Insights From Giving 10+ College Interviews

Recently, I’ve given a lot of college interviews, and just as many preparatory interviews. There are a lot of insights I’ve gained throughout the process and here are some! 

#1: You control the flow of your interview. It sounds obvious but the first few things you say will lead to the next few talking points and this will continue through the entirety of the interview.

How to apply this: Answer questions with examples that may lead the interviewer to a topic you’re comfortable with or an achievement you’re proud of. For example, during my interview, a panelist asked me about the law of diminishing returns and I said explained what it was, telling them about how I applied the law while I prepared for a competition I won. 

#2: If they ask you for an introduction, here’s your opportunity to present them with breadcrumbs from different fields that they may ask you about. 

How to apply this: Pick out a few topics you are well versed in, and a couple of your achievements you’d like to talk more about and litter them throughout your introduction. Depending on the purpose of your interview, these should change. For example, if it’s an engineering interview, talk about your interest in the field and a project you may have worked on that relates to that chosen field. 

#3: Do not mention topics you will be uncomfortable being cross-questioned on unless they are the answer to a direct question. 

How to apply this: If you recently started exploring a new hobby you think is relevant but you don’t know too much about it, mention that you have just begun to explore this. This demonstrates a willingness to learn and open-mindedness. However, don’t claim to have done something without having concrete information supporting it. If you blog, but only receive 10 page views per post, that isn’t worth mentioning because if you are cross-questioned on it, the ground will fall out from underneath you.

To conclude, here are 3 tips.

1. Remember, you don’t need to know about everything that is thrown at you. If you don’t know something, say that you can’t recall it and talk about something similar that you do know.

2. Don’t begin speaking immediately after you’re asked something. Take a few seconds to collect your thoughts, I promise that’s okay!

3. Lastly, remain calm and answer confidently. Don’t try out any fancy new vocabulary you just looked up, and don’t try to change your accent. Be yourself, and be confident that your preparation and achievements are enough to get you through. 

I hope this was an interesting and helpful read.