7 Tips for College Admission Interviews

College admission interviews can be intimidating, but with enough preparation, you’ll feel confident going in. Here are seven tips for acing college interviews!

1. Have your attire picked out ahead of time.

The morning of your interview is not the time to be deciding what to wear. You should have your outfit picked out ahead of time and dry cleaned if necessary. Make sure you can walk in your shoes comfortably and that your outfit fits you properly. Ladies should avoid any chunky jewelry or skirts that are too short in length. Dress professionally and put together, like you’re going to a job interview.

2. Practice interview questions.

You don’t want to sound overly rehearsed, but at the same time you don’t want to go in blind. Research the most common interview questions and practice the answers. Have your family or friends practice interviewing you with their questions.

3. Don’t forget to smile!

A smile can go a long way. It can help you look relaxed, and maybe even feel more relaxed.

4. Ask questions at the end of the interview.

At the end of almost every interview, the person who is interviewing you will ask you if you have any questions. You never want to say no (unless you have discovered over the course of the interview that you are completely disinterested). Hopefully you will naturally think of some questions to ask during the course of the interview. But make sure that you plan ahead of time in case you have a brain freeze.

5. Ask for a business card and then follow up.

Asking for a business card gives you the information you need to send a follow up thank you email for your interview. If you can, a handwritten thank you note will go a long way. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you send the thank you note soon after the interview (think next business day). It will look bad if you wait too long to send the thank you, but may seem insincere if you send the email too soon afterward (five minutes after the interview = too soon).

6. Make your own business cards.

Office supply stores can make business cards on the fly for a super-low price (think under ten bucks). If you can afford it, you should go get your own business cards printed. This will make you stand out from other candidates. You can even add a professional picture to your business card.

7. Try to find out who will be interviewing you ahead of time.

If you can find out who will be your interviewer, you can do some research. This will make you more educated about the person and have a better connection. Additionally, you can look up the person on LinkedIn. Don’t worry this isn’t creepy! Recruiters like when you look them up because it shows initiative and interest.

Good luck!