The Tale of Two Interviews

Today I was having a meeting with Lisa about essays and the like, when she asked me how my recent college visit went. I told her I loved the college, and listed all the things I did. She then asked me how my interview went. As I began to explain it, she urged me to talk about my own college interview experience and give you pointers for when it is your turn.

University of Chicago:
The day of the interview was nothing short of nuts. See, the interview dude (Sam on the birth certificate) actually had four interviews scheduled that day. I began my day with people telling me we needed to be strategic, planning it so each interview was unique.
...
Let me tell you something. I am a five foot tall, biracial girl. I like the color green, working with kids, giraffes, moose track ice cream, reading, Taylor Swift, tap dance, and I plan to major in History. Tell me, who else fits ALL that? No one? Exactly. We are all unique. No one needs to PLAN how to be unique. You just are unique. Let that lead you.

So, I'm sitting across from him. He is asking me normal questions, such as what school subject am I interested in, when he drops the bomb:
Why do people climb mountains?

People climb mountains? OH RIGHT! Wait, what?

Welcome to the wonderful world of zany questions. These are the questions you can't be prepared for. In fact, he probably won't ask that question next year. He might not even ask it next week. When posed with a question like this, don't just blurt out an answer such as:
They like to...for fun?
Thank god I didn't, but I almost did. What you should do is let them know that it is a very good question and you are going to think for a minute. Then think about an answer for a few moments. You aren't wasting their time, they like when students are thoughtful.

Overall I answered thoughtfully, with the exception of two questions:
1) What obstacles have you had to overcome?
2) What book have you read recently in English that you liked? Why?

For both of them, I didn't give myself the time to think. For 1, I just blabbed out something that is an obstacle, but it isn't all that present in my day to day life. For 2, I blabbed out the first book I could think of, which was Native Son (African American Lit). While I enjoyed the book, I would have preferred to talk about A Lesson Before Dying, which I read last semester.

I walked nervous and jittery out of my first interview, wishing I could reverse time and fix those two questions. Now, I can't tell if it was good or bad, I am not Sam (I am??? :D). I can tell you though that when I went to my second interview, I felt a little more prepared.

Knox College:
This time my interview was part of my whole day at Knox. There were no other Uni kids around to plan an attack on the admissions counselor. Also, I had met the admissions counselor before at a BROWN BAGGER (HINT HINT), so we were already on familiar terms. This interview was better not because the college was better, or because the admissions counselor was better, but because I was better. I was better at interviews.

I walked in, sat down, smiled, and answered her prelim questions:
What is your GPA? What is your ACT composite?

Then I settled down and listened and answered. One question she asked me that before would have slipped me up was:
What three adjectives would your friends use to describe you?
But I had that one. I answered it. Then, she asked me a question that did slip me up:
What kinds of activities do you want to do outside of the classroom if you came to Knox?

Wait...there is a world outside of the classroom? Don't I do homework with that time?
It was then that I realized I wanted to do things outside of the classroom, but I was too preoccupied with the school academically. You LIVE at college; go out and do stuff. I answered I wanted to try radio and return to dancing (I am currently injured).

My favorite part of the interview was getting off topic. We talked about cheesecake. It made me hungry. More though, it brought the human back into applying for college. You juniors are not robots, you are human. Celebrate that, talk about that, wind up off topic.

So, tips for a FUN and GREAT interview:
1) Dress appropriately. You wouldn't hire a person with his pants on the flo. Don't dress like one.
2) Take a moment to think about the curveball questions. Thinking about it will make your answer concise and thoughtful.
3) Laugh and smile. You are not in front of a firing squad.
4) Know that each college interview is different.
5) Don't memorize speeches, but do know the basic information pertaining to you (your GPA, your scores, your name...)
6) Don't worry about other people ESPECIALLY OTHER UNI KIDS
7) Know the basic information about the college (like, if your major is even there)
8) Come with questions of your own! They show interest and curiosity.
9) Turn off your phone, be professional.
10) Remember that you are human, they are human, and that this is a conversation, not an interrogation :]

Ciao,
Celinda