College Interviews: How to Walk In Ready Instead of Terrified
So you hit submit on your early app, and a week later there's an email from someone named Dave, class of 2004, who'd love to grab coffee before Thanksgiving. If your stomach dropped a little reading that, you've got company. We see it every fall. The interview shows up right when you're buried in supplements, and nobody warned you it was coming.
Prefer to watch or listen? In Episode 16 of Drop In: The College Admissions Podcast, Lisa and Josh break down how much college interviews actually matter, what students should expect, and how to walk in prepared without sounding rehearsed.
What Happens in a College Alumni Interview?
Most of the time you'll be talking with an alum who lives nearby and volunteers because they still love their school. You'll chat for thirty or forty minutes. Afterward they write up a short report for admissions. A lot of them haven't even seen your application, and most of them are rooting for you before you sit down.
At most schools the interview is a small piece of the decision. Think of it as a chance to add some color to your file, like the way you light up talking about whatever you spend your Saturdays on.
Why Do Students Get Nervous Before College Interviews?
Most of you have never sat across from a grown-up you don't know and talked about yourself for half an hour. Of course that feels weird! Do it twice with someone you trust and it gets a lot less scary.
How to Prepare for a College Interview Using Your Essays
Pull up your personal statement and the supplement for that school, then read them out loud. Yes, out loud, at the kitchen table, even if your little brother walks by. Those are the stories you already picked to tell, and you'll want them fresh when the interviewer asks what you care about.
Still working on an essay for a later deadline? Our post on how to choose a college essay topic that sounds like you can help, and that brainstorming doubles as interview prep.
Should You Bring a Resume to a College Interview?
Send a one-page activities resume when you confirm the time. Interviewers like having something to look at, and it nudges the conversation toward stuff you want to talk about.
Before you go, pick two activities off that page and have a quick story ready for each. Maybe it's the night before competition when your robot caught fire, or the sixth grader you tutored who finally got fractions.
How to Answer "Where Else Are You Applying?"
You'll almost definitely get this one, and it trips people up more than any other question. Keep it easy. Mention a couple of schools that have something in common with this one, maybe they all have co-op programs, and say why that matters to you. Applying Early Decision? Say so. Interviewers love putting that in their report.
What If the Interviewer Asks About Test Scores?
They probably won't. If they do and you went test optional, something like "I thought my grades told a better story" works fine, and then you can steer toward something more fun. Got a fall SAT or ACT still coming up? Try not to book an interview on the same weekend.
How Recommendation Follow-Up Fits Into Interview Season
Your teachers are probably finishing rec letters right around now. Hop into each portal and make sure they've submitted, then send a thank-you. Tell them about your interview while you're at it. Your chem teacher might remind you of that lab you were weirdly proud of, and suddenly you've got something good to talk about.
How to Stay Organized When Interview Invitations Start Arriving
Some colleges make you sign up for an interview through the portal by a certain date, and once it passes, that's it. Check your portals a few days after you submit. We talk about setting up a weekly portal check in Episode 10 of Drop In.
A simple Google Sheet helps too. Give each school a row with the interview type, the sign-up deadline, your interviewer's name and email, the date you're meeting, and when you sent your thank-you.
What Questions Should You Ask a College Interviewer?
Bring two. Alums love talking about their college days, so ask something like "What would you tell your freshman self?" and let them go. Skip anything you could find on the website in ten seconds.
How to Practice for a College Interview So You Sound Like Yourself
Grab a parent or an older cousin who'll stop you when you start rambling. It'll feel awkward, and that's fine, since sitting across from a stranger feels awkward too. Record one practice round on your phone and watch it back. You'll catch every "um" and "like" way faster than if we pointed them out.
On the big day, get there ten minutes early with a printed copy of your resume. Afterward, send a thank-you email within a day and mention something specific you talked about.
The Bottom Line
Your interviewer is probably a friendly alum. Most of them want a good conversation, and at most schools their report is a small part of your file.
Reread your essays before you go. Reading them out loud keeps your stories lined up with the application admissions already has.
Check your portals. Some schools close interview sign-ups on a set date.
Practice on camera once or twice. Watching yourself back will calm your nerves faster than another round of notes.
If you have questions, want to learn more, or want Josh and Lisa to help with college interviews? Schedule a call today and we have you covered!