Heading off to a college admission or scholarship interview? Our tips will help you get there prepared and ready to engage!

Knowing many students will be going on college and scholarship interviews in the coming months, we thought it best to repost our tips on how to prepare. And, we have one important tip to add: Silence Your Cell Phone!

Do we have to say it? Yes. Never go to an interview with your cell phone ringer turned on or leave your phone on vibrate. During an interview, you don’t want the distraction and neither does the interviewer. Read on for more tips on how to prepare and participate in an interview.

QUESTION:

What should students focus on when preparing for a college interview?

ANSWER:

From: Jeannie Borin, M.Ed. , founder of College-Connections

A few interview tips:

The first FOUR minutes of the interview usually sets the tone. Get it right at the start, and it can go well. Have questions of your own, and make sure they are not obvious factual ones. Dress informally so you are comfortable, but not too informally (avoid jeans or flip-flops). Be punctual. There are no trick questions coming up; this is not an interrogation. Interviewers want to engage you in conversation – and – yes, they want you to be comfortable. Don’t talk too much. Catch yourself and stop. Think internally for a few seconds before responding to questions. Remain conscious of your body language and don’t play with your hair or you’re your nails – You may be nervous – but don’t act it. Have thoughts about the last book that you liked; the last film, favorite website, magazines you read and tell the truth. Students should be able to articulate what it is about them that makes them a good fit with that particular school.

Also, be prepared to speak intelligently about what you’ve done for/in any groups in which you participate. If you have time, a thank-you note (or email) is appropriate! Bring a resume in case it’s requested.

The #1 thing I advise students about is to be prepared to thoughtfully discuss their academic preparation and achievement record.

Jeannie is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (ICEA).

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