Visiting colleges and participating in college interviews can be both informative and fun. The keys to a successful visit are preparation and enthusiasm. As someone who has conducted college interviews for eighteen years, I can attest to the value of an interview for both the institution and the student. In fact, the best interviews occur when there is an even exchange of information between the Admissions Counselor and the student.
The following questions are typical of college interview questions. Do not worry - you will not be asked all of them! However, be prepared to answer any questions of this nature. When answering the questions, be yourself and answer them to the best of your ability. As your participation is crucial, a little practice in advance would not be a waste of your time.
Most importantly, remember that the interview is to assist you in making one of the most important decisions in your life – enjoy the process!
Q: Tell me a little about yourself
Q: What about yourself do you want our admissions team to remember most?
Q: Describe a typical day in your life.
Q: Who was your favorite high school teacher, and why?
Q: If you could change one thing about your high school to make it better, what would you change?
Q: What is the most recent book you have read?
Q: What attracts you to our institution?
Q: Which characteristics of a college are most important to you?
Q: What have you done in your school or community that you are most proud of?
Q: How have you been recognized for your accomplishments?
Q: During your free time, what are you most likely to do?
Q: When are you at your best? Your worst?
Q: If you could do high school over, what would you do differently? The same?
Q: How do you see yourself ten years from now?
Q: What ways do you have of earning money for college?
Q: What was your best job, vacation, or class, ever?
Q: Are you interested in a specific area of study and how have you developed that interest? How do you plan to develop that interest in college?
Q: What have you done in your life that has required a great deal of patience and persistence and how did you handle that situation?
Q: Do you have any definite plans/goals for your future and how do we fit in those plans?
Q: What aspect of college life do you think will have the most influence on a student?
Q: Whom do you respect in your community and why?
Questions YOU may want to ask during college admissions interview.
There will be time during your interview, usually and at the end, to ask any questions you may have. This gives you, the prospective student, an opportunity to gather information about the college that may not have already been covered during your research or during the campus tour.
Keep in mind that the college search process is a two-way street. While the Admissions Office has to decide whom it will admit, you have to decide which college is best for you. Going to college is an important investment in your future. You should prepare for your campus visits by deciding in advance which factors are the most important to you in selecting college. During your visit to the college, make sure that you ask all of your questions and that the responses satisfy your inquiry.
Q: What is the average size for classes in the freshman year?
Q: What makes this college different from other colleges?
Q; What percentage of freshman return for their sophomore year?
Q; Does the college have a strong and active alumni association?
Q; How accessible is the faculty for individual help?
Q: Do graduate assistants teach any of the freshman and/or introductory courses?
Q: What types of study abroad programs does the college offer?
Q: What courses do typical freshmen take? Are there any courses which all freshman are obligated to take?
Q: Is it difficult to change major or areas of study after the freshman year?
Q: What factors do you consider in the admissions process and, of those, which do you consider most strongly?
Q; How important are SAT/ACT scores in the admissions process?
Q: What are my chances for admission?
Q: What internship opportunities are available for students?
Q; Does the college offer a career planning and placement program and, if so how does the program work?
Q; Which percentage of your students has been placed in a full-time job or graduate school within six weeks of graduation?
Q; What percentage of students in the major in which I am interested are placed in a full-time position upon graduation?
Q: Which graduate schools have your students attended?
Q; Are counseling services available on campus?
Q: What are the most active clubs or student organizations on campus?
Q: How active is the student government association?
Q: What student publications are available on campus?
Q: What religious services are available on campus and in the community?
Q: Is there a Greek system (fraternities and sororities) on campus and how active is it?
Q: What percentage of the student population resides on campus and about how many students is that?
Q: If students choose to live off campus, what are their living options?
Q: Approximately how many students go home on the weekends?
Q: Does the college offer scholarships and if so, are they need-based, merit-based, or both?
Q: What financial aid forms are required?
