9 Common College Interview Questions & How To Answer Them

Most colleges don’t require college interviews, but some recommend them and others even require you attend an interview, either virtually or on campus. Even if it’s only recommended, scheduling a college interview is a fantastic way to boost your acceptance odds. While attending them can be stressful, being prepared can help you cut down on the anxiety. Here are some tips for preparing and a few common college interview questions you might hear.

How To Prepare for Your College Interview

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The best way to prepare for your college interview is to practice with mock interviews. Your guidance counselor or college advisor is the best equipped to assist, but a friend or family member will be able to help, too.

Start by reviewing the common college interview questions below to start brainstorming your replies. Then, head to social media to see what you can expect during your interview at any particular college. It’s likely applicants, current students, and alumni have already shared their experiences on Reddit, Facebook, and other websites. Using this information, put together a list of questions you’ll be expected to answer and grab your mock interviewer.

Approach these mock interviews as if they’re the real deal. Dress the part and answer the questions sincerely. Since it’s just practice, take more time to think about your answers and how to reply to the question. Once you’ve completed the mock interview, ask the “interviewer” how you did. You’ll want feedback on how you answered the questions, but also on your dress, enthusiasm, and other factors.

Keep in mind that you don’t want to memorize your answers. You don’t want to sound like a robot during your real interview. Instead, keep it light, polite, and honest to remain personable.

Common College Interview Questions

Every college interview is slightly different, but these common questions give you a good baseline to work from.

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1. Tell Me About Yourself

Answering this question is tougher than you think. Go ahead and try right now! How do you paraphrase your whole life or personality to a few sentences? It’s tricky to say anything impressive on the spur of the moment.

This is where a well constructed and practiced personal statement and be helpful. Spend time brainstorming your reply to this question. Avoid clichés and common phrases. Instead, choose passions, such as a hobby, to talk about. How does this passion relate to you as a person and your desired path?

2. Why Are You Interested In This College?

‘Because it’s good’ is a vague answer that won’t impress the “why do you choose this school” question. A general answer about ranking and reputation won’t do you much good either. Interviewers want to know that you’re serious about attending their school.

Do your research. Be specific about what drew you to that college. Was it a particular academic program, their extracurricular facilities, or maybe the cultural values of the school? Highlighting one or two features that appealed to you shows you’re genuinely interested in that particular college and that you’ve done more than glance at the school website.

3. How Will You Contribute To Our College Community?

There are several versions of this question, including “How will you be a valuable addition to this campus?” Colleges look for students who will contribute to the campus or local community. Will you participate in a club? Volunteer at the animal shelter?

Think about what makes you uniquely you. Emphasize how this unique quality of yours will make a difference in the classroom or on the campus. If you are self-motivated, explain how you would use that to get things done without waiting to be asked. Talk about an earlier occasion where you used your self-motivation skills to contribute in high school.

4. What Do You Want To Major In? Why?

If your application indicated a certain major you’re interested in, you’ll want to explain why you want to pursue that area of study. What draws you to the subject and your experience so far in the major? What do you want to do after graduation?

Even if you haven’t decided on a major yet, you can still answer this question. Instead, talk about your passions, what you’re considering after college, and how the majors you’re considering will help you achieve those goals. Most incoming students are “undecided” when it comes to majors, so don’t think you need to pick one ahead of the interview!

5. What Do You See Yourself Doing 5 or 10 Years From Now?

This particular question can feel intimidating, but don’t worry – the interviewer doesn’t expect you to have the next decade all figured out. Instead, they’re asking about your general long term goals.

Talk about more than your career here, though that’s a good starting point. Discuss your plans for education beyond your bachelor’s, if you have them, or how you hope to impact your community or your intended field after graduation. You can also talk about goals related to clubs, extracurriculars, sports, or something else.

Your “10-year plan” doesn’t have to be super ambitious. Just be honest about your ideas. Grandiose statements won’t be very convincing unless you have the evidence to back them up.

6. Tell Us About a Challenge You’ve Overcome

The aim here is to determine how you resolve challenges that you’re faced with. Do you have good problem solving skills? College life has its own unique set of challenges. How will you navigate these issues when they arise? During your summer practice sessions, think about one struggle that you’ve faced and how you rose to the occasion. Ideally, talk about a challenge that helped shape your character and made you who you are today.

7. What Is Your Favorite Book?

You’ll need to be prepared to give the “why” behind your answer. What stands out to you about the book? How has it impacted you? It’s the perfect opportunity to reveal something about your personality or highlight a special interest.

8. Who Is Your Role Model?

The person you choose says a lot about what character traits you value most in the people you look up to. Be prepared to explain your choice. Don’t limit yourself to well-known public figures or celebrities. You might admire someone in your community or intended field. Highlight the specific qualities you look up to and why those qualities are important to you.

9. Do You Have Any Questions For Me?

Almost all college interviews end with this question. Although you might be tempted to answer “No,” it helps to come prepared with at least one or two thoughtful questions. It shows initiative and that you’re engaged with the interviewer.

However, the keyword here is “thoughtful.” You don’t want to ask a question that’s easy to find through a Google search or on the school’s website. Research the school and come up with a unique question that’s important to you and your decision on whether you attend if you’re accepted. Always keep questions in the positive.

You can even ask the interviewer about their thoughts about the school! If they’re an employee of the college or an alumni, ask them “What drew you to this college?”

RELATED >> How to Answer “Why Did You Choose This School?”

Practicing answers to college interview questions will help you come across as confident, sincere, and genuinely interested in that college, giving you the edge over other equally qualified applicants who didn’t take the trouble to practice their answers. To conquer the fear of an upcoming college interview, familiarize yourself with these questions and prepare strong answers.

Before you can schedule a college interview, you need to apply to the schools that best fit you. College Match is here to help identify those colleges. It’s completely free and takes just a few minutes to get started!

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