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College interviews usually start a few weeks after you apply, and for early applicants that means November. Most are friendly conversations of thirty minutes to an hour with an alumnus or alumna in a coffee shop or on a video call. They are rarely the deciding factor, but a good one adds a warm, specific note to your file.
You do not need a script. You need to know your own story, have a few real examples ready and know why you want this college. This guide covers the questions that come up most and how to think about each one.
What kind of interview is it?
- Alumni interviews: the most common at selective colleges. The interviewer writes a short report. Many have never seen your application.
- Admissions or student interviews: on campus or online, sometimes during a visit. Some are evaluative, some are informational.
- Evaluative or informational: an evaluative interview produces a report that goes into your file; an informational one is mainly for your questions. The college's website usually says which.
- Not offered: many colleges cannot interview every applicant. Not being offered one does not count against you.
The questions you are most likely to hear
| Question | What a good answer does |
|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself. | Two or three things that matter to you, with one concrete detail each. Not your resume in order. |
| Why do you want to attend this college? | Names specific programs, classes, people or traditions and connects them to you. |
| What do you want to study, and why? | Shows where the interest came from. Undecided is fine if you show curiosity. |
| What do you do outside class? | Goes deep on one or two activities rather than listing ten. |
| Tell me about a challenge you faced. | Spends most of the time on what you did and learned, not the problem. |
| What would you contribute to our community? | Points to something you already do, not a promise. |
| What is a book, idea or class that changed how you think? | Shows genuine engagement. Pick something you can talk about for three minutes. |
| Do you have any questions for me? | Always yes. See below. |
Interviewers vary, but most conversations circle the same themes: who you are, what you do, why this college and what you would bring. Prepare a real example for each rather than a memorized answer.
More questions worth preparing for
- What is your favorite class, and what makes it good?
- How would your friends or teachers describe you?
- What did you do last summer?
- Tell me about a time you changed your mind.
- Where else are you applying? (Answer honestly but briefly; you do not need to list every college.)
- What do you do for fun?
- Is there anything you want me to know that is not in your application?
How to answer without sounding rehearsed
- 1Write down five stories from your life: an activity, a class, a challenge, a moment you are proud of and something you do just for fun. Most questions can be answered with one of them.
- 2For each story, know the one detail that makes it yours: a number, a name, something someone said.
- 3Practice out loud once with a family member or friend, then stop. Over-rehearsed answers sound flat.
- 4Answer the question asked, give one example, and stop. Two minutes is long for one answer.
- 5If you do not know, say so and think for a second. A thoughtful pause beats a canned line.
Questions to ask your interviewer
Alumni love talking about their own experience. Ask questions that let them, and that you could not answer with a quick search.
- What surprised you most when you got to campus?
- What is one thing you wish you had done there?
- How did the college prepare you for what you do now?
- What kind of student do you think is happiest there?
- Is there a class or professor you still think about?
Logistics and the thank-you note
Dear Ms. Alvarez, thank you for meeting with me on Saturday. I have been thinking about what you said about the first-year seminar on cities, and I looked up the course list afterwards. It made me even more excited to apply. Best wishes, Jordan Lee.
- Respond to the interview request quickly and be flexible with times.
- Dress as you would for a nice family dinner. For video calls, check your camera, sound and background beforehand.
- Bring nothing but yourself unless asked. A resume is fine if the interviewer requests one.
- Send a short thank-you email within a day that mentions one specific thing you talked about.
Questions
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