Applying for colleges can get rough if you’re applying for more than one.  Many students have their eyes set on one college but they find out later that they are rejected.  This is why I say never get excited until you get that acceptance letter in writing.  If you find that a college wants to interview you, there are some common questions that many of them are going to ask.  As long as you come in confident and show them that you want to be there, you’ll have a great chance at getting admitted.

Let’s hear about yourself

Ah, the question that we hear everywhere from college to a job interview, it’s a simple question yet it has so much power because you want to make a great first impression with the college.  The key here is to make yourself stand out.  Let’s stay away from answers like “I’m smart and motivated.”, etc.  They are going to hear that five thousand times and forget about you.  Instead, think of about five sentences and tell them something unique.

Why do you want to go here?

A college wants a particular reputation and if you don’t fit it, you can count on not getting in.  Tell them exactly why you want to go there.  Tell them some facts about the school so it shows that you have done your research..  Tell them what separates this college from the all of the rest.

Tell me what major you’re going into and why?

Hopefully by the time you start college, you’re going to know what you want to major in.  If you don’t, this may hurt you because many colleges that conduct interviews are going to want someone that knows what they want in life.  Tell them why you chose your major and why it’s important to you.

What do you do in your free time?  Will you help on campus? 

You’ll hear questions along this line asking you what kind of activities that you’d like to do in your free time.  You’ll want them to know what kind of things you’ll do around the campus.  Tell them your interests as well as what you’ve done in high school, etc.

How is this college going to help you down the road?

You’ll most likely hear some future related questions such as where you’ll be in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, etc.  They want to know that you have a vision and also want to see that you’re willing to set goals and accomplish them.

Tell me about some of the goals you’ve accomplished?

As I already mentioned above, colleges love students who set goals and achieve them.  If you never set goals, think of somethings that you’ve done in the past and accomplished.  Any great student is going to be one who knows what they want down the road.

Now obviously every college is going to be different when it comes to interviews.  You’re going to just want to be yourself and give educated answers.  Your goal here is to be unique.  You’ll want to be as independent as possible and steer clear of those silly cliche answers.  If you can do this, you can count on that college looking at you in great detail.