| College interviews are another chance for you to tell | | | | Like the essay, you would want to mention activities |
| the admissions officers more about yourself. You will | | | | that are your passions. You want the interviewer to |
| want to take the interview seriously, because it helps | | | | know what makes you tick. But unlike the essay, |
| paint a better picture of you as a student. | | | | you can discuss your activities at length without |
| Although its not a good idea to over-prepare yourself | | | | word limits. Resist the temptation to brag though. |
| for a college interview, you should always anticipate | | | | Talk with a natural style, and if youre passionate |
| certain questions that interviewers are prone to ask. | | | | about what you do, itll show. Talk about specific |
| These questions are designed to find out about your | | | | anecdotes; interviewers like hearing about personal |
| interests and passions. Following are some of | | | | stories. For example, if you are a music enthusiast, |
| interviewers favorite questions: | | | | you can talk about your first performance and how |
| Why do you want to come to this college? | | | | you nearly fumbled on stage because you were too |
| This question is to gauge how well you know about | | | | nervous. Dont make up stories though. |
| the school; i.e your level of interest. Some schools | | | | What books have you read lately? |
| track interest and use it as a criteria for admission, so | | | | A lot of applicants think that this is a trap question |
| youd do well to do research on the school youre | | | | that they must give a book that is either intellectual |
| applying to. Read up the colleges literature and | | | | or have good values. It doesnt have to be. Just talk |
| website, and tie it with your interests. Mix those with | | | | about a book you did read. Avoid the usual clich titles |
| some reasons of your own, like the fact that it has a | | | | that you read in English class though. Sicne part of |
| close-knit student community. If you can give some | | | | the purpost is to gauge your initiative and creactivity, |
| specific examples, the interviewer is likely to be | | | | its better to pcik a book you found rather than the |
| impressed with your research. | | | | one assigned to you. Dont lie about the books you |
| How would you contribute to this community? | | | | read though; if the interviewer happens to be familiar |
| Colleges want givers. They want people who are able | | | | with a particular book you fabricated, youll be in |
| to add life to their campus. So make sure you let | | | | trouble. |
| them know how you are going to do it. Talk about | | | | In the end, the interviewer wants to know more |
| your skills, your experiences and your contributions. A | | | | about you, so just be yourself. |
| good tip is to tell them how you plan to give back to | | | | Devin is a college applicant who has researched the |
| the community; whether its tutoring fellow | | | | complexity of the college admissions process for two |
| classmates in a subject you are strong at, chartering | | | | years. His acceptances include the honors program at |
| a new community chapter in the campus or sharing | | | | the University of Michigan and Cambridge University in |
| your ideas with fellow students. | | | | the UK. He runs an admissions website dedicated to |
| Which activities are most meaningful to you? | | | | helping students in the college admissions process. |