‍Preparing For An Interview

After you’ve signed up for an interview, a representative from the school (college admissions officer, alumni, or even professors) will reach out to schedule you interview. The process typical runs so that the interviewer takes notes during your time together and writes their own letter of recommendation to the school on your behalf.

How To Prepare

Compile a set of interview questions that you may get asked (this will vary depending on the school; some schools have a set list, others allow the interviewer to come up with their own. Because of this variance, it’s important that you do research specific to your school and reach out to current students who may have gone through the interview process for their admission.) Here are some example questions, but you can also find many examples online:

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Brainstorm responses to these questions and take notes as you go. DO NOT WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. This may push you to memorize your answers, which you should avoid at all costs. The interview is to get to know you as a student, and if the interviewer suspects there is ingenuity in your response, they may mention it in their letter to the admissions board. 

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Practice, practice, practice! To feel confident in your responses, practice with your college buddy. Run through the questions at least three times and receive feedback to hone your answers.

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Understand

• It’s possible the questions you prepared aren’t the ones your interviewer chooses to use. 
• Your interview may last as little as 15 minutes to as long as 2 hours.
  

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After Your Interview:

Send your interviewer a thoughtful thank you email. This email goes a long way to keep your impression a good one!