College interviews are an important component during college admissions for many institutions and offer a personalised touch to the otherwise data-driven evaluation in the process. It is an opportunity for the applicant as well as the college to gain deeper insights regarding one another besides what is presented in the websites and application forms. While students get to demonstrate their personality, passion and interest in the institution, the college gets to interact with them more closely and assess whether they are a potential fit for their academic and social community. This article aims to discuss college interview tips for students, the most common college interview questions and get you prepared to face them confidently.
What do Colleges look for in Interviews?
Every college wants to rope in the best applicants so carry their legacy forward. College interviews are conducted in various formats – in person, virtual and pre-recorded to know the applicants better. They are a way to pick the best of the lot by looking for the following qualities in them –
- Genuine Interest – Colleges look for students with demonstrated enthusiasm who have genuine reasons and interest to attend their institution through college interview questions.
- Communication Skills – They look out for clear, articulate and thoughtful responses. They see if they have the ability to engage in a conversation.
- Personality – A good pleasing personality that they feel would align with the college’s community and culture can go a long way.
- Curiosity – During college interview questions, the admission committee looks for intellectual curiosity in students, who have a desire and urge to explore beyond the academic and classroom content.
- Self-Awareness – Colleges lean towards students who demonstrate maturity and ability to reflect on experiences, what they have learnt from them and areas for growth.
- Potential – Another aspect tested during college interview questions is whether a student might be able to enhance a college’s reputation or make any difference to them through their unique talents and perspectives.
Common College Interview Questions
Ascend Now has listed 15 most common college interview questions to help you prepare better. The aim is to equip you with the strategies on how to answer college interview questions in the best possible way to make a memorable impression on the interview committee.
1.Tell us about yourself.
Keep this answer concise and relevant. Do not go into your history and unnecessary details. A quick and significant reference to what made you choose their institute or the course may be included. Talk about your academic interests, your level of engagement in the subject, mention unique hobbies or noteworthy passion projects and provide tangible evidence (critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and teamwork) of your skills in a particular field.
2.What made you choose this university?
Do your research for this one. This is one of the frequently asked Ivy League interview questions. Talk about the university and what appeals to you about it. Do not just blurt out facts from the website. Personalise your answers. Mention the unique features that made you choose them. It can be the course content they are offering, specific faculty members (perhaps someone whose work you admire), the campus culture, their research facilities or an ongoing research program you might eventually want to be a part of. This shows foresight and focus.
3.What made you choose a particular course?
You have to convince the admission committee to accept you into a course by demonstrating your level of passion and commitment towards it. Relate your academic interests with the course specifics and present concrete evidence like a project, a summer job or a hobby and how these experiences have corroborated your passion and interest in the subject or have been able to shape your skill-set to fit into the academic program and your future goals.
4.How will you make a difference to the college campus community?
This may feel heavy, but the solution is not to say something big just to make an impact. Remember that the committee values authenticity and ingenuity over grand statements. So keep it real. You have to prove to them that you can be a strong asset to their institution. Discuss your extracurricular involvement in clubs, societies, teams or organisations in high school and how you’d use your experience to be an active contributor and positive influence on their campus as well, demonstrating your potential to truly make a difference.
5.What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses?
The best answers to college interview questions are the most genuine ones. Do not hesitate to reveal your weaknesses, but at the same time, show willingness and an urge to improve upon them. Talk about how you have been working on them already. Being self-aware and focussed are two highly appreciated qualities in students. As far as strengths go, mention the ones that would make you a valuable asset to the academic department and to the college community as a whole.
6.Who is your role model and why?
The same question may be twisted and framed as who is the one person you would like to meet someday and why? Or who is that one person, living or dead, whom you admire the most and why? If you could invite a person over dinner, who would it be and why? And so on. The best way to answer this question is, as we always say, with due honesty. The interviewer need not know the person. It could be an uncle, a friend or a famous personality. The interviewer is trying to gauge your motivation on a personal level. Be prepared with good reasoning to back your answer. If you choose a famous personality, make sure you know them well, or it could backfire with follow-up questions.
7.How do you see yourself ten years from now?
Most top college interview questions include this one. Colleges want to see how focussed you are at achieving your goals. They are keen on taking in students who exhibit potential for growth, have a clear plan in mind and are already working towards honing their skills to achieve them. Demonstrate how you intend to utilise the institution’s resources to boost your chances to achieve your dreams and contribute to the society in the long run.
8.What do you appreciate most about your current community or high school and what is that one thing you would like to change about it?
Tread this path carefully. Always remember your primary goal, which is to convince the interviewer that you are a good fit for the university. Diving into something negative randomly or being brutally honest about your community or your high school may not always work in your favour. As much as we encourage honesty, the aim here is to showcase your critical thinking skills and how you perceive the world around you. You can talk about impediments that you faced at school and how you would change them in an analytical and constructive way. Choosing what you appreciate in your community will be an easy task comparatively. Do mention how it has shaped your personality over the years for the good.
