Before an interview, anyone interested in attending a college or university should be aware of a variety of college interview tips. Although not every college conducts interviews when considering new students for admission, those that do will frequently use the process to identify candidates who will be the best fit for the institution. The best college interview tips for an applicant are usually those that can help them make a better impression on an interviewer and get the most out of the interview.
The fact that someone interviewing at a college should always answer questions truthfully is one of the most common but useful college interview tips. Answers can be skewed slightly to make the interviewee appear more appealing to a college, but outright lies are usually discovered and can result in a person losing opportunities. During an interview, the interviewee should also remember to remain calm and casual. This does not mean that the interviewee should use slang or appear overly familiar during the interview; rather, the interviewee should appear relaxed and unconcerned rather than tense and nervous.
Other important college interview tips include arriving on time for the interview and being courteous to the interviewer and others with whom he or she interacts. A college interview, like a job interview, is all about making a good first impression, and that first impression should be of someone who is friendly and interesting to learn more about. Even if the interviewee’s parents attend the college, someone going on a college interview should meet with the interviewer alone, without his or her parents.
In addition to following other college interview tips, the interviewee should try to use the college interview as an opportunity to explain anything unusual on a transcript or to highlight specific strengths he or she could bring to the college. An interviewee might explain why he or she received unusually low grades during one semester of high school due to illness or parental divorce. This allows the college to gain a better understanding of the student beyond grades and test scores.
One of the most overlooked college interview tips is that the interviewee should ask the interviewer questions as well. At the end of the interview, most interviewers will ask the applicant if he or she has any questions; asking questions demonstrates interest in the school. Even if an applicant believes he or she already knows everything there is to know, it is still a good idea to prepare a few questions to ask at the end of the interview.