into Any College by Gen and Kelly Tanabe

Who will ask you these questions? It depends on the college. It may be an admissions officer, another student, faculty member, alumnus or panel of interviewers.

Keep in mind that a college interview is usually more like a casual chat over coffee, not a white-light-in-your-face interrogation. If you have a good sense of humor, the interview is the time to show it. If you have a talent, skill or ability that just did not fit on the application form or in your essay, speak now or forever hold your peace. If you can, find out if the interview is considered to be informational (just getting some facts about you and a time for questions and answers) or evaluative (part of the admissions criteria).

Feeling nervous as you go into the interview is understandable. In a way, it is a good thing because it will give you that extra boost of adrenaline you need to keep on your toes and pay attention. A person who isn’t at least a little bit nervous may not do as well as one who is!

To make this less of a stressful event, practice what you are going to say ahead of time. Entertain your friends and family with it. Speak in front of the mirror or to an understanding guidance counselor. Prepare an answer for all the possible questions so you are ready, no matter which one the officer may ask.

The bottom line of the interview is simple—it is not the end all, be all of the admissions process. It will not usually make or break your acceptance. The person talking to you is a human being and may well have gone through the exact same thing you are going through right now. This means you will glimpse some compassion, empathy and even a smile during the interview. Relax, take a few deep breaths and let the special person that you are shine out!

According to the people at www.collegeboard.com, there are 13 things to avoid in a college interview. Are you paying attention? Here they are!

HOW DO I RESPOND TO QUESTIONS LIKE “TELL ME ABOUT YOUR GREATEST FAILURE” OR “WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?”

Contrary to what it may seem, these are not trick questions. They ask you to examine yourself closely and to be honest. Admissions officers often ask questions like these to draw out meaningful experiences in your life that show you have coped with a variety of challenges. To prepare for a question like this, just think a moment about what kind of difficult moments you have had to deal with in your life. Did your parents get divorced? Did you lose a friend? Think about what you have had to struggle with. Did you have trouble with a certain subject? How did you overcome your difficulty? What personality trait gives you the most trouble? What do you do about it? When you answer a question like this, you may just find out some amazing things about yourself that you had not realized yet!

Don’t:

• Be late

• Memorize speeches—instead sound natural and conversational

• Ask questions covered by the college catalog

• Chew gum

• Wear lots of cologne or perfume

• Swear or use too much slang

• Be arrogant—there’s a fine line between being confident and boasting

• Lie—it will come back to haunt you

• Respond with only “yes” or “no” answers

• Tell the school it’s your safety or last choice

• Be rude to the receptionist or any other staff you meet

• Bring a parent into the interview

• Refuse an interview

During the interview, more than your words count. While you don’t have to come to the interview in a suit and tie or wear a dress, you shouldn’t show up in shorts and tank top either. Be professional in your appearance. As you talk to the interviewer, sit up straight and don’t fidget. Be sure to make eye contact. Never interrupt, and shake hands at the beginning and the end.

YOUR INTERVIEW HOMEWORK

Remember those college brochures filled with pictures, statistics and text cultivating dust balls under your bed? Dig them out before your interview and do something really radical—read them! It is not necessary to read them cover to cover, but knowing such basic facts as where the school is located, what kind of environment it has, some of the courses it offers and some of the activities you may choose to participate in is a good idea. It does not impress interviewers to discover that students who are applying to their beloved alma mater do not even know what state it is located in or that the college is single sex. (There was an applicant who actually made it to the interview before he learned that the college he was applying to was an all-women school!)

Try to talk to relatives or friends who attend or have attended the college. They can give you insights into the college that are not found in the glossy brochures. The more you know the better.

Doing your homework will allow you to be able to ask intelligent questions. You are making the most important decision of your life so far. It makes sense that you would have a question or two about it. Having prepared questions not only helps create the two-way conversation dynamic, but it also demonstrates that you are serious about attending the college.

Not all questions are good questions, and in particular, avoid asking those obvious ones where the answers are on the first page of the college’s brochure. Instead, the best questions to ask your interviewers are those that make them reflect on their own experiences, require them to do a little thinking and elicit an opinion. Making your interviewers think or express their opinions makes the interviews more interesting for them and makes your question seem insightful and probing. Some examples:

• What do you think about the X department?

• How did the small/large class size affect your education?

• How did X college prepare you for your career?

• What was the best opportunity you felt X university provided you?

• What is the best/worst aspect of X university or X city?

• If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?

Think of some more questions like these and write them on a list with the most interesting ones at the top. Take this list into the interviews and refer to them when the conversation begins to stall and when your interviewers ask you if you have any questions.

Reprinted with permission from Get into Any College by Gen and Kelly Tanabe

Your college interview is also a chance for you to ask questions. By doing so, you often show initiative and curiosity—two traits most colleges are looking for in their students. Ask if the officer has any advice for you, ask a question about your potential major or ask about dorm activities and college lifestyle. Find out if there will be a new student orientation program, what activities are available for freshmen, what part-time job opportunities there are in the area or end with a zinger like, “Is there anything you would like to know about me in order to help you make a fair and final decision about my application?”

The interview is a unique opportunity to establish rapport with a person who previously only knew you as numbers and words on paper. Use it wisely and show the interviewer(s) what a fantastic person you really are!

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

What happens when the admissions officer asks you, “How do you explain the fact that your SAT score or GPA is a little less than wonderful?” First, expect it. That way you can prepare for it. If it doesn’t happen, then whew! you are off the hook. If it does, you’re ready. Second, be honest. Don’t say there was a computer error or you really did better than that. Third, don’t place blame. Don’t try and put those numbers off on rotten teachers, stupid tests or unfair grading. On the other hand, you can explain with a truthful assessment of factors that have affected your life. Was there a crisis during that time? Did you have to work extra hours that cut into study time? Were you heavily involved with sports or other extracurricular activities? Did you find high school boring or stifling? Without accusing others, tell the interviewer why you believe those numbers do not represent your real potential.

What should you do if the admissions officer does not ask about your numbers? That’s a judgment call, and the answer rests with your gut instinct. If the interview has gone really well and you feel like you have established a good rapport with the officer, explaining those numbers without being asked can be seen as admirable. If you have not clicked with the officer, however, and the interview has had some awkward pauses, you might want to just skip this so things don’t go downhill.