Three Things To Avoid In A College Interview

By Joan Bremen

Let’s fact it – colleges are swamped with applications of potential students. Colleges need a system in place that will enable them to quickly gauge which applicants have a better likelihood of completing their studies and succeeding in college.

The college interview is a way for the college to get to know the applicant a little bit better on a one on one basis. It is not meant to intimidate potential students, but rather its objective is to evaluate the motivation and potential of the person behind the application.

The college interview is a basically conversation with a professional trying to get an idea who you are, where you are coming from, and where you are heading.

It is important to avoid the following common pitfalls in your upcoming college interview:

1. Coming Off Sounding Unnatural

One of the most important things you need to ensure is to sound genuine and real.

If an interviewer feels that you are just reciting a well prepared script you might lose important points.

Sounding natural has to do both with form and with substance. The tone of your voice, and the way you speak can be as important as what you actually say. The tone of your voice should make the interviewer feel that he is talking to a real person with a genuine personality. Don’t sound monotonous. Be engaged in the conversation and don’t make an impression you are merely waiting to get it over with.

What you have to say is also very important. In this respect – preparation is the key. Go over your resume and the details of your past experiences. Be ready for questions that on the surface seem simple but need a lot of honing, such as ‘tell me about yourself’, ‘what are you passionate about’, ‘who or what inspires you’, ‘why do you want to study this major’, ‘what will you do if you are not accepted here’, ‘how do you see yourself in five years, etc. Prepare for questions about your past, your past studies, your hobbies, your social activities, volunteer work. Recheck your aspirations, motivations and interests. Read a lot about the college you are being interviewed at. Go to the college website. Read about the college history, facilities, course curriculum. Ask yourself – why do you want to get into that particular college.

2. Providing Yes/ No and Short Answers

We all know this feeling – trying to get to the finish line with the least amount of errors.

Sometimes this caution leads applicants to answer questions very briefly.

Simple yes /no answers will not pass muster. Remember – the interviewer’s job is to find out whether it is in the best interest of the college to prefer you upon other applicants into their program.

Let’s say the interviewer refers to your past experience of volunteering at a homeless shelter, mentioned on your resume. The question presented to you can be very simple – did you like volunteering at the homeless shelter. An answer ‘yes – I liked it very much’ is meaningless. This is a missed opportunity to stand out and show your true colors. A much better lasting impression can be created if you answer something along the following lines. ‘Yes – the work in the animal shelter was an important experience. In the two years at the shelter I learned about the importance of compassion, giving back to the community, assuming responsibilities and working with other people.’

But I can’t emphasize enough – don’t overdo it. Don’t turn the interview into a tedious monologue!

3. Appearance and Etiquette Mistakes

As the saying goes ‘you never have a second chance to make a first impression’. You want to make a good impression on the interviewer and you do want the interviewer to like you. This has to do with the way you dress and the way you handle your self. Don’t wear that pair of jeans that makes you look cool. The best bet for a college interview dress code is business casual, both for men and for women. Rest before the interview – you don’t want to sound or appear tired in the interview. Don’t come to the interview over perfumed. Don’t chew gum. Say hello, be polite, and introduce anyone that you bring along, including parents, your brother or sister or a good friend. Let the interviewer lead the way and don’t cut the interviewer off – let them finish a sentence before reacting. Speak clearly, slowly but naturally. Refer to the interviewer by name. Ask questions, not questions about things that can be easily found on the college website but questions that demonstrate a true interest in the college, the course curriculum and its facilities. Smile when it is appropriate. At the end of the interview thank the interviewer. It is also a good idea to send a short thank you note.

If you follow these simple guidelines – you will increase your chances of successfully passing your college interview.

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