College interview: Difference between revisions
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Promotiional vehicle for Mark Efinger, written by Tomwsulcer. Tag: New redirect |
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#REDIRECT [[College admissions in the United States]] |
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{{Manual|date=August 2020}} |
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[[File:Tips for how to prepare for a college interview.png|thumb|right|300px]] |
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[[File:Tips for how to handle a college interview.png|thumb|right|300px]] |
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A '''college interview''' is a short face-to-face meeting, usually between a college admissions officer and a high school student applying for admission. It is one of several ways for a college to assess an applicant along with grade transcripts and standardized scores and essays.<ref name=twsMay2S213>{{cite news |
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|author= Howard and Matthew Greene |
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|title= PBS: 'Ten Steps to College' (transcript) |
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|newspaper= Washington Post |
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|date= October 22, 2003 |
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|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21178-2003Oct13.html |
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|accessdate= May 19, 2012 |
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}}</ref><ref>Note: college interviews usually last 20 minutes to a half hour</ref> Interviews can take place on the college campus, at the high school (if the college sends representatives), and elsewhere such as at a local coffee shop if there is an interview between a student and an alumnus. In addition, several colleges have been experimenting with online interviews.<ref name="twsWashPost5">{{cite news |
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| author= Barbara Rodriguez of the Associated Press |
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| date= January 2, 2009 |
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| newspaper= Washington Post |
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| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101935.html |
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| title= More Colleges Expected to Offer Online Interviews |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=... Avery Cullinan put on her best outfit but didn't bother with shoes. She sat in her living room, smiled into her computer's webcam and told an admissions officer more than 800 miles away that Wake Forest University was right for her...}}</ref> If offered by a college, interviews are sometimes described as optional, but one report suggested that not doing an interview when one was offered could hinder chances for admission.<ref name=twsL24>{{cite news |
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|author= Steve Cohen |
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|title= Top 10 myths of college admissions |
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|newspaper= The Washington Post |
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|date= September 23, 2011 |
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|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/top-10-myths-of-college-admissions/2011/09/22/gIQAEn8XoK_blog.html |
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|accessdate= 2011-12-12 |
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}}</ref> Further, doing an interview signals an interest in attending.<ref name=twsMay2R214>{{cite news |
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|author= Valerie Strauss |
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|title= A new college admissions bible |
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|newspaper= Washington Post |
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|date= 2011-10-03 |
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|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/a-new-college-admissions-bible/2011/10/02/gIQAZVhqHL_blog.html |
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|accessdate= May 18, 2012 |
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}}</ref> |
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Likely interview questions include: |
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#Can you tell me a little about yourself?<ref name="twsUSAToday1"/> |
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#Why are you interested in our college?<ref name="twsUSAToday1"/> |
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#What are you interested in studying?<ref name="twsUSAToday1"/> |
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#How will you contribute to our campus community?<ref name="twsUSAToday1"/> |
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#What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?<ref name="twsUSAToday1">{{cite news |
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| author= Erica Cirino of Varsity Tutors |
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| date= November 7, 2015 |
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| newspaper= USA Today |
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| url= http://college.usatoday.com/2015/11/07/5-college-interview-questions-you-should-know-how-to-answer/ |
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| title= 5 college interview questions you should know how to answer |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote= ...1. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?... |
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| archive-date= February 19, 2016 |
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| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160219192638/http://college.usatoday.com/2015/11/07/5-college-interview-questions-you-should-know-how-to-answer/ |
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| url-status= dead |
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}}</ref> |
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Counselors and teachers and professional consultants offer differing guidelines about interviews. Most suggest that an interviewee should "dress to impress",<ref name="twsUSAToday2">{{cite news |
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| author= Haylee Barber |
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| date= July 11, 2014 |
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| newspaper= USA Today |
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| url= http://college.usatoday.com/2014/07/11/10-ways-to-nail-your-college-interview/ |
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| title= 10 ways to nail your college interview |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...1. Dress to impress ... 2. Be prepared ...3. Ask specific questions that cannot be answered from the school’s website ... ... ... 4. Be ready to “tell me a little about yourself”... etc ... |
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}}</ref> avoid wearing provocative<ref name="twsNYMag">{{cite magazine |
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| author= Jessica Pressler and Chris Rovzar |
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| date= October 14, 2008 |
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| magazine= New York Magazine |
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| url= http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2008/10/gossip_girl_gains_the_freshman.html |
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| title= Gossip Girl Gains the Freshman Fifteen |
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| accessdate= March 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...Even Serena knows better than to wear a skanky-ass top like that to a college interview. ... |
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}}</ref> or inappropriate clothes,<ref name="twsNYNewsday">{{cite web |
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| author= Meghan Daum |
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| date= September 20, 2006 |
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| publisher= New York Newsday |
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| url= http://www.newsday.com/opinion/fashion-weak-what-a-laugh-1.679254 |
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| title= Fashion weak - what a laugh |
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| accessdate= March 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...... |
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}}</ref> although a report in 2009 suggested that hiring a fashion consultant and shopping for expensive clothes before an interview was unnecessary and could backfire.<ref name="twsNYT1">{{cite news |
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| author= JACQUES STEINBERG |
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| date= June 12, 2009 |
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| newspaper= The New York Times |
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| url= http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/interview/comment-page-9/?_r=0 |
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| title= Free Fashion Advice for College Interviews, From a $15,000 Consultant |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...showcasing “looks” ... for on-campus interviews.... jeans were “a no-no,” and that appearing “neat” and “not sloppy,” while still showing a flash of “your own style,” was key. ... She also advised against “exposing too much,” whether of one’s ankles, toes or cleavage. |
