If you were nervous about taking your SAT, just wait until you walk into your first college interview. This interview is a special opportunity to tell your top school exactly why you’re such a great candidate for their university, but even if you truly believe what you’re saying, it can be difficult to say it out loud. It’s not easy to talk about yourself, and especially to brag about yourself, for most people. However, if you can find a way to do it with poise, then you will be on the right track. Just remember to breathe and to believe in yourself. Here are the top 5 college interview tips.
- Research the College
Before you walk into your interview, you should really know your stuff about the university. You should know all about its history, its successful alumni, major events that have happened on campus, and you should especially know all about the philosophy of the school. When you’re talking to the admissions officers, it should be clear that you are aware of the school’s philosophy and in full agreement with it.
- Practice Mock Interviews
There’s a very good chance that this interview is truly your first rodeo, but it doesn’t have to feel like it. That’s why it’s important that you find a friend or family member who is willing to pretend they are your interviewer. You won’t know exactly what they’re going to ask, but you can make some pretty good guesses. Not only do you want to practice answering their questions, but you also want to get feedback afterwards so that you can try to improve your performance.
- Prepare Your Outfit
When you turn in a college application, the admissions officers are judging you based off of your work, and not your appearance. However, as much as your appearance should be irrelevant, it really isn’t. You need to look like a bright and ambitious student with a strong sense of professionalism. So be sure to pick out a sharp looking outfit and iron or steam it the night before to make sure it isn’t wrinkly or stained. Even if you are applying for ACU Online or another online school, you need to show up looking sharp.
- Eat a Balanced Breakfast
The last thing you want to do is walk into that interview feeling tired or hungry. You want to make sure that you get to bed early, wake up early, and eat a good healthy breakfast. This way you will eliminate any major factors that might leave you feeling less than well. If there’s any sign that you aren’t very put together, then it will set off some red flags.
- Don’t Come Empty-handed
The first thing you want to do in the interview is look the interviewer in the eyes and shake their hand. The second thing you want to do is hand them a hard copy of your application and – if necessary – your portfolio. They may already have a copy of your application, but this is just a professional formality that you must adhere to. This will give the interviewer something to flip through while you’re speaking, and it will make you less nervous because their eyes won’t be on you every single second.
