So you’ve applied to college… now what?
First off, CONGRATULATIONS! Applying to college is a daunting yet rewarding task and definitely something to be proud of! The hours you spent typing away at essays, polishing your resume, and taking *virtual* college tours are all in the past [insert sigh of relief here], and I know they will pay off! Give yourself a pat on the back (and don’t forget to send a thank-you letter to the teachers, coaches, and counselors who took the time to write a letter of recommendation for you)! And while the majority of the process is over with, there’s still one thing left to think about: virtual interviews!
Allow me to preface this blog post with a short anecdote of my own college interview. It was a blustery January afternoon, the sky grey and bleary. Being the unprepared Chicagoan I was (and still am), I had neglected to switch out my regular tires with the snow ones and had left my ice scraper at home. Mind you, the snow was up to my knees and I had scheduled my interview for 3:00 PM despite the fact that my school day ended at 2:30. The interview location was exactly 30 minutes away. Ok, I remember thinking, I can do this. I just have to drive a couple of miles over the speed limit and maybe I’ll be able to make it on time? It’ll be okay, it has to be okay, right?! I can tell you now that I did not make it to that interview on time, in fact, I was about 15 minutes late and nearly got a parking ticket in the process. I stumbled into the Starbucks, flurries of snow in my hair and a soaked resume in my hands (I had dropped it in a puddle on my way in). It took me a few minutes to find my interviewer, my glasses were covered in those icky water droplets, and when I did find him he did not look too happy. Moral of the story: don’t be me. Even if your interview is being held over Zoom, make sure that you give yourself adequate time to prepare and plan for the interview. You do not want to be late!
Prepare some questions!
All jokes aside, the interview process is nothing to be scared about! It’s just a way for your interviewer to learn a bit about you and for you to ask questions and learn more about the school you are applying to! Most of the time, your interviewer will be an alumni, so it’s always a good idea to ask them about their experience at the school. One of my favorite questions to ask was what my interviewer’s ideal Saturday afternoon was like in college. It was a great way to learn about some of the different museums, bubble-tea shops (my favorite) and things to do at the college besides strictly academics.
Know your stuff!
One of my biggest pieces of advice is to know your stuff! Be prepared to answer questions such as “Why are you applying to X University?” and “What about X University are you most excited about?” Avoid generic answers and look into some niche aspects of the college that you are genuinely interested in! Learn about some of the college’s offerings, courses, professors, and programs. By demonstrating genuine interest and having specific examples of why you are interested in a school, you can stand out as a serious and interesting candidate!
When I say “know your stuff,” I’m also talking about knowing stuff about yourself! I know that sounds weird, but really read over your resume and activities list before your interview and highlight specific aspects that you would like to mention. I’ve definitely had a few times where I’ve stumbled when asked about some of my responsibilities in a leadership position or at a job. Don’t do that! Be prepared, taking a few minutes to thoroughly read your resume helps!
Dress nicely!
Just like in an in-person interview, etiquette matters! Dress appropriately: a nice top or blouse is great! Avoid flashy or distracting jewelry and maintain eye contact throughout the meeting. I would also recommend having an appropriate background (for me, that meant moving my Dr. Spencer Reid cardboard cutout out of view during a club interview last week)! Pro tip: angle your laptop so that the back of it faces the sun. This will allow the ~natural light~ to hit your face and will overall brighten up your icon on the screen! If there’s no natural light, sit in front of a lamp or light source but avoid any glare from the light. I highly recommend troubleshooting technology ahead of time and putting a sign on your door to avoid pesky siblings from interrupting you during the interview.
Have a talking plan!
Ok, just a few more things and then you’ll be on your way to have the greatest interview ever! Have a list of questions prepared, including questions that you will answer and questions that you would like to ask. A cursory Google search of “common interview questions” should yield some good potential questions to practice. When I say practice, I mean have a good outline of what you would like to say, but don’t go overboard! The goal is to sound as natural and genuine as possible, and having memorized answers diverts from that goal. I like to come up with 2-3 talking points for each question just to have in mind in case I drift away from the initial question. I find that having some anecdotes and specific examples to answer each question is an effective way to strike that balance between sounding natural and answering the question! Likewise, come up with a handful of unique questions to ask the interviewer: this goes for college interviews and basically every other interview you’ll ever have. Asking questions shows that you are interested in the college (or company, or organization, the list goes on!) and that you have done your research!
Honestly, don’t sweat it! The interview is nice, but it is not the end-all-be-all. With these tips in mind, I am sure that you will have an amazing interview. It sounds cliche, but be yourself and be genuine! Crack a joke, tell some stories, and get as much as you can out of this interview as you put in. And about my interview horror story earlier? I actually ended up getting into that college… Funnily enough, I’m currently a student at said college, actually! See? It all works out in the end. You got this!
Peace Out!
Jhil