A college interview allows the college to discover more about you, your interests, and how you will contribute to the school. It also allows a college to present you with further information about the school and to answer any questions you may have. Few institutions mandate interviews, but many do offer them as an option or recommendation. Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, and other highly selective or small private universities are examples. Because there are so many applicants, most large public colleges do not even provide interviews.
If you have the opportunity to be interviewed, take advantage of it. It benefits you because it shows the school that you’re genuinely interested in going to. And exhibiting enthusiasm can considerably improve your chances of acceptance. Finally, the interview allows the school to learn more about you beyond what is written in your application. But try not to get too worked up over the interview. It should only increase your chances of getting accepted if you’re polite, attentive, and prepared. The interview will also provide you with information about the school, allowing you to determine whether it is a good fit for you.
Here are some tips to prepare yourself for the interview:
Think about the type of interview you’ll have.
Interviews for university admissions are usually either evaluative or instructive.
In order to get admission to renowned universities such as Oxbridge, evaluative interviews are expected. When the university admissions officers determine whether or not to grant you a place, your performance in the interview will be taken into account. In an instructive interview, you have the opportunity to learn more about the institution while the university learns more about you. Because they want you to choose their institution, university admissions officers may be just as eager to impress you as you are to impress them. Your university interview may, of course, comprise both evaluative and informational components.
Go over your personal statement again.
People who are interviewing you are likely to bring up items you mentioned in your personal statement or application essay, whether it’s an interest or a claim about one of your accomplishments. (This is one of the reasons why honesty is so crucial!) Reread what you wrote and think about any related questions that might arise during the interview, such as inquiries about specific books you mentioned or your academic interests.
Reread the course materials.
It’s also a good idea to review the university’s prospectus or official website for details on how the course is structured, what the entry requirements are, and what optional modules are available, among other things. This will show that you’ve done your homework on the course and may also help you come up with some good questions to ask the admissions staff — you’ll almost always have the opportunity to do so, even in an evaluative interview. Make sure the questions you’re asking aren’t already answered in the course materials.
Prepare some responses to typical university interview questions.
You’ll almost certainly be asked why you want to study this particular subject at this particular university, in addition to ‘tell me about yourself.’ If you’re studying abroad, the interviewer might be curious about why you want to study in that particular nation and what drew you to study there. You should demonstrate to your interviewer that you are passionate about your subject and about their university by being as descriptive as possible. Prepare answers to some of the most common questions asked during university interviews.
These are some of them:
- Tell me a little about yourself.
- What made you decide to take this course?
- What are some of your main interests?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your plans for the future?
- What factors influenced your decision to attend this university?
- Tell me why you think you’d be a good fit for this school.
Basically, you must understand who you are and why you choose to do what you do.
While some planning ahead of time is recommended, don’t go overboard! Allow your responses to flow spontaneously instead of seeming scripted. Although it is easier said than done, try to relax and be yourself throughout the interview.
Understand your subject.
You should be well-prepared to explain to your interviewer why you’re interested in your chosen subject and why you want to enrol in your selected course. You may also show your enthusiasm by keeping up with the latest news, research, and advances in the subject. You might be asked about some of these topics specifically, or you might just be able to use them as examples.
Plan the questions you can ask the interviewer.
Interviewers pay particular attention to these questions since they reveal whether or not you did your homework, which helps them judge your interest in the institution.
Here are some ideas for questions to ask during your college interview:
- Specific departments or programmes
- Traditions or culture on campus
- Extracurricular activities, clubs, and athletic programs
- Opportunities to study abroad
Use mock interviews.
Mock interviews are the most effective way to put all of your professional interview tips into practice. They’re a great way to assess your interview performance and practice going through the process without the pressure of a real interview. Request that a friend, guidance counsellor, or college advisor take you through some practice interviews and provide feedback on your performance.
Interview Preparation with Rostrum
Professional interview prep help can make the difference in your developing interview skills. At Rostrum, we conduct several mock interviews for students, which are led either by admission experts or alumni from the same course. We make sure to recreate the genuine interview situation so that students can feel more at ease and confident throughout their interviews. Following each of the mock interviews, feedback sessions are held to suggest action plans for further preparation. Our admission counsellors prepare for the student’s one-on-one mock interview by familiarising themselves with his or her SOP and any submitted work so that they may deliver highly tailored feedback and match the genuine experience as precisely as feasible.
