Many private schools encourage a college interview, usually conducted by a student who works in the admissions office, or an alumnus who contacts applicants in their hometown. If you have the opportunity to interview, take it. The interview allows you to put a human face on your application and to learn more about the college to see whether it will be a good fit.
Your interviewer will want to put you at ease and will try to learn something about you. Be prepared to talk about yourself, your interests, favorite subjects in school or extracurricular activities, why you might want to attend that college, what other colleges you’re considering. One question that can stump you if you’re not prepared: “How will you contribute to life at this college?
Also, be prepared to ask questions about the school. If you think you know what you’ll want to major in, ask questions about that, and about possible research opportunities that relate to that major. Ask how difficult it is to get into courses you want or need. Ask what sets the school apart from their competition, or about the quality of the career counseling center. Ask about lifestyle at the school, how students spend their time on a typical weekend. Ask anything you can think of that will help you get a feel for the school that goes beyond the numbers you can read in the college guidebooks.
Get your interviewer’s address when the interview is set, and remember to write a thank you letter afterwards. An email acknowledgement is better than nothing, but a hand-written note is best. |
