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5 Common Admissions Interview Questions

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Betty Glauder
5 Common Admissions Interview Questions

 

The college interview can be a very nerve-racking experience for many people. One of the biggest concerns involves the potential questions that will be asked. The ability to prepare for these questions can certainly make things easier though. Here is a list of five of the most common admissions interview questions with some helpful tips on how to answer them.

What Can You Tell Us About Yourself?

This question is generally the first one asked. It is to help the interviewer get a general feel of the applicant. Also, it can even help direct future questions that the interviewer might ask. While it seems complicated, this question is actually quite simple. The applicant should create a short paragraph describing who they are as a person and memorize it before the interview for this question.

Why Are You Interested in This College?

The interviewer wants to make sure that the applicant has done his or her research. This query is to see how much the applicant is interested in the college. It also can show if the applicant is truly passionate about the school or not. The answer needs to be specific and show that the student can name precise aspects of the college that interest them. However, the answer should be more focused on intellectual pursuits rather than materialistic ones like wanting to make a great deal of money upon graduation.

Who Has Influenced You Most?

While this question is the standard variant, there are many ways to pose this question. Some of the other wordings include asking the applicant for their hero or what historical figure they would want to be. The student should spend a few minutes thinking of a potential answer to the variations of this question before the interview to be prepared. If he or she has not thought of an answer beforehand, it can be rather awkward and take a great deal of time to formulate one, you can just say that you need help with research paper and save your time. The applicant needs to be sure to identify why exactly they admire the person.

Why Did You Choose This Particular Major?

If the applicant has not officially declared a major, this question can be off-putting. However, the student should not feel afraid. He or she needs to simply indicate that they have many interests and need to take a few classes before declaring a major. If the applicant already has a major, he or she needs to be able to explain why. It should be noted that money should be left out of the equation, meaning that getting into a certain major should be about an applicant's passions not greed.

What Will You Contribute to the College Community?

Almost all colleges want to know what a particular student will bring to the community. They do not simply want a filled seat. Many of them desire someone who can contribute to the college as a whole. The applicant should bring attention to their unique qualities that could prove valuable within the college community. Being specific in this answer is best.

Even though college admission interviews can be overwhelming, keeping a cool head is key to a successful one. The applicant can achieve this calm by preparing answers for these common questions ahead of time. It should be remembered that these interviews are not just a formality. They are to help the admissions representative really get to know the applicant before acceptance or rejection.

 

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Betty Glauder
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