By Gisella Brok
With big decisions from UGA and Georgia Tech coming out, college season is heading toward the finish line, with students either getting ready to submit their last applications, waiting for decisions or already happily committing to their homes for the next four years.
For me, I’ve finished my Early Action applications and am working on the Regular Decision essays. After turning in essay after essay…after essay, I thought I had the process locked down. That’s until I got an email about an alumni interview opportunity for one of my schools. Though I had a faint idea about college interviews, I wasn’t sure if I’d actually participate in one, but here I was.
I had one thought: yay! Then another thought: how in the world do I prepare for this?
Luckily for us, we’ve got some pretty great and experienced college counselors here to help with that question, like Ms. Brown, who used to be an interviewer at her old school!
Having a mix of friends who have done multiple interviews and friends who have done none, I wasn’t sure how common college interviews were. “Unfortunately, they’re becoming less and less common,” Ms. Brown said, “which is a shame because it gives an opportunity to show emotional IQ and people skills and manners in a way that doesn’t come across in applications.”
But coming from a smaller college with a smaller staff, she understands it’s a lot of work to do for the admissions officer, and some applicants are unmeetable.
Even if they do happen now, “it’s not like in rush with a scorecard” (it’s not an evaluation). Still, it’s good practice for the future and lets you finish your process without that “what if I did that?” question.
So if you end up getting an interview, the next thing to think about is how to prepare. Usually, the turnaround is pretty quick, so you have to act quickly. First, you want to reach out to your college counselor to schedule a mock interview with one of the counselors you don’t really know. If you get Ms. Brown, she has an entire list of do’s and don’ts (don’t get there too early, do write a follow-up email… etc.).
At the very least, be prepared. Go over common questions and think about what you might say, but don’t over-rehearse! It might sound disingenuous.
What’s the most common question? Why are you applying to our college? “If you can’t answer that…” Ms. Brown’s eyes opened a little wider, “then that’s tough.”
(Translation: you should 100% know the answer).
Some other questions focus on academic interests, impactful extracurriculars, challenges, involvement in college, and “anything else you want us to know about you?” But remember, you’re not the only one being asked questions. It’s always best to come up with a couple of questions for them, which you can ask after the interview.
I thought I knew the most common questions, too, until senior Mylee Dubin brought up her own interview. “They asked me really, really hard questions. They weren’t out of left field but they were…really unique,” she explained. Sometimes, the questions are super specific to the school because they want to know if you’ll fit in, but don’t be too overwhelmed! You’ve already spent time thinking about how you’ll fit there when filling out the application (what Ms. Brown calls “building your brand”), so you’ll be okay!
The only mistake you can make is to not take advantage of the opportunity. “Though college interviews are dwindling, they’re a good resource that might just move that needle.”
But, if you’re stressed about having the perfect interview, don’t be! “It’s not your only piece,” Ms. Brown said. It’s a holistic process, with so many other things in your application, so don’t put all the weight on the interview.
If you get there and totally blank, that’s ok! Don’t stress. “It sounds cheesy, but my biggest piece of advice is to be authentic,” Ms. Brown said. Her favorite interviews were when students could express themselves “without sounding like they’re just saying what they think I want to hear.”
Think about it like you’re making a connection, because that’s the core of it. Talk about your genuine interests.
(Aalso, don’t be late.)
(Aalso also, don’t hover at her table if they’re in another interview. “Get there early and sit in the parking lot.” Doing that also helped me calm my nerves a bit).
By the way, if you’re wondering how mine went: hopefully pretty well. It took place at Brash Coffee at the Atlanta History Center. The hardest moment? When she asked me who my favorite poet is (I’m majoring in economics…).
