If you’ve been invited to campus for an admissions interview, you are probably nervous and excited at the same time. Whether this is your first interview or you have a few under your belt, there’s always room to improve so you can nail your interview with confidence. Check out our tips of what you should do before, during, and after your admissions interview.
Before
In the weeks leading up to your interview, we recommend checking out our list of common college interview questions and practicing responses aloud with a friend or family member. If you can record this, that will super helpful for you because you may have little habits like touching your hair or speaking too quickly that you can easily improve once you are aware. Even if you don’t have another person to practice with, it’s important to practice out loud, rather than writing out your answers so you don’t sound too rehearsed during your interview. Another thing you can do well in-advance is scope out the logistics of your interview and plan. Think of things like how you will get to your interview on-time, where you will park (if you’re driving), where the building is etc.
What To Wear
Deciding what to wear to your admissions interview can be half the battle. It’s important to keep in mind the quote “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” You’d much rather be overdressed than underdressed for the occasion. Keep your attire classy, conservative, professional, and comfortable. Think matching suits, classy dresses with covered shoulders, dress shoes etc. You may not have professional attire on hand and it can get pricey, so if you don’t have the funds on hand, ask a friend if they have something you can borrow, search secondhand, or talk to your high school counselor if there are any community resources available to financially assist for this occasion. Whatever you choose, make sure your clothing is something that makes you feel confident because self-confidence is the best outfit you can wear, so own it and rock it.
What To Bring
Less is more when it comes to things you have with you during your admissions interview. You want to be able to shake hands without being super awk. A padfolio with extra resumes and transcripts is a good thing to bring. You will probably won’t need these things, but just in case, it’s good to have them on hand. If you have bags from travel, ask the front desk if there’s somewhere you can place your bags for safe keeping.
Day Of The Interview
On the day of the interview, be sure to eat plenty (nothing that will upset your tummy, though), keep your caffeine intake to a minimum, and set yourself up to arrive a few minutes early. It’s equally as important to get yourself in the right headspace. Do some yoga, meditate, watch some cat videos, an inspirational Ted Talk, or call your BFF, whatever works for you. When you arrive at the admissions office (or wherever your interview is being held) be polite to the front desk staff, they probably have more say than you think.
During
When the time finally comes, be sure to enter the interview room with confidence and greet all of your interviewers with a smile and firm handshake. Once you sit down, make sure you are seated with good posture and keep your feet on the ground. The interviewers will likely go around and introduce themselves and their role. If you can, this is a great opportunity to quickly jot down their names. When they start asking you questions, be sure to listen intently. Don’t be scared to take a second to formulate your answer and when you do, demonstrate your listening skills by using part of their question in your answer. The interview is a college’s chance to learn about you, so be yourself and keep it conversational, but remember the interviewers are not your BFFs. Definitely discuss your accomplishments and why their college is a good fit, but don’t be too extra and remember that humility is key. When you are exiting the interview room, be sure to shake everyone’s hands at the table and reiterate how nice it was to meet them.
After
Now that the admissions interview is over, take a deep breath and try not to drive yourself crazy going over the questions in your head and what you could have said. Within 24 hours of the interview, be sure to send a follow-up thank you note to all of those who you interviewed with. Be patient and don’t reach out every day to inquire about the outcome. They should have communicated when you should hear back in advance, but if they didn’t, politely ask your admissions counselor when and how you should expect to hear back.