| Looking Good, Feeling Good | | | | responding to questions using complete sentences, |
| When preparing for your college interview, take the | | | | expressing curiosity about the school, and bringing |
| time to be presentable. That doesn't mean wearing a | | | | questions that you're genuinely interested in. As |
| three-piece suit or an evening gown. Wear something | | | | uncomfortable as you may be feeling, imagine what |
| nice that you feel comfortable in. | | | | it's like to interview students who cannot or will not |
| Chances are your interviewer will also be wearing | | | | reveal much about themselves. Conversely, it can be |
| something nice, but not particularly formal clothing. | | | | frustrating to interview a student who talks endlessly |
| Don't out-dress your interviewer. And don't wear | | | | without regard to the interest of the interviewer. |
| your grungiest jeans either. Middle of the road is | | | | Although you won't be able to control the length of |
| what you're aiming for. If you have a favorite shirt, | | | | your college interview, you can do your part by |
| skirt, or jacket, go ahead and wear it if it's clean and | | | | listening carefully, offering thoughtful answers and |
| otherwise inoffensive. The idea is to wear something | | | | asking questions whose answers cannot be found |
| that makes you feel confident and attractive. | | | | elsewhere. |
| Avoid clothes that require your constant attention. In | | | | Grandma Says: Always Send a Thank-you Note |
| general, anything too revealing or too confining will | | | | Sending a thank-you note is the kind of thoughtful |
| have you fidgeting and readjusting throughout the | | | | gesture that makes you seem mature and gracious. |
| interview. This will distract both you and your | | | | Your interviewer will appreciate getting it, and you'll |
| interviewer. | | | | feel good about sending it. The best notes are |
| Don't chew gum: it's distracting and disrespectful. | | | | hand-written on a card that you really like. If it's a |
| Brush your teeth and do something with your hair so | | | | really interesting or beautiful card it may end up |
| that you can forget about it during the interview. If | | | | taped to the wall of your interviewer's office. |
| you're sporting a pink Mohawk, chances are this will | | | | Keep the contents of the card simple, honest, and |
| neither hurt nor help your chances of admission. In | | | | clear. If there's something specific about the |
| other words, you don't need to lose your personal | | | | interview that was helpful to you, let your |
| sense of style completely, just make an effort to be | | | | interviewer know. If you connected with your |
| presentable. This will suggest that you actually care | | | | interviewer over a band you're both into, or a book, |
| about the interview. By the way, if you've got a | | | | experience, etc., mention this. If there was nothing |
| Mohawk, try offsetting it with your mother's pearls | | | | particularly memorable about the interview simply |
| or a crisp Oxford button-down (Sarcasm). | | | | thank him or her for taking the time to meet with |
| Don't Worry About the Time | | | | you. |
| Students are sometimes told that the sign of a good | | | | Express your continued interest in the college, and |
| college interview is a long one. | | | | wish him or her the best. You don't need to send a |
| This is a myth. | | | | card that sounds stiff and contrived. Simple, clear, |
| During college interviewing season, which stretches | | | | and honest is the way to go. If it's difficult for you |
| from September to January, most colleges schedule | | | | to send a card, go ahead and email your interviewer. |
| interviews back-to-back with no breaks for the | | | | The point is to acknowledge that he or she took the |
| interviewer. So, even if you happen to be having a | | | | time to meet with you, answer your questions, and |
| conversation that your interviewer would really like to | | | | get to know you better. Reach out in any way |
| continue, he or she is on a tight schedule and will | | | | you're able to. The card is a nice gesture, but a |
| probably not be able to do so. If you notice you're | | | | thoughtful email gets the point across. Don't worry |
| interviewer checking the time, this is not an indication | | | | about finding an expensive email card or signing your |
| that you're boring. He or she simply needs to make | | | | name electronically. |
| sure that the next interviewee is not kept waiting. | | | | Sending thank-you notes or emails is not something |
| Most college interviews will last approximately 30 | | | | that will earn you huge points in the college |
| minutes. Occasionally they'll run as long as 45-60 if | | | | admissions game. It's just the right thing to do, and |
| your interviewer is a talker. If you're done in twenty | | | | you'll feel better when you do it. |
| minutes sharp, don't sweat it. Your interviewer will | | | | If you're sending a card, you might ask someone to |
| appreciate getting the information he or she needs | | | | look it over before sending it. You'll definitely lose |
| as quickly as possible. | | | | points for typos. Make every effort possible to |
| Remember, the interviewer has many more | | | | present yourself as someone who takes the college |
| interviews to conduct. Do your part to make sure | | | | application process seriously. |
| that the interview lasts at least twenty minutes by | | | | |