Mastering the College Interview – A List of Questions

by Neil Patrick O’Donnell

While every college and every admissions staff member asks a unique question occasionally, there are a host of questions that routinely pop-up no matter where a student goes for an interview.  Some of the more typical questions, and ways to prepare to answer them appropriately, are:

1)   Why College? Seem too simple for an interview question?  Well, that’s the first question often asked by interviewers, and answers such as “because I want to be successful” aren’t very complete.  Explain the interviewer WHY you want to attend college by giving details about HOW college will help you be successful later in life.

2)   Why this particular college? “This is the closest college to my home or the least expensive,” while potentially accurate to some degree, is not a great answer.  Every institution has great resources, including community colleges.  Do your research (often something you’re capable of completing online), and be prepared to list those academic and recreational offerings at the college that interest you including libraries, tutoring centers, intramural sports, clubs related to your major and other specific features that make the college stand out.  Additionally, you should spend time learning about the founding of the college and any important events related to the campus or its alumni or staff.

3)   What do you want to major in? This is a particularly dangerous question from multiple standpoints.  First, if a student is uncertain what to major in at the time of their interview, he or she may feel obligated to pick a major.  Don’t!  Be honest, and let the interviewer know you have not made any final decisions.  That said, it’s worth it to browse through what the college offers for majors and give the interviewer an idea of where your interests are.  Interviewers know students change their majors multiple times; interviewers are often just looking to see if the student is focused on possibilities. A second potential danger with this question revolves around what majors are offered by the college.  If a student has not done her or his research and is interested in pursuing a major not offered by the college, the interview will probably be quite short, and not in a good way.  Do your research.

4)   What are your long term career goals?  This question, or rather a student’s answer to it, really assists interviewers in gauging the focus, determination and maturity.  Has the student selected a major that fits in with his or her long-term plans?  Is the student focused in her or his career research?  Does the student possess a realistic perspective of what opportunities their college degree will provide in relation to their long-term plans?  A student’s answer to this question will assist interviewers in addressing each of these concerns.

5)   If you could be whatever you wished, what would you be? Yes, that’s a very open-ended question, but effective.  A student’s answer provides insight again into her or his understanding of majors, college life and themselves.  Often students answer with a formulaic response; they say they want to be a lawyer, doctor or other relatively straight-forward professional.  Sometimes students answer with a profession that is wildly different from their chosen major.  In either event, interviewers can and will likely draw from a student’s answers an idea of his or her character, resourcefulness and ability to succeed, which is why preparation and research is key to having a successful interview.