What You Should - And Shouldn’t! - Say at Your College Admissions Interview
So, you’ve narrowed down your top choices for the school you want to attend, and now it’s time to schedule an interview. You’re probably thinking about all of the things that you want to say, all of your accomplishments, how motivated and inspired you are, and all of the ways that you can be an asset to this wonderful school… but have you stopped for a moment to consider all of the things you don’t want to say?
The way you present yourself is important!
Forget about perfection: practice makes you confident!
Be prepared to talk about your passion for the institution
Read more college admissions tips on our blog!
You can relax - they know this is nerve-racking!
You want the interviewer to take you seriously and consider giving you a precious spot at their school. They expect that you will be nervous, and that’s totally okay! However, make sure that your nerves don’t cloud your personality so much that the real you can’t come across. Don’t forget to breathe - and try to relax! They’ve already read your application and your letters of recommendation. This interview allows you to show the school who you are in person.
Your appearance and posture matters!
It’s the first impression you’ll make on the interviewer. To ensure you’re giving off an aura of respect, dress for the part—no ripped clothes or anything too casual. Make sure you’re tucked in, buttoned, and zipped up. It doesn’t matter what color your hair is, but it should be tidy. Jewelry should be simple and tasteful - small studs instead of big, flashy pieces. You should feel like you can be yourself but appear put together.
Consider your posture: Sitting up in your seat or leaning forward with interest is much better than slouching back in your chair. Consider your body language - nerves aside - and use it to represent how important this interview is to you.
Rehearse and be the strongest version of yourself.
Don’t avoid eye contact - make eye contact.
Don’t feel compelled to use big words you don’t usually use - in most cases, folks don’t use the words correctly, and the interviewer will definitely notice that. Keep it simple and concise.
Greetings can be as simple as: “I’m so happy to meet you, and I’m so excited to have made it this far in the application process. Thank you for your time today!”
Don’t try to memorize it - that will seem fake. But practice it so the words are on your lips and roll off the tongue easily.
Try not to worry so much about being perfect when you talk. Remember, we use words slightly differently when we’re talking with someone versus if they were being read. Don’t expend your energy thinking about “um”s and “uh”s. This interview isn’t to certify that you’re a perfect public speaker. What’s important is that you get your point across and sound genuine.
Interviewers can smell “genuineness” from a mile away—and if you’re honest with yourself, you can, too. You can tell when someone is trying to impress you by using words they don’t normally use or showing a side of themselves that isn’t really all of them.
What is most impressive is having the confidence to fully be yourself and let all of yourself show - that is what an interviewer will remember. This is NOT about saying “the right thing” - this is about saying “the YOU thing”.
Remember that essay about orange juice pulp vs. no pulp that got shared over lunch breaks at Emory - those are the ones admissions folks remember - the ones that speak with a genuine voice about the person writing.
Rehearsing while recording yourself and then watching it back is hard, but it is the best way for you to see how you present to the interviewer. Going through your interview questions while recording a few times will give you a chance to get the jitters out and figure out what you want to say in the moment.
If you make a mistake, give yourself some grace. Interviewers aren’t expecting you to be perfect - they’re expecting you to be human, and how we recover from mistakes is one thing they’re watching for!!
Be ready to address your weaknesses - they will likely ask about them.
This might make you uncomfortable - but remember everyone has weaknesses, including your interviewer. Make an effort not to be defensive, but don’t be afraid to talk about them. If you received a bad grade in Math, be honest. “I received a C minus in trigonometry in the second semester. I wish I hadn’t. Math isn’t my strongest subject, and I had a difficult time with the class pace that semester.” Don’t be defensive, just be honest. And try to share the lessons you learned and how it is getting better / you’re working on it for the future.
Pay attention to the small details - especially your interviewer’s name!
You want to be sure to pronounce their name correctly, and likewise, you want to address them by it when you meet them in person on the big day. Be careful not to assume that you know how to pronounce it correctly, as even the most typical names can be pronounced in alternative ways.
You can call the school a few days before your interview and explain that you have an upcoming interview and want to be sure of your pronunciation.
When you’re in the interview, use their name at the beginning and end and maybe a few times in the middle. It will make a lasting impression!
Why this school?
Plan an authentic and specific response to why you want to attend that school. If your answer is too short, the interviewer could think you didn’t research enough.
Remember, “the devil’s in the details” - those can make or break you.
Did you visit the school physically? You can bring up specific details about the campus and classrooms.
If you’ve only visited virtually, you can talk about the specific things you’ve seen on their website. Talking about these things shows the interviewer that you’ve done your homework and that you’re invested.
RULE OF THUMB: If you don't have to go at least three clicks deep to find it, it's too general.
Let’s say you can only do a virtual visit, and you’re not sure what to talk about. Here are a few suggestions that are genuinely things students think about:
Food on campus
Everyone needs to eat, and this is something that should definitely rank high in importance. If, for example, eating healthy is paramount for you, why not say, “I really care about the food I eat. I love the fact that this school serves whole-grain and transfat-free foods and uses ingredients that are lower in fat, salt, and sugar. It is so great that the cafeteria labels foods that contain allergens, too!” It will leave the interviewer feeling like you really did your research and you care about what the school has to offer you.
Courses you saw
Find courses that surprised you or whose titles caught your eye and your reaction to them. You can talk about how they surprised you, brought in ideas you’d never had before, or linked things you hadn’t thought about as being linked. Showing that you’re curious and vulnerable will score you big points.
Here are some sample courses that we would definitely talk about in an interview (yes, these were real courses in 2011):
“Oh, Look, a Chicken!” Embracing Distraction as a Way of Knowing
Sociology of Fame and Lady Gaga
Zombies in Popular Media
Tightwaddery, or the Good Life on a Dollar a Day
Professors/areas of research you’re interested in
Look for professors in the fields/disciplines you’re interested in and mention those - whatever caught your eye.
Mention disciplines/majors you’re NOT interested in, but courses that you still found interesting! If you are trying to be a chem major and mention that a sociology class and a film class (hit on the weird titles!) caught your eye, that shows you’re open-minded and multi-disciplinary. The interviewer will take note!
Do NOT dispute the interviewer!
Avoid questioning the interviewer's statements or authority during the interview.
Don’t ask questions like “Why should I go to your school?” The interviewer will likely turn the question back on you, making you feel awkward.
If the interviewer says something you do not fully agree with, make a mental note. The interview process goes both ways: as much as you’re being interviewed, you’re also doing the interviewing! There will be answers that you expect and also ones that you don’t. Remember these so that when it comes time to make your final decision, you feel prepared to commit to your choice.
Ultimately, preparing for a school interview involves more than showcasing accomplishments; it's about showing respect, gratitude, and honesty.
Don’t be afraid to discuss your weaknesses, and be ready to answer the many questions that the interviewer will have for you. Rehearsing will build your confidence and help you feel ready for this important day!
