10 Most Common Interview Myths and Misconceptions

1. If you are shy you should skip the interview. This is6. You should not say anything controversial. Most
wrong. The admission committee is trying to get tostudents are scared to say anything negative about
know you. Most students light up when they aretheir school or classes. This makes for a boring
talking about something they are passionate about.interview. Try to make negatives into positives by
2. The more charming you are, the higher your ratinglearning from the situation. If you do not say
will be. It does not hurt to be charming but theanything negative it will turn into a cookie cutter
interviewer is looking for certain qualities. Substance isinterview.
worth more than a superficial personality.7. You are ruined if the interview asks a question you
3. Interviews are formal and you should dress up. Itcan't answer. If this occurs just say, "I have to give
probably will be summer and a suit will be too hot. Ifthat question a little more thought before answering"
you dress up too much the admission committeeor "That is an excellent question but I have to admit
might think you are hiding something or making upI simply do not have an answer."
for some inadequacy. Some schools require you to8. It is bad to ask the interviewer questions about
be formal but most want a balance in betweenthe school. The purpose of the interview is to get to
dressy and casual.know you and for you to get to know the school. Be
4. Interviewers want to intimidate you. Mostsure to do your research on the school before the
interviews want to make you feel comfortable tointerview.
see your true personality. However, there are a few9. If the interviewer is encouraging the interview
who like to see you under stress. These are few andwent well. It is the interviewer's job to make the
far between.applicant feel like the interview went well.
5. Short interviews are bad and long interviews are10. If the interviewer is unfriendly or business-like the
good. The length of the interview depends on theinterview went poorly. This is not true. Some
interviewer's schedule. Remember that theinterviewers have a poker-face when interviewing. Be
interviewer has to write you up before the nextcareful not to judge the interviewers by a superficial
student comes. This requires time. They may only bereaction. What matter is what the interviewer writes
able to spend 15 - 30 minutes with you.about you.