Nailing the Interview

I realize that some of you have applied early decision / action to schools already, and you have the option / requirement of an interview. Always opt to have an interview, especially for your reach and match schools. If a school holds interviews, but doesn't set them up for you, then make sure you take the iniative and find out how to get one. Just call the admissions office and ask them about it. Really, it's not a big hassle and it's completely worth it.

Here are the important parts of an interview:

1. Preparation - Never go into a college interview cold turkey; you should have an idea of what sorts of questions they will ask and how you want to answer them. Google "college interviews" for some of the archetypal questions that are asked. Also, know what specifically draws you to the school, such as its aspects of its academics, its campus, etc. If you have to, do a little research beforehand. This topic always comes up interviews, so you want your reasons for interest in the college solidified in your mind. Secondly, think about your best qualities - in academics, personality, and extracurriculars - and be sure you can cite experiences that exemplify them. For example, when was a time when you showed leadership and acted under pressure? I was asked this at my Columbia interview. It might be a good idea to look over your resume before an interview and pick out what best exemplifies you.

2. Pre-Interview - Dress for the occasion. It's better to overdress and show that you mean really business than underdress. Make sure you show up early for the interview. Punctuality demonstrates your earnestness and allows you to collect your nerves. On that note, don't be nervous. Be yourself; that is, only be the best parts of yourself. Speak in your everyday voice but don't use colloquialisms. "Yeah, i pwn3d the SATs" is not adequate.

3. The Interview - This is your opportunity to portray your best qualities and also your human-ness. You're more than just numbers on a paper, and now you have to prove it. If possible, try not to mention things that are already on your application, such as your GPA, SAT scores, etc. It's best to try to answer questions using anecdotes about rewarding experiences you've had; even if you don't think they were so beneficial, embellish the experience to show how you became a better or more complete person out of it. To illustrate, say camping is one of your favorite hobbies. Be prepared to talk about how you've gained independence, resilience, and meticulousness from it with examples. Furthermore, always elaborate your answers and make them pertinent to yourself. Remember, this is a showcase of YOU. At my MIT interview, I was asked what my favorite book was. I gave an explanation of the book and why I liked it, but I never really related it to me. I should have said something along the lines of, "I could really relate to the protagonist of Atlas Shrugged. We had many resonances in character, like diligence . . ." Of course, I would want to back that up with a specific example from my life and that of the protagonist. No matter how cheesy or abstract you sound, show what you've gained from an experience.

Don't forget that the interviewer is also present at the interview (lol) and that they're usually alumni. Don't hesitate to ask them questions about the school, such as why they chose it, what opportunities it opened for them, etc. In fact, I recommend brainstorming a few questions that you WILL ask them throughout the interview or afterwards. Not only can you get questions answered from firsthand experiences, but also you show interest in the school.

4. Post-Interview - The interview is not the be-all end-all of the application process. I don't believe, however, that "it helps more than it hurts." A mediocre interview does not help at all and equates to a great opporunity missed. A great interview can be your ticket in to a school. Just be well prepared. Remember, you want to display your best characteristics and cite specific examples that convey them. It's a good idea to follow up the interview with a pleasant email or letter thanking the interviewer. If the interviewer has not produced the write-up yet, then your face will be fresh in his mind. After your first one or two interviews, you will become more comfortable in selling your abilities and displaying your prowess.

"Why So Serious?" When you should start preparing

This one goes out to all the underclassmen. Are all your friends already preparing for college? Do you feel lost in the whole process? When should you start?

Again, I speak from experience when I say this: start extracurricular activities from freshman year. In a later blog, we'll explain which activities you should get involved in, and how much you should participate in them. However, remember that it's never too late to get involved. See the "extracurricular activities" blog for more information.

As far as visiting schools is concerned, I did not start until the summer going into senior year, and even then I only visited about four of the ten to which I applied. This, however, was a big mistake . I advise that you visit schools from the middle of your junior year. Colleges like that you express a genuine interest in them. When you do visit the schools, always take a guided tour, and make sure they get your name. They usually have some sort of sign up sheet for the tours in which you provide your information (name, address, etc). You want a place on their records; this is one way to differentiate yourself from the application pool. There's almost always a place on the application, be it an essay or short answer, where you say what about the school appeals to you, and visiting will definitely help. As a bonus, they sometimes give application-fee waivers for visiting. Visit your reach and match schools.

Make sure you ask for letters of recommendation from teachers before senior year (such as the end of junior year AT LATEST). Teachers have a myriad of these to write, and you want yours to be given extra time; a full summer is copious. You should start the actual applications at the end of the summer / beginning of your senior year. This will give you ample time for early decision / action and essay writing. More about that later.

Timeline Recap:
Extracurriculars: All throughout high school; never too late to start
Visiting schools: middle of junior year; the prime time is your spring break when schools are in session
Recommendation Letters: By the end of junior year
Applying: Beginning of senior year

We'll go in depth in later blogs on all these subjects. Also, feel free to send questions by commenting on this blog, the Open Discussion blog, or by email.