Make a Great impression at your college admissions interview
Are you wondering how to make a great impression at a college admissions interview?
College admission interviews can be an important part of the college application process. College interviews are usually optional, but that doesn’t mean they don’t matter.
Preparing for a college interview can be a crucial step in your journey towards higher education. The purpose of a college interview is not only to showcase your abilities and interests but also to make a lasting impression on the admissions committee.
From researching the college to knowing what you want to convey about yourself, this post covers essential strategies that can help you make a great impression on a college interviewer.
This post is designed to provide practical advice on how to navigate a college interview effectively. These tips will help you approach your interview with confidence, ensuring you present yourself in the best possible light.
Here are 19 tips to help you make a great impression at your college admissions interview.
1. Schedule your college admissions interview in advance
Allow plenty of time to set up a college interview. Look at the college website to see if they offer interviews to prospective students.
Some colleges will reach out to applicants to set up an interview, and others leave it to applicants to initiate an interview.
If you have to set up the interview, follow the directions on the college website to schedule an interview. That might mean filling out a form sending an email or making a call.
If you are traveling a long way to the college for a tour and an interview, be sure to allow plenty of time for travel, parking, and finding the interview location.
Most college admissions interviews take place in the fall of your senior year of high school or the summer before your senior year.
Many students have in-person, on-campus interviews. However, virtual admissions interview options are much more common in the past few years, so you might have an online college interview / video interview.
2. Practice for your college interview
It might feel silly, but ask a parent, friend, or older sibling to help you get ready for your college interview. Have them pretend to be the interviewer and conduct a mock interview.
As you answer their questions, you can get feedback and refine your responses.
Taking the time to do more than one practice interview will help you get more comfortable answering common questions and polish your communication skills.
Practicing for a college interview with a family member or friend will make you feel much more comfortable when you’re in the real interview!
This article about interviews for competitive merit scholarships includes examples of common college scholarship interview questions and interview tips. No matter what kind of interview you’re having, the best way to prepare is to practice!
3. Have your first college interview at a safety school
It’s always good to practice. By scheduling your first college admissions interview at a safety school, you can practice making a good impression at your college interview before the stakes are really high.
However, you shouldn’t take this interview for granted. Still do your best to make a good impression and express genuine interest at this college interview.
You never know how your college search will end—you may end up deciding that it’s the school for you!
4. Arrive early for your college interview
Leave your starting point early enough that you have plenty of time to get to your college admission interview. Being on time to your interview makes a good first impression.
You don’t want to be late to the interview, so be sure you have a buffer of time in case you encounter an accident or extra traffic.
If you’re early, you’ll have time to stroll around campus, visit the campus bookstore, grab a bite to eat, or just relax before your admissions interview.
Before your interview, if you have time, ask current college students what it’s really like to go to school there.
For a virtual interview, test your technology well in advance of your interview so you have time to troubleshoot if necessary.
5. The prospective student should take the lead
The college applicant should be the one calling, emailing, or submitting the form to the admissions office to schedule the interview appointment.
Similarly, when it’s time to check in for the interview and campus tour, the student should take the lead.
Taking charge of your own college admissions process, rather than defaulting to a parent, will make a good impression even before the college admission interview begins.
Parents should let the students ask all the questions. If parents have questions, they should save them for later, when they can share them with the student and let the student ask the questions.
(Note: if parents have questions about financial aid, it is completely appropriate for them to contact the financial aid office to ask those questions. But let students handle all interactions with the admissions office.)
6. Be prepared for your interview
Bring a copy of your resume with you.
You’ll submit your resume with your official application, but the interviewer may want to review it as part of the interview.
However, since an interview is just a conversation, and your resume will be part of your formal application packet, the interviewer probably won’t want to see it.
Review your resume in advance, and be prepared to answer questions or provide additional details about your extracurricular activities.
7. Dress appropriately
Dress so that you are comfortable and so that the college admissions representative is comfortable.
This doesn’t mean that there’s a strict dress code or that you have to wear a suit or a dress. However, business casual is always a good choice for formal interviews.
An appropriate outfit will help you make the best first impression possible. Choose something that lets your personality shine!
8. Minimize distractions
To make a good impression at your college admissions interview, you should minimize distractions.
- Turn off your cell phone.
- Don’t chew gum.
- Don’t pick at your fingernails.
- Try not to fidget.
You want your interviewer to focus on you, not be distracted.
If you feel anxious, take several deep breaths.
9. be friendly and professional
To make a good impression at your college admissions interview, be professional. Put your best foot forward to make a positive impression.
- Be conscious of your body language.
- Make and maintain eye contact.
- Sit up straight.
- Don’t wiggle in your chair.
