Interviewing for College - Part III

The following is from Getting To The Quad

Do’s And Don’ts

Do Come Prepared – Before your interview spend some time researching the school.
Learn basic information about the institution so that you don’t need to spend time
asking those questions of your interviewer. Formulate several questions that you
can ask. Remember, an interview isn’t just about being asked questions, it’s about
asking them too.

Do Arrive On Time – It would be a shame to start an otherwise fantastic interview
off on the wrong foot. No one likes to be made to wait for someone else, so make
sure to get there with time to spare. Know where you’re going and when you need
to be there.

Do Dress Appropriately – Think business casual. You are a high school student, after
all, so wearing a three-piece suit will look ridiculous. A nice outfit, even a clean pair
of jeans and nice top would be appropriate. Something along the lines of what you
would wear to the theater (not the movie variety) or a nice dinner would fit the bill.

Do Come Ready To Chat – The whole purpose of an interview is to have a
conversation. If you engage the interviewer and dive head first into the questions
he/she poses, your interview will be more of a conversation (good) and less of a
question-and-answer session (bad).

Do Ask Questions – A good interview will involve a nice give-and-take, a volleying
of questions and answers by both the interviewer and the interviewee.

Do Engage The Interviewer – Find some way to connect. An interviewer may
interview numerous students in a row, so it is important to find a positive way to
stand out. If you are able to connect with your interviewer by finding some sort of
common ground, whether it be a love of sports, art or movie, you will best make
yourself memorable.

Do Write A Thank You Note – After the interview, write a personal note to the
interviewer. This small touch can have big gains for you. Even if the interview is
average, at least the interviewer will remember that you have good manners.

Don’t Have An Interview If You Aren’t Interested In The School – If you have no
interest in your dad’s alma mater, don’t waste the interviewer’s time by scheduling
an interview. Your disinterest will be immediately obvious and the interview will be
a bomb.

Don’t Have An Interview If You Are Painfully Shy Or Unbelievably Uncomfortable
Around Strangers – You know who you are. If the thought of chatting with a
stranger makes you want to run to the hills, do yourself and the interviewer a favor
and think twice about having an interview. Remember, at most schools interviews
are optional, so a negative interview can be extremely detrimental.

Don’t Chew Gum – Even if you are the daintiest gum chewer or a world class
bubble blower, when you get nervous, you’re going to chew like a farm animal and
subconsciously blow bubbles. Spit the gum out before your interview.

Don’t Interrupt – No one likes to be interrupted. If you are nervous or get really
excited during the interview you might start to interrupt your interviewer. Don’t do
it — it’s rude.

Don’t Wear Apparel From Another University – Tsk tsk, how could you wear a
Michigan sweatshirt to your Ohio State interview?! Eeek!

Don’t Wear Anything Provocative – If you don’t want to create an uncomfortable
situation, leave that skimpy top, mini-skirt or other risqué clothing at home. You’re
interviewing for college, not hitting the clubs.
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