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}}</ref> There is strong consensus that rehearsing for interviews is important.<ref name="twsWashPost3"/> Former [[Phillips Academy|Andover]] theater instructor and professional interview coach Mark Efinger believes that preparation is vital for a successful interview. Sometimes assistants help students prepare for the interview.<ref name="twsNYPost43">{{cite news |
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| author= Maureen Callahan |
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| date= May 9, 2006 |
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| newspaper= New York Post |
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| url= https://nypost.com/2006/05/09/head-of-the-crass-50k-for-200-points-how-rich-n-y-kids-ace-the-sat-paying-to-break-the-sat-curve/ |
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| title= HEAD OF THE CRASS – $50K FOR 200 POINTS: HOW RICH N.Y. KIDS ACE THE SAT; PAYING TO BREAK THE SAT CURVE |
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| accessdate= March 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...His assistant would prepare me for each college interview,” says the new Harvard undergrad.... |
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}}</ref> Private secondary schools such as [[St. Paul's School (New Hampshire)|St. Paul's]] in New Hampshire have a two-week "boot camp" in the summer before senior year to help students prepare which includes simulated practice interviews.<ref name="twsBaltSun1">{{cite news |
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| author= Jon Meoli |
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| date= August 15, 2012 |
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| newspaper= Baltimore Sun |
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| url= http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-tt-st-paul-bootcamp-0815-20120814-story.html |
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| title= St. Paul's 'boot camp' gives seniors a leg up on college applications |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=... the class to run through some simulated interviews ... present themselves in a college interview... |
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}}</ref> Efinger advises students to write up their major achievements, organize them into themes, and have a three to five minute theme-oriented "success story" ready (but not memorized) before an interview, and suggests that interviewees should try to steer the conversation to show how their skills and experience meet criteria valued by the interviewer. For example, if trying to demonstrate an aptitude for "planning and organization", he or she might show how they plan their schedule using their mobile scheduling app. |
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Advisers agree that a usual open-ended question to begin the interview will be along the lines of "tell me about yourself", and that a student should be ready with a response.<ref name="twsBuffaloSuntimes">{{cite web |
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|author = Buffalo News |
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|date = February 3, 2015 |
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|publisher = Buffalo Suntimes |
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|url = http://buffalo.suntimes.com/buf-entertainment/7/116/71751/countdown-to-college-how-to-impress-in-the-college-interview |
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|title = Countdown to College: How to impress in the college interview |
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|accessdate = January 31, 2016 |
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|quote = ... tiptoe that fine line between bragging about their accomplishments and sharing significant information....It’s a safe bet that you’ll be asked a very general question such as, “Tell me about yourself.” ... |
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}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Several emphasize the importance of being able to back up adjectives such as "hardworking" and "motivated" with a brief and memorable anecdote to explain further what is meant.<ref name="twsBuffaloSuntimes"/><ref name="twsBostonGlobe4">{{cite news |
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| author= Sanjay Salomon |
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| date= January 30, 2015 |
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| newspaper= Boston Globe |
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| url= http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/2015/01/30/can-failure-resume-help-you-succeed/uTBdq9A7LfXXF7vVOlG9oM/story.html |
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| title= Can a Failure Resume Help You Succeed? |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...A “failure resume” is ... a private exercise ... outline what they learned from the experience ...“}}</ref> Efinger describes such anecdotes as "arrows" designed to "hit the bull’s-eye" to make a point which sticks in the interviewer's mind; in addition, interview preparation can include a private soul-searching exercise called a "failure resume" to get students to think about their past mistakes in order to help them outline what they learned from their experience.<ref name="twsBostonGlobe4"/> It helps for students to understand what they want and to show how a particular college can help them achieve their long range goals.<ref name="twsLATimes1">{{cite news |
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| author= VICTORIA NAVARRO |
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| date= December 17, 2015 |
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| newspaper= Los Angeles Times |
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| url= http://highschool.latimes.com/granada-hills-charter-high-school/tips-on-how-to-excel-in-a-college-interview/ |
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| title= Tips on how to excel in a college interview |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=... people should be cautious of is trying too hard....the best you can do is understand what you want and how that college can help you achieve your goals. ... |
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}}</ref><ref name="twsUSAToday3">{{cite news |
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| author= Katherine Kendig |
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| date= October 11, 2013 |
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| newspaper= USA Today |
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| url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/11/college-interview-tips/2965129/ |
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| title= Tips for taking the awkward out of college interviews |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...Decide ahead of time what you're going to call your interviewer (formal is probably better to start), and plan some small talk.. |
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}}</ref> While interviews can be stressful, one report suggested that the main purpose of the interview was to "show that you are a good person" who is "polite and interesting" with a "sense of humor".<ref name="twsWashPost3">{{cite news |
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| author= Staff writer |
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| date= June 24, 2010 |
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| newspaper= Washington Post |
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| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/22/AR2010062203429.html |
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| title= Don't be afraid to take risks during college interviews |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...The point of the interview is to show that you are a good person and that you are polite and interesting and have a sense of humor... |
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}}</ref> Another report suggested the most important thing, when an applicant has strong grades and test scores and activities, is simply not "blowing the interview", although this varies by college.<ref name="twsChicagoTribune3">{{cite news |
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| date= February 5, 2015 |
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| newspaper= Chicago Tribune |
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| url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/lifestyles/ct-ptb-bradshaw-column-st-0206-20150205-story.html |
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| title= Don't fumble on an otherwise strong college admission run |
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| accessdate= January 31, 2016 |
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| quote=...The biggest risk of not getting into Harvard is blowing your interview. ... Yale is big on interviews... |
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}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Interview]] overview article |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:University and college admissions]] |
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[[Category:Job interview]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:32, 13 March 2022
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