As we get closer to submitting our college applications, we can’t forget about a key element of some of these applications: the college interview 🤩

🎙️The College Interview Defined🤔

These interviews can be required, strongly recommended, or optional. Typically taking place during college application season in the fall/winter, these interviews may be in-person or virtual and last between 30 minutes to an hour.

With that being said, there are typically 2 different types of college interviews…

👩🏻‍💻The 2 Types of College Interviews📣

Evaluative Interview

👔These interviews are more formal. Admissions officers will evaluate you based on your character, interests, and communication skills.

Informational Interview

📝Typically less formal, and more for you to learn about the college or a specific program that’s offered.

🎙️Preparing for the Interview🤩

✅Though interviews vary on a case-by-case basis, we’ve compiled a list of questions that are likely to be asked to help you prepare:

• Tell me about yourself...

• Why do you think you’d be a good fit at this college?

• Why do you want to attend this college?

• What are your biggest academic strengths and weaknesses?

• Why do you want to study _____ in college?

• Tell me about a time you faced a difficult situation. How did you overcome it?

How to Prepare for the Interview

✨Make sure you know how to answer some of the more generic questions listed above! Additionally, you’d want to set up some mock interviews with friends, mentors, alumni, or current students at the school you are applying for.

🙌 Check out our new feature that lets you schedule 1 on 1 meetings so you can talk to students at your dream school! ⬇️

🤔As much as it is important for you to prepare to answer questions in a college interview, you should also prepare some questions to ask.

🧠Avoid general questions that can apply to any interview or that can be found online, be creative and specific!

👀Here are some topics to consider when preparing these questions:

• specific programs/departments

• campus culture/traditions

• studying abroad 

• clubs and organizations

• athletic programs

• extracurricular activities

🤓Additional Advice🙏

• Be prepared to ask and answer questions!

• Dress business casual

• Prepare with mock interviews

• Follow up with a thank you email

• Relax and be your authentic self

• Connect with current students or alumni using the sups.ai talk-to-students feature!

Prepare as best you can and be confident, you’ve done well and we hope you’ll ace your interviews!