In our blog post last week, we talked about signing up for interviews and how to find out if the colleges on your list are offering interview opportunities in the summer, before you apply.

This week, we’re continuing the conversation by discussing some of the different types of interviews that you may encounter during the college process!

Interview with an Admissions Officer

At some schools, you will be interviewed by an admissions officer - someone who works for the school reviewing applications and making admissions decisions. So naturally, you want to put your best foot forward - if you impress this person, they will be able to advocate for you to the rest of the admissions committee!

If you are interviewing after you’ve applied for admission, the interviewer will likely have access to your application, so they may have been able to review the materials you’ve submitted. In this case, it is possible that the person will have specific questions for you about activities or experiences that you mentioned in your application.

(PRO TIP: We all know that the hours per week/ weeks per year approximations in the activity section of your application can involve extensive calculations, since you can’t vary the time commitment from season to season or year to year.

Since you may not be able to just think back on the spot and remember the final calculation you put in your application, please re-review your activities list and familiarize yourself with this information before your interview.

Worst case, if the interviewer asks you about your time commitment and you freeze up, just explain that you don’t have the math in front of you and you can’t remember the final number, but explain your general thought process -> “Before Covid, I danced for 15 hours per week during spring and fall, but..”

Whatever you do, do not make a number up! One of the things I remember most about my time giving admissions interviews was that so many kids mentioned time estimates for activities that didn’t line up with what they put down on their applications, and discrepancies always set off red flags about possible deception.)

The other type of interview that admissions officers may offer is an “informational interview.” This is an interview that does not have a formal impact on your application - meaning that the interviewer probably will not fill out a report that is added to your file. However, do not assume this means that you do not need to prepare! You definitely do not want to make a negative impression on an admissions officer, even in a more informal, informational setting. And just think about human nature - if they like you, they might go to bat for you. If they don’t, well..

For either type of interview, make sure that you prepare questions for the interviewer. These shouldn’t be questions that you can easily find on the school’s website - you want at least one or two questions that show that you’ve done some research. Here are some good questions to ask an admissions officer:

I was [Insert Emotion Here] to read about [Insert Story Here] in the campus newspaper online. Can you tell me [Insert Follow-Up Question Here]? (For example: I was very impressed to read about the new alumni mentoring initiative in the campus newspaper online. Can you tell me if this will be available to all students or just upperclassmen?)
What do you think is the most important quality for a [Insert Name of College] student to have?
I really loved learning about [Insert Cool Thing Here]. Does [Insert Name of College] have any other unique offerings that you wish were available to you at the college you attended? (For example: I really loved learning about how students laminate their notes during exams so they can study in the amazing leisure pool! Does Miami have any other unique offerings that you wish were available to you at the college you attended?

Interview with an Alumnus or Alumna

Many schools have an alumni interview program through which graduates of the college can volunteer to interview students in their area (or, increasingly during COVID, virtually). Unlike an admissions officer, the alumni interviewer will likely not have access to your application. They may have a list of your activities or request a copy of your resume, or they may not know anything about you at all! In this type of interview, you can draw on the stories that you told in your application to represent your positive qualities and experiences. You may need to do a bit more “explaining” of your classes and activities, as this person probably does not have the context of your grades or activity list that an admissions officer might.

But don’t think that this is an informal interview just because you are not meeting directly with an admissions representative! These types of interviews can vary widely depending on the school and personality of the individual interviewer, so be prepared for a formal interview and be flexible when it comes to engaging in conversation with the interviewer.

Alumni interviewers are usually passionate about their alma mater, so you can ask questions that draw on their experience as a student! Here are some ideas:

What did you like best about being in [Insert Location Here] and how did you take advantage of what the city has to offer?
What quality did you develop as a result of your time at [Insert Name of College]? How did this quality help you after graduation?
What is one thing you wish you had done while at [Insert Name of College], but didn’t have time?

Interview with a Current Student

Finally, you may be offered an interview with a current student - typically an upperclassman. These students may be volunteers with the admissions office, but like alumni interviewers, they probably won’t have access to your transcript or application materials, so you can help them get to know you by providing more context when you talk about your experiences.

While an interview with a current student may seem less formal than an interview with an alumnus or admissions officer, keep in mind that this person is still evaluating you! You want to be personable and comfortable while still making a positive impression. And while this person may only be a few years older than you, please keep romance out of the equation (yes, this actually happens)!

Don’t forget - an interview with a student can be just as beneficial to you as it is to the school. You want to take advantage of the opportunity to ask the interviewer questions that only a current student could answer!

Here are some ideas for questions to ask a current student:

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman? What would you encourage them to do or join to help integrate them into the school community?
What are your favorite courses you have taken at [Insert Name of College]? Are there any classes that are unique to the school?
I’ve been to an info session with an admissions officer, but I’m really interested in the student perspective as well. What’s something about [Insert Name of College] that I wouldn’t know from the info session and tour?

No matter where you are interviewing or who you’re talking to, you can have a successful experience if you come prepared! Practice asking and answering questions at home with your parents or a trusted friend, or set up an interview session with us for extra help. Vault Members and current clients can also see a list of interview questions and best practices by referring to the “Interview Guide” in the Membership Vault.

Good luck on those interviews!