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Although colleges rarely make interviews a requirement for admission, they do use them to put a human face and voice to the paper applicant. This one-on-one conversation allows you to express yourself through your vocal tone and body language, show off your enthusiasm for the school, and get immediate answers to any questions you may have about the school.

Even if you feel your interview didn’t go as smoothly as you expected, don’t despair. A bad interview will not ruin your chances of getting into the school of your choice. Remember, it’s only a small element a school looks at when considering a prospective student. But just keep in mind that any opportunity you get to make yourself stand out (positively) from the rest gives you a greater chance of getting into Dream U. Besides, a college interview can help prepare you for more critical interviews you will have in the future, such as job interviews.

When considering an interview, you must remember the many reasons why its positive aspects outweigh the negative. Most importantly, you’re demonstrating your complete interest in the school. By making the effort to schedule an interview, you’re saying how much you value the school and its educational opportunities.

The interview provides you the opportunity to learn and gather information about the school from an expert source. Ask questions and you get immediate feedback. Sometimes an interviewer will provide you with helpful information not found in college catalogues and viewbooks.

If you are articulate and possess a strong physical presence, this is the perfect time to show off your skills and personal characteristics. Just remember to be yourself and avoid putting on a false image. Don’t be afraid to talk about your academic achievements and athletic awards when asked. Steer clear, however, from showing off too much; you run the risk of sounding arrogant.

Colleges want to know you as a high school student as well as a citizen of the community. Not only do they want to know about your favorite subjects but also your interests outside of school. Prior to the interview, prepare yourself, make some lists: your personal qualities, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and future goals.

Writing down answers to potential questions allows you to examine yourself as an individual; when the time comes, you’ll know which of your qualities you’d like to emphasize.

Admission officers also like to create lists of traits and qualities to use when evaluating prospective students. They will be looking for evidence of the following characteristics.

Lafayette College’s Director of Admissions G. Gary Ripple claims intellectual promise is a favorite of faculty interviews. Questions dealing with favorite books and courses can reveal an applicant’s intellectual ability and curiosity.

The interviewer can measure your motivation by asking you about your prized accomplishments. Whether it’s school-related or more personal and intangible, your ability to explain its importance will highlight this important quality.

Rest assured, there are no right or wrong answers to value questions. Schools like a diverse student body. They’re simply curious of what values, if any, you deem important. Don’t be afraid to state your convictions even if you think your interviewer may not agree.

Having leadership qualities is certainly not a prerequisite to going to college, but admission officers hope to enroll a number of students who will generate activity throughout the campus. Student leadership can provide the school with successful extracurricular activities.

Your interviewer will ask you about the positions you have held in your various activities and, how well you have executed your responsibilities.

Questions about what makes you unique can help separate you from the rest of the applicants. This is where a great deal of prior thinking can make you shine.

Admission officers want to enroll students who are genuinely interested in their school. If you act disinterested or admit their school is your "safety" school, you may appear unfavorably in their eyes.

Ask questions about their institution. Tell them of your fascination with the school’s colorful history, science research program, and progressive-thinking student body. Showing them you’ve done some research will surely score points.

• What are your college and career goals?

• What kind of person would you like to become?

• What would you most like to change about yourself?

• What extracurricular activities at school do you value the most?

• How would your teachers and friends describe you?

• Who are your heroes and why?

• How has your family and your hometown influenced your way of thinking?

• What bothers you most about the world around you?

• What would you do if you decided not to go to college?

• What are your favorite subjects and why?

• What are your interests outside of school?

• What social issues do you feel most passionately about?

• Do you have any anxieties about going to college?

Interviewers ask questions such as, "How do you feel about being away from your family for a long period of time?" to get as sense of how well you may cope with being on your own in a new environment. There is nothing wrong with admitting some fears over your impending freedom, but make sure to explain how you will overcome those fears.

The interviewer may also be interested in your organizational skills, your sincerity, or your social conscience. Be prepared for anything!

Dress comfortably for your interview, but avoid looking sloppy or too casual. You want to make a good impression. Dr. Ripple recommends male applicants wear a nice pair of pants with a dress shirt or sweater. Females should stick to a dress, a pantsuit or a skirt and blouse or sweater. Both males and females should avoid jeans, baseball caps, and heavy cologne or perfume.

Arrive at the interview site about 15 minutes before your interview session. When you meet your interviewer be sure to greet him or her with a firm handshake. Don’t forget to introduce him or her to your parents or whomever accompanied you.

Prior to the one-on-one conversation, the interviewer may want to spend a moment with you and your parents. This is a good time for your parents to ask any questions they may have.

Don’t forget about body language and what it conveys to your interviewer. You want to be comfortable, but avoid slouching, fidgeting, tightly crossed arms and legs, mumbly speech, monotonous tone and roving eyes. Make eye contact and speak clearly to keep your interviewer focused and interested. Don’t be afraid to smile and laugh.

As you answer the interviewer’s questions, keep in mind that he or she isn’t looking for one particular answer. Respond truthfully and naturally; if you get stumped, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know.

Time permitting, almost every interviewer will ask if you have any questions. Go ahead and ask what’s on your mind. Ask about the surrounding community, the student/faculty ratio, the percentage of students who graduate and/or drop out of the college, and the overall campus environment.

Following the interview, many applicants ask if they are a realistic candidate for admission. Few interviewers will give you a definite yes or no, but they will tell you if your candidacy is very strong, highly realistic, or marginal.

Make sure to write down your interviewer’s name so you can send a thank-you letter, and have a contact person for any follow-up questions.

• If you had to do it all over again, would you go to your college?

• How does college work differ from high school?

• What percentage of your students eventually go on for graduate degrees?

• What are the most common complaints by students at this school?

• Why do students leave this college?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of this university?

• Is your location an asset or a liability?

• What are the current issues on campus?

• What in the makeup of this institution makes you come to work everyday?

• What plans does the administration have for the college over the next few years?

• How is you university really different from all the others?

As an alternative, many colleges offer group information sessions or group interviews. It’s not as intimate or as in depth as a one-on-one conversation, but a group session serves the same purpose-you and the school each learn more than can be presented on a paper application, or a glossy brochure. Contact the school to see if it sponsors group interviews.

Before you start your interviews, find a friend with whom you can stage a mock interview. Role-playing is a good way to form your ideas and practice answering questions. Some people even videotape the session so they can see themselves as others do. Another option is to save your top choice schools for last. This way you get to practice your interview techniques without worrying about the outcome.

Sure, it’s a bit daunting talking to a complete stranger about your college and career goals, however lofty and admirable they may be. Just remember, the interview helps more than it hurts.

Reprinted from Solutions, Octameron Associates College Planning Newsletter. For subscription, phone: 783-836-5480