The interview: tips from the admission counselor

[While most of campus is gearing up for graduation on Saturday, there are still plenty of applicants who are thinking ahead to the fall, and who are finishing up their applications right now (due May 31!). With that in mind, here are some tips from Joe for tackling the college interview.]

Meet Joe

So, your application is complete, with one exception: the interview! Now your first thought may be “They are going to ask me all sorts of questions like ‘What is the Capital of North Dakota? What is the Square root of 3,456?’ (Which we all know is 58.78775382679628).” Fear not, there is almost no chance that you will be asked any of the previous questions.

The typical college interview is used as an opportunity for the admission counselor to get a better idea of why you are interested in attending the college and if said college is indeed right for you. You are likely to get questions that center around what you enjoy about school, life and what your interests are. Do make a point of telling your interviewer what subjects excite you in school, and what you do outside of the classroom.

You might think that the interviewer is not going to be interested in what you did last summer with your family. Your annual camping trip to Yosemite might not seem like an exciting interview topic to you, but it can give an interviewer a little extra insight into who you are, and where you come from, which may make you even more memorable. There is no such thing as a little club or boring hobby; if it’s important to you, we want to hear about why!

Little things can make a big impression, and honesty is key. If you have received some low grades in your high school career or have a slightly less than squeaky clean conduct record, be up front about it. You can guarantee that the admission department will find out about such things. Being able to talk about past troubles shows your maturity, and the ability to acknowledge your own mistakes is an important skill.

When it comes right down to it, don’t stress about your interview. It’s a great opportunity for you to show who you are outside of what we can see on paper. And when its over and you think of something that you forgot to mention, you can always email your counselor. Best wishes and good luck!