Ready to progress your studies further and continue your education in college? Maybe you’re weighing up sixth form or going on to college?
The college application has several steps, from the application to the personal statement to having an interview with someone at the college. Every part of the application process is important, and the entire process helps determine if you’d be a good fit and get accepted to the college. Whatever you chose, it’s good to know what to expect.
Let’s take a look at what a college interview looks like and what questions to ask when you’re in one.
What is a college interview and what should I expect?
A college interview is your chance to present yourself in the best possible way. While it appears as a conversation between you and someone from the college, questions are being asked to assess your suitability, so how you reply matters.
The person from the college can either be someone from the college admissions office or a faculty member. Depending on who you are interviewed by, the questions themselves may be focused in one direction.
For example, suppose you’re going to an interview with a faculty member. In that case, the questions will be geared towards why you want to pursue that course specifically. Your aspirations will be asked, with what you want to achieve at college and what you want to do next.
Precisely when the interview happens can be different with every college. Some are held as soon as you submit your application, while others will contact you later to confirm your interview appointment.
It also doesn’t mean that you will get an interview as there’s a pre-screening with many colleges that may have too many applicants, and they cannot get an interview out to everyone. This is why writing an awesome personal statement can help you get an interview.
Remember that this is your opportunity to leave a lasting, good impression. However, at the same time, it will help to let you know if this is the right college for you and to understand the campus itself better.
What kinds of questions will they ask me?
The interview will typically start with the interviewer asking the questions first. As you apply to multiple colleges, you may notice that some standard questions are being asked, and you may want to practice at least the below questions with friends or family.
Why have you chosen this course/college?
Here you express your recognition of the college itself and how rewarding the opportunity to study is. You don’t want to be too obvious and say things such as the course will get you a high-paying job or that you need any type of degree to get by in life – they want to see a passion for the subject! This is especially true for creative arts colleges.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
This type of question will be asked even in job interviews, so it’s best to work on them now. Your strengths can be anything you feel you’re actually good at but do keep it down to three to five items. Same with weaknesses. You can also get into how the university will help strengthen your weaknesses.
Where do you picture yourself in 5 years?
They want to see how you think of yourself in the future. How much have you planned and mapped out to showcase that the college course is part of your life goals? You can handle the question by stating your dream job or career and the path you want to take.
It will show the interviewer that you’re looking at a planned and organised approach and that some thought has been put into it.
Do you have any questions for us?
You always want to say yes here, but also make sure to be mindful that the interviewer hasn’t already answered one of your questions earlier on otherwise. You don’t want to give any signs that you’re not fully paying attention or have disinterest in anything they’ve said. This is your opportunity to get to know more about what it would be like to go to this college.
Five great questions to ask at your college interview
- What does an average day at college look like?
- What’s great about this college compared to others?
- What kinds of extracurricular activities are available?
- How do you support students during their course?
- Do you offer any support after students graduate?
Questions that you want to ask the interviewer should simply spark your curiosity and interest in the college itself. It’s all about finding the inner workings of college life, what your first day would be like, and eventually progressing towards the completion of your course.
Remember this is part conversation and part interview, so take the time to write down the answers as you get them.
Top tips for your college interview
Now that you understand what the process may look like and how to handle the questions, let’s take a look at some final tips for success in your college interview.
First, you want to arrive on time. In fact, if you are unsure of the distance, arrive early. Keep in mind that if you arrive early and you’re asked to sit somewhere, you’ll still be observed, so don’t slouch or be on your phone randomly scrolling. Instead, use the time to prepare yourself for the interview itself.
Take the time to dress appropriately. You’re entering a place of higher education and there is a dress code to follow, at least with the interview part. Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll be able to fully express yourself.
Also, make sure to practice answering your interview questions with someone else so you can get a feel of how long it takes to answer a question and how well-prepared you need to be. Don’t forget that during this interview, you want to do your best to also highlight your achievements so far, extracurricular activities and other types of relevant experience.
Keep in mind that it’s still a conversation, so balance it throughout the interview. You don’t want to come off simply listing your accomplishments as they already have most likely reviewed your application which would state that.
Be yourself!
Make sure to be yourself and to be fully honest. Honesty and integrity will always outshine any type of weakness or half-truth you try to present. It will come off more naturally when you’re being honest and authentic.
This can be combined with the genuine enthusiasm you have for the opportunity to possibly be a part of that college. And if you want to truly be prepared, come with a copy of your application as well.
Best of luck!