9.How do you deal with stress?
Take it as an opportunity to showcase your capability to adapt and thrive under challenging circumstances. Talk about how you maintain a work-life balance using a flexible yet disciplined routine. Do not forget to mention your strategies to keep up to the routine with time management skills, regular studies, exercising, mindfulness, eating on time and getting enough rest. Interviewers are looking for candidates with superior coping mechanisms. Show them that you have it in you.
10.Give an example of a time when you displayed leadership skills. Or describe how you faced a challenge and came out of it. What were your key takeaways from these experiences?
Such college interview questions asked by the admissions committees are aimed at assessing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills as a leader. Mention the crisis in short and how you took charge of dealing with it with your presence of mind and resilience. Situations like these help you learn, evolve and grow. Please remember that you need not have been in charge of any official leadership position.
11.Share some of your hobbies and interests with us. Or what do you do in your free time?
Universities seek applicants with diverse interests and talents. They are looking for well-rounded students through such college interview questions. Mention hobbies that inculcate transferable skills and reflect your passion and hard work, and how they have contributed to your personal growth and development. Some sample college interview answers for this would be –
- “My four years in the school Debate Team has helped me hone my critical thinking skills and ability to communicate effectively.”
- “Learning to play the flute for 8 years has taught me that it’s not just about playing the instrument but it takes discipline, regular practice and a strong commitment to improve in any given skill whatsoever.”
Another thing worth mentioning here is to avoid giving generic and vague answers like “I like reading”, “I like listening to music”. Be specific. “I like listening to Jazz by Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald or Indian Classical Music by Ravi Shankar or Hari Prasad Chaurasia.” And also add what you like about them.
12. Tell me about your favourite book and how has it inspired you? Or who is your favourite author and why? Or which is the last book you read?
Please remember that there is no set right answer to such college interview questions. If you have read a profound or a complex book, feel free to discuss it. Or you may choose a book you enjoyed reading with your little brother or it could also be a story linked to a cherished memory with your grandmother. It doesn’t need to be academic or groundbreaking. Focus on articulating the core insights or key takeaways from the book, like never giving up or a personal realisation.
13. How do you approach learning something new?
For such college interview questions, showcase your inquisitiveness, adaptability and readiness for college level work. Highlight your independent learning skills and ability to ask questions when in doubt. You may discuss your willingness to go the extra length to apply any new knowledge acquired to a practical scenario to reinforce the concept better and more effectively.
14. Given a chance, how would your friends and teachers describe you?
When posed with such a question, you are being given a chance to reflect on your self-perception and interpersonal skills. It is a test to demonstrate your insight and awareness of how others perceive you. It is a chance to reveal your character through the eyes of others. Make sure that your answer aligns with your personal essay and the values of the university. The aim is to convince them that you are a potential fit for their community.
15. Do you want to ask us any questions?
This is not a trick question. It is a genuine query by the university. Use it to your advantage and clarify any doubts you encountered while going through their college website. Do not ask obvious questions that are already there. It is a chance to showcase that you have thoroughly researched what their university offers and are genuinely interested in the course. Try to gain valuable insights like a research program that you are interested in, college culture, the available support systems, scholarship information, career services etc. do not forget to show confidence, clarity and curiosity.
College Interview Do’s and Don’ts
Dos
- Do a thorough research on the college, programs and the faculty.
- Be punctual and arrive early or log in before time for a virtual interview.
- Dress appropriately in business casual.
- Be polite.
- Rehearse your responses to common questions.
- Do not memorise answers to avoid sounding robotic.
- Listening is an art. Pay attention to the interviewer’s questions and comments.
- Be authentic and genuine in your responses.
- Provide evidence to reinforce your experiences.
- Pay attention to your body language and keep eye-contact.
- Prepare specific questions for Question 15 about the college or the program.
- Send a ‘Thank You’ note in the form of a personalised email within 24 hours.
Don’ts
- Do not create a negative impression by arriving late.
- Avoid giving generic answers. Make your answers personalised and unique to you.
- Do not read from notes. Go well-prepared.
- Do not interrupt, while the interviewer is talking.
- Do not fake or exaggerate details.
- Do not criticise others – peers, teachers or other schools and colleges.
- Do not be overly modest or arrogant. Be confident, not overconfident.
- Do not fidget or shake your legs. It may indicate nervousness or disrespect.
- Don’t forget to smile. A friendly demeanor makes a lot of difference.
For more details, connect with our counsellors and experts at Ascend Now. We provide guidance in university preparation and planning, admission essay support, counselling and competitive test strategies and acing your interviews, we are here to help you achieve your college dreams!
