Prepare for College Interviews

The college interview can be a crucial step in the admissions process. While it is true that some colleges no longer offer interviews, the practice continues at many. Some colleges and universities especially like interviewing homeschoolers, even if interviews are optional.

Here’s what you need to know to make your college interview successful.

Plan ahead
Take time to carefully look over the college website and any materials you’ve received in the mail. Of course you do not need to memorize how many volumes are in the library or how many clubs are available, but you should take the time to answer obvious questions on your own rather than wasting time during your interview. Taking the time to do your own research will help you ask better questions during your interview. It also demonstrates you respect the interviewer’s time and that you are taking the process seriously.

Understand your interviewer
College interviews can be in-person or over Zoom.  There are three main types of college interviewers – professional admissions staff, student admissions staff, and alumni interviewers. On-campus interviews will typically be conducted by staff at the admissions office. The interviewer may be a professional member of the admissions office staff. Their job includes visiting high schools, reading applications, and interviewing applicants.  Some colleges also use trained student workers to conduct interviews.

Some colleges, often highly selective, continue having alumni interviewers meet with prospective students. Alums volunteer their time because they feel committed to their school and want to stay connected.

Knowing what category your interviewer falls into may help you prepare and maximize your interview opportunity. Applicants should ask questions that are appropriate to their interviewer. It makes sense to ask professional admissions staff specific questions about school offerings such as majors or study abroad. For students and alums, it makes more sense to focus on aspects of the student experience at the college.

Many interviews are informational not evaluative
College exist primarily as a marketing tool for colleges. They allow students the opportunity speak one on one with a representative of the college and learn more. College interviewers don’t expect teens to be seasoned professionals prepared to answer extremely complex questions. The interview is more a time to show your personality and your interest in the college. Expect the interview to be friendly and don’t worry if it doesn’t dig into deep topics.

Interview etiquette
It sounds old-fashioned, but making a good first impression matters. The college interview is a totally new experience for most teens, and many have no idea what they should do. Before a college interview, all teens should review etiquette and the elements of making a good first impression. An in-person interview should begin with an introduction should include shaking hands, making good eye contact, and calling the interviewer by name.  Online students should also be sure to introduce themselves and make sure they know how to pronounce the interviewer’s name.  These may sound like obvious things, but many teens do not know these basics and they don’t understand how essential they are to making a good impression. If your child has not had a lot of experience with interviews, encourage them to take the time to practice with an adult. College interviews are a good excuse to practice these important social skills your child will need for later job interviews and networking opportunities.

Dress appropriately
For campus admissions interviews it is generally appropriate to dress like a college student or at least one of the better dressed students on campus. There are regional and campus variations in style, but typically, it is best to choose casual, clean, not ripped clothing that doesn’t stand out.  Don’t wear spirit gear from another college, that’s tacky! Overly formal attire like a suit and tie is not appropriate for typical interviews and it may raise stereotypes about homeschooled students being poorly socialized or not fitting in. The rules for dressing for scholarship interviews vary. For scholarship competitions, more formal dress, from business casual to suit and tie, is more the norm. If the student is invited to a scholarship competition or interview, it is appropriate for them to ask in advance about appropriate dress if it is not specified.

No parents
It is fine for parents to join on-campus tours, but they should not participate in the college interview. Nothing makes you look less ready for college than Mom or Dad sitting in on your interview. Even if the interviewer invites the parents in to the room, it is best that parents excuse themselves politely and leave. It is best if you do not just exit the room but that you leave the admissions building entirely. This is an excellent time for parents to go visit the campus coffee shop or bookstore. If you do not have the confidence to leave the admissions office, it sends a powerful message that you are a “helicopter parent” and do not believe your child is ready for college.

Be prepared to discuss homeschooling
While homeschooling has become more common and well-understood, homeschoolers are still less than 1% of the applicant pool at most colleges. Student and alumni interviewers may have little or no experience with homeschool applicants. Professional admissions staff may or may not be familiar with homeschooling. Ideally, your homeschooler will have had previous experience talking about their homeschooling, and they can present the benefits of homeschooling positively and comfortably. One typical developmental trait for many teens is they tend to frame information negatively. That can make a poor impression. It can take finesse to present homeschooling in a positive but not offensive way to the majority of people who have children in public and private schools. Encourage your student to see the questions not as an attack but rather as an opportunity to share information about your unique path. Many teens benefit from coaching and practice for college and scholarship interviews. The skills they learn during this process can be helpful during later experiences with interviews for internships and jobs.