College Interview Questions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you like to do for fun?


I echo the above about your DD asking the interviewer questions about himself/herself and her experience at college. And practice with your DD how to hold eye contact and look interested.

Actually, please don’t press me too much, because it’s been a long time since I was there and things are different now. I would really rather spend our time hearing about your favorite activity and the book that changed your life.

But for all that is holy, if you claim that you want to go there to major in a topic for which they have a world famous school, when I ask you why you want to go to [refer to school by name of mega donor who made a massive donation to get it named for them], don’t ask me, “where is that?” Spend five minutes on the website, kiddos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I interviewed kids as an alum from a top three Ivy. If your kid doesn’t have the initiative or interest to answer these Qs, then he/she/they maybe don’t belong. Initiative is important. Can’t speak for other schools but FYI from my own window.

Wtf?!? I just want to tell her some of the types of questions to think about in advance like probably every other person is doing. My kid has plenty of initiative and desire to answer questions. Have you literally never thought about it an interview beforehand in your life? You suck.

You are a great role model to you kid. Good luck mama bear.

[Anonymous]

I no longer do alum interviews. When I did, my most bombed question went something like this:

"I will submit a summary of this interview to the admissions office. I'm sure you know that last year, [my alma mater] only admitted X% of applicants. Why do you think you should be one of that x%? This is your chance to tell me the pitch you'd like me to tell admissions on your behalf.Why should it choose you rather than another applicant?"

I would estimate that only 1-2% of the students I interviewed could formulate an articulate response. I got a lot of answers like "I worked really hard in high school,' "I am a nice person,"etc.

It's hard to toot your own horn, but college admissions is one time you need to do so. I guess some people would refer to this as an "elevator pitch" and it is sort of like that.

[Anonymous]

Long term goals, where they see themselves in 5 years.

What do you do/enjoy outside of school work?

(One actually asked what my kid would focus her doctoral research on—she was a senior in high school. I thought that was ridiculous.)

One asked what day in the future they would like to see now. You can’t prepare for random questions like that. I think they want to see you think on your feet.

[Anonymous]

OP: I used this list with DD. I think it does a great job covering likely topics.

https://www.thoughtco.com/college-interview-questions-788893

She has also written down the following on a notepad during Zoom interviews:

3 reasons she wants this specific college. These should change with each interview

3 reasons the college should want her

3 questions she wants to ask

Each just a few words. If she gets stuck, she can look down and something on that list will probably click.

I agree with PP. Professionals in every field do mock interviews. Kids applying to college need to do the same. Being prepared is important.

Also remind your kid: it’s a two way street. She’s choosing a college as much as a college is choosing her. I know there have been some instances where the interview cemented her decision to apply to a school or not.

And help her find something to wear that makes her feel great, grown up, confident. It’s more than how she looks. It’s how she feels.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

To OP, I think best thing for your kid is to relax, treat it as a conversation where you can also find out more about the school. The alumni may be a good mirror of the school culture.

For the top schools, many don't think that the interview matters much, as long as you don't completely bomb it. The broad consensus is that it is more for alumni engagement than a serious evaluation of the candidate.

Looking at youtube, where students talk about their FERPA requests to access their file, I don't recall interviews coming up at all as a factor.

My kid prepared by writing on 1-2 index cards their story, their dreams, their challenges and practicing in front of a mirror. A dry run using zoom with parents, lighting, the actual room etc was also helpful. We did not listen in on the actual interview of course - that would just raise anxiety levels unnecessarily - we actually purposely left the house for a walk each time.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I no longer do alum interviews. When I did, my most bombed question went something like this:

"I will submit a summary of this interview to the admissions office. I'm sure you know that last year, [my alma mater] only admitted X% of applicants. Why do you think you should be one of that x%? This is your chance to tell me the pitch you'd like me to tell admissions on your behalf.Why should it choose you rather than another applicant?"

I would estimate that only 1-2% of the students I interviewed could formulate an articulate response. I got a lot of answers like "I worked really hard in high school,' "I am a nice person,"etc.

It's hard to toot your own horn, but college admissions is one time you need to do so. I guess some people would refer to this as an "elevator pitch" and it is sort of like that.

What a terrible question.

[Anonymous]

Tell me a challenge you overcame.

What did you learn from the experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: I used this list with DD. I think it does a great job covering likely topics.

https://www.thoughtco.com/college-interview-questions-788893

She has also written down the following on a notepad during Zoom interviews:

3 reasons she wants this specific college. These should change with each interview

3 reasons the college should want her

3 questions she wants to ask

Each just a few words. If she gets stuck, she can look down and something on that list will probably click.

I agree with PP. Professionals in every field do mock interviews. Kids applying to college need to do the same. Being prepared is important.

Also remind your kid: it’s a two way street. She’s choosing a college as much as a college is choosing her. I know there have been some instances where the interview cemented her decision to apply to a school or not.

And help her find something to wear that makes her feel great, grown up, confident. It’s more than how she looks. It’s how she feels.

Good luck!

This is great advice, thanks for posting it!!