What do you talk about at interviews?

jnesse
Sat, 20 May 2006 11:18:17 +0000

The best way to ‘come up with answers’ is to be totally, unfailingly honest. If you try to search for the ‘perfect’ answer, you will only sound inarticulate and nervous. Remember, there is not one answer. Some answers are better than others, but most will do.

When I was asked: Why <insert college=“”>? I always started with the basics and worked my way inwards. Example:

1. I would start by talking about why I wanted to go to school in the US vs. the UK. I would talk about the narrow focus required at UK schools, which would lead nicely into #2 …

2. I want to go a liberal arts college because of: focus on wholistic education. I would talk how I viewed a strong core curriculum as paramount to a well-rounded education and I liked the intimate size of LACs … this led to: WHY THIS COLLEGE

3. I would talk about THEIR CORE and why it was right for me. Then, I talked class size, class debates etc, classes that I’d seen on the syllabus that struck me as being particularily interesting.

4. I would start ‘outwards’ again, and talk about general student body traits/campus life that I was looking for. I would tailor this to the school. Ie: if the school had no frats/an honour code/high diversity, and I liked that, I would say: I’m looking for a school where there is little or no Greek life, where the campus is safe and professors/students trust each other and there are people from a multitude of backgrounds.

5. Then you say: This is another reason why I’m so interested in <insert college=“” name=“”> because not only does it cater for my academic needs, but the ambience is also exactly what I’m looking for.

6. Then for ‘brownie points’ talk about what you can do for the college and how you’d fit on their campus. It’s possible that the adcom will ask you this if you don’t specifiy, but, if you’re like me and you could talk the hind leg off a donkey, then go ahead and address it without being asked. Talk about the clubs you’d join, the help you’d give to other students etc. Then you can round your answer off nicely by saying that you understand that a college match goes both ways and that you recognize that what you can bring to the school is equally important as what it can give to you.</insert></insert>