No One Ever Died in an Admission Interview!
Friday, July 11th, 2008
As you make plans to visit colleges this summer, be sure to inquire about opportunities for personal interviews while you are on their campuses. The interview gives you a chance to develop a relationship with a decision-maker, someone who will later be involved in the credential review process. While having such a relationship does not guarantee that you’ll get in, it should give you peace of mind that someone will be able to interpret your situation to other decision-makers behind the closed doors of the admission process.
That said, the prospect of having to talk with a stranger for half an hour or so may not seem too appealing. The fact that you’ll probably be expected to talk about yourself or that this conversation might have a bearing on your admission outcome doesn’t make the task any easier. The good news is that nobody ever died in an admission interview! It’s safe—and relatively harmless. The interview is not a test. The people you meet are really decent human beings who are simply interested in getting to know you better. Give them the chance.
As an interviewer, I always looked for opportunities to learn something new with each encounter. This led to fascinating conversations about the mental preparation actors go through as they take on stage personas, theories regarding the convergence of parallel lines in space (way over my head!), and the politics of poverty. I learned how to sail, followed the hand of an artist as it covered fresh canvas, and watched the sun in its early morning ascent from the top of Mount Masada through the eyes of students who had been there.
Each interview was an opportunity for me to meet with and understand a young person from a perspective that wasn’t scripted anywhere else. I could not have otherwise known the circumstances of the political exile who was understandably reluctant to reveal her family’s story. And I would not have met the homeless youth who came to my office with the simple plea: “All I want is a chance. I want someone to believe in me so I can get an education that will enable me to make a difference in the world.”
View the interview as an opportunity to provide a conversational window into your world. Think about it. If there are things that need to be made known regarding your academic performance or your life experience in general, this is the time to tell your story. In reviewing your credentials, admission officers need to understand what’s going on contextually. Without explanations or interpretations of unusual circumstances from you, they are left to draw their own conclusions—and you don’t want them to start guessing!
So, you need to ask yourself, “What do I have to lose by going for an interview?” If a college offers the interview, it is a clear indication that it wants to get to know you better. Go for it!
Interview Tips
- Do some research in advance. Be prepared to ask one or two thoughtful questions that relate to your areas of interest (for example, why not find out about opportunities for independent study or study abroad?). You don’t want to waste your interview time with questions that can be answered easily from websites and viewbooks.
- Dress comfortably. Don’t let your attire distract interviewers from the opportunity to get to know you.
- Arrive early so you can become familiar with campus life. Check out the school newspaper and read activity boards to get a sense of what’s happening on campus so you are reasonably informed when you walk into the interview.
- Take ownership. The interview is about you and your future.
- Relax. Smile. Extend a firm handshake. Maintain good eye contact. Don’t slouch in your seat. You demonstrate your respect for the interviewer by your posture and mannerisms.
- Eliminate the conversational “hiccups” (“like,” “well,” “you know”) and stow the gum!
- Be prepared to talk about your passions. Many interviewers are eager to learn something new. You never know when something you enjoy might lead to a broader conversation.
- Have a resume handy but don’t be surprised if the interviewer puts it aside to focus on having a conversation with you.
- Tell your story. If circumstances beyond your control have adversely influenced your performance, now is the time to bring them to light.
- Make sure you leave with the business card of the person who interviewed you. This person should be regarded as a key resource and you’ll want to make sure you know how to reach him/her with questions in the future.
On another note…I produced a webcast presentation on July 10 for CollegeWeekLive entitled “What You Didn’t Know to Ask About Financial Aid.” You can view this webcast at http://www.collegeweeklive.com. You will need to register to log in to view the archived presentation.
