Interviews

Interview Questions to Prepare for

In no particular order, here is a collection of more broad/vague questions and more specific ones.

  1. Tell me about yourself.

  2. Why do you want to attend this college?

  3. What major are you interested in and why?

  4. Talk to me about XX project. (Something from your resume. Rehearse this for every project!)

  5. What is your greatest strength?

  6. What is your biggest weakness?

  7. Who do you look up to? Who is a role model for you?

  8. How might your friends describe you?

  9. What qualities do you look for in friends?

  10. What are your academic goals?

  11. What are your career goals?

  12. What makes you unique?

  13. Have you faced any big challenges in the past year? If so, how did you handle them?

  14. What is your leadership style?

  15. What’s your favorite project you worked on in school in the past year?

  16. What are you passionate about?

  17. What’s your most important/significant activity?

  18. What would people say you contribute to your school/group?

  19. Goofy questions like: If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be?

Questions to Ask at the End of Your College Interview

The questions you ask at the end of the interview are some of the most important moments to show your passion and quality as a candidate.

You don’t need 100 questions! You’ll likely only use one or two. Here are a few you can think about. My favorites are the first three.

  • How can I get involved in the most meaningful projects in XX field?

  • What does it take to be successful at XX college?

  • What professors would you recommend I seek out courses with?

  • What would you have done differently?

  • I’m currently working on _____. What do you think are some of the best resources I should dive into during my first semester on campus to help further my project(s)?

  • In what ways do you hope this school will change in the next 10 years?

  • How hard was it to get into clubs at XX college?
    This question comes from an article detailing how many clubs at top universities have become “competitive to the point of absurdity”. So, this is an interesting question that I’d bet not many will ask.

Something Fun

I really like guy Vinh Giang, award-winning entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and communication coach. If you’re looking for advice on public speaking, interviewing better, storytelling, and more, check him out. Right now, I want to share this link with you. It’s a quick YouTube Short with ideas on how to “wake up” your face and voice. They might seem a little silly, but they’re great for relaxing the nerves and preparing you to speak powerfully, articulate well, and make a lasting first impression!