- Don’t slouch and don’t cross your arms.
- Use correct grammar and professional language.
- Avoid saying “like,” “you know,” and “uh” too many times.
10. Introduce yourself with your first and last name
Call the interviewer by their name and title. Only call them by their first name if they make it clear that’s their preference.
Offer a firm handshake to your interviewer—or follow their lead and give an elbow bump or a wave, if that’s the protocol at the time.
You could have an interview with a current student or a college admission counselor. Alumni interviews are also a popular option.
11. Be enthusiastic, engaged, and likable
Don’t be too humble. This is your chance to tell the interviewer about all your biggest accomplishments. Tell them why you’re proud!
Talking about your high school experiences and accomplishments is part of the college interview process.
12. Talk about why you want to attend this college
You can make a positive impression at your college admission interview by demonstrating that you have done your research on that particular college or university.
Be specific when explaining your interest in the college. Explain how a special aspect of the college aligns with your academic interests, personal values, and life goals.
Don’t say that that the school is your safety school or that your parents are forcing you to apply there. Do find something true and thoughtful to say about why that college would be a good fit for you.
13. Engage with your college interviewer
Be an active listener and engage with your interviewer. Ask good follow-up questions to learn more about the university.
Ask the interviewer to repeat any question you don’t understand or can’t remember.
Most importantly, the best advice is to be yourself.
14. Have some answers in mind
You can make a good impression in your college admissions interview by being prepared to answer some basic questions.
You are almost guaranteed to be asked these two common interview questions:
“Tell me about yourself.”
Answer this by telling the college admissions officer about yourself.
You can start off by briefly explaining some facts about your family or your personal history. Then, talk about what you have done that makes you distinctive and memorable.
Be sure to mention things that fit with the values of the college.
Give specific examples and be ready to answer follow-up questions about your interests and experiences. Be introspective.
Finish answering this question by briefly explaining why you want to attend that college.
It’s a good idea to practice this question several times, so you can answer it easily and confidently. You can mention your family, your favorite subject, where you’re from, and your planned career path.
“Why do you want to attend this college?”
Give very specific reasons why this college is the one for you. Talk about departments, majors, or professors who offer the academic opportunities that you’re looking for.
Mention the volunteer organizations, study abroad opportunities, and clubs that can only be found at that school. Talk about the college’s culture and how you hope to contribute.
This is your chance to show that you’ve taken the time to research the college and you have valid reasons for wanting to join the campus community.
Please don’t say you want to attend a college because it’s prestigious or because a certain celebrity graduated from there.
Admissions officers want to know that you’re a serious applicant to the school and that if you’re admitted, you’d probably attend.
15. Know your talking points
Before your interview, think of three to five things you want the interviewer to know about you. Choose things that highlight key traits, experiences, values, or other aspects of your life.
You can draw on these highlights to help you answer some of the admissions counselor’s questions.
Don’t memorize a prepared speech. Just know what key points you want to tell the interviewer about yourself.
16. Take your time…
If the interviewer asks a question that you weren’t expecting, ask for a minute to think about how you’d like to respond. College interviewers want to see how you think and how you see the world.
Don’t give yes or no answers. Give complete, thoughtful responses to the interviewer’s questions.
17. But be concise
Answer the college admissions officer’s questions concisely. Don’t ramble on.
Pay attention to what you’re saying, and when you’ve finished answering the question, stop talking.
Remember that the college interviewer has several questions to ask and probably has other interviews scheduled. So if you take too long on one answer, they won’t have time to ask you the other questions on their list.
18. Have questions ready to ask the college interviewer
Check out this list of questions for college applicants to ask at a college interview. Create a list of your own questions you’d like to ask your interviewer.
19. Follow up with a thank you note
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time and ask for their business card.
Send the interviewer a personal note or email after the interview. Mention something you talked about or ask questions that follow up on topics you discussed.
Make a good impression at your college interview by expressing gratitude for their time and demonstrating your continuing interest in the college.
Final thoughts on making a good impression at your college interview
College admission interviews can be the most stressful part of the college application process.
Many high school seniors have never had a job interview, so the idea of a college interview can be a little overwhelming.
Remember that a college interview is just a conversation where you can learn more about the college and the admissions process. And the college gets to learn more about you!
By following the strategies outlined in this post, you can approach your college interview with a sense of preparedness and confidence.
The goal is not just to impress the interviewer, but also to affirm that the college fits with your goals and values.
Virtual interviews and in-person interviews are great opportunities to tell the admission office more about you, beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars.
With the right approach, you can turn your college interview into a positive and memorable experience that edges you closer to your educational goals.
You want to make a good impression at your college interview–and you will if you follow these tips!
