May 25, 2024
by Amber Wilson
Preparing for a College Interview: 15 Commonly Asked Questions and Their Answers
College interviews are an integral part of the admission process. Universities interview their shortlisted candidates to better understand their interests, passions, and commitment to a particular field.
The interviews are, hence, your best chance to leave a memorable impression. Your prime focus during the interview should be convincing the interviewer of your suitability. Prove you are an ideal candidate for admission by answering the questions concisely and effectively.
Worth Read: Personalised Admission Counselling
Please refer to the common questions, steps, and tips below to better understand how to prepare for an interview.
15 Commonly Asked College Interview Questions
The commonly asked questions for college or university admission interviews are listed below:
- Tell us more about yourself.
- Why does this course interest you?
- Why are you interested in attending this college/university?
- Can you tell us about some of your strengths and weaknesses?
- What skills or experiences do you have related to this course?
- What do you do when faced with challenges or failures?
- Tell us about your previous academic experiences.
- What research study in this field have you found the most interesting?
- What was something you last read that kept you interested?
- What do you plan to do career-wise after your graduation?
- How will you positively contribute to your subject of study?
- How can you contribute to our campus community?
- How will you handle your academic and personal life simultaneously?
- Have you ever encountered a situation where you had to work as a leader?
- What makes you a suitable candidate, and why should we consider you?
Tell us more about yourself.
One of the most frequently asked interview questions requests you to introduce yourself. The question mostly takes people aback since they do not know how to provide a whole picture of who they are.
A simple way to answer this question is by:
- Giving a brief account of their background
- Highlighting their academic achievements
- Mentioning extracurriculars and experiences that are relevant to the field.
You can begin by simply providing your personal and academic information. However, it is essential to balance the two. Hence, use this question to showcase how you are more than your academics.
Lastly, you must know where to stop. Rather than delivering a monologue, keep your introduction precise, engaging, and creative.
The question is also an excellent opportunity for gap year students to explain what they did during the year.
Why does this course interest you?
Universities are interested in finding students who are passionate about the field of their choice. Hence, this question aims to evaluate the student's level of interest in the chosen course.
The answer to this question should be specific. Discuss the reasons for your choice with examples. To create a concise answer to this question, you should reflect on the following points:
- The books, experiences, or public figures that influenced your interests.
- The topics that interest you the most in the specific field.
- The personal projects that provided you further insight into the particular field.
Ensure that your answer gives away your deep interest in the field and why it matters to you.
Lastly, ensure that your answer does not suggest you followed in someone else’s footsteps. Do not mention being pressured to study the course or feeling like the course is easier to get into.
Why are you interested in attending this college/university?
To answer this question correctly, you must have researched the university and its courses. Your answer should show the committee how well-informed you are about the university. Furthermore, you should list aspects of the university that set it apart from other institutions.
Start by relating your goals and plans to the university’s mission and offerings. Once you have discussed that, you can bring to discussion the following elements of the university:
- The professors of the course chosen
- The teaching methodology in use
- The diverse and inclusive campus culture
Lastly, ensure your answer explains how your values and goals align with the university’s.
Note that your answer should touch on the university's academic and non-academic aspects.
Can you tell us about some of your strengths and weaknesses?
Your answer to this question should be well-thought-out. You should discuss the strengths that best relate to the university's and course's demands. Furthermore, your strengths should portray your potential to excel and succeed.
Avoid vague statements that lack examples. Students sometimes make the mistake of calling themselves hard workers or kind individuals.
However, these statements do not hold well in the long run. Be specific about your strengths and add a recent example of how you showcased that strength.
When discussing your weaknesses, pick genuine ones, but talk about them positively. Tell the interviewer what you have done to improve your weaknesses and how far you have come.
Claiming that you have no weaknesses will make you appear ignorant and overconfident.
Universities look for students who are self-aware and can adapt. Hence, ensure that your answers display your growth through your strengths and weaknesses.
What skills or experiences do you have related to this course?
The question allows you to expand on your academic and work experiences. For your skills, mention those that best apply to your course and elaborate on how they will help you in your studies.
Likewise, talk about the experiences that have helped you improve your skills and provided you with a broader perspective.
What do you do when faced with challenges or failures?
Everyone has a different set of challenges. However, how you handle these challenges sets you apart from the rest. You can answer this question by:
- Giving an example of a challenge you recently faced
- Explaining what you did to overcome the challenge and why
- Discuss what you learned from the experience.
Your answer should make the interviewer see your ability to handle problems and grow despite challenges.
Tell us about your previous academic experiences.
During the interview, you will come across a question about your academic history. To answer this question, you should include more than just a list of your grades and courses. Rather than this superficial approach, answer the question with the following:
- Why is each subject meaningful to you?
- What made you decide to take these courses?
- How does each course contribute to your academic goals?
- How do all the subjects relate to each other?
- How will these courses help me during my university?
These answers will help you narrate your academic story in a wholesome manner.
Make sure that your answer helps the interviewer see you in a positive light. To do so, you should reflect on your passion for learning and how your academic background makes you a suitable candidate.
What research study have you found the most interesting in this field?
You can answer this question by showing interest in the selected subject. Talk about a topic or issue that has intrigued you. Since the topic will differ from course to course, ensure you are honest and display enthusiasm.
Your topic should showcase your intellect and knowledge while touching on recent discussions in the chosen field. Hence, select a topic that has yet to be covered extensively, showing the interviewer that you know the recent developments in the field.
What was something you last read that kept you interested?
When preparing your interview, you should consider how to answer this question. For starters, pick a book, article, or research paper you feel confident discussing.
To pick the written material you would discuss, go for works that are more recent and not mainstream. People make the mistake of choosing books or articles that are popular among the students in a field. Doing so will not help you stand out. Answering the question with a lesser-known book will bring a new perspective and help the interviewer remember you.
Lastly, when discussing the book, avoid summarising its subject matter. Discuss in detail which parts interested you or which parts you disagreed with. You can further provide the work’s comparative analysis with a book or article that opposes its views.
An answer stating the work's analysis will highlight your critical thinking and subject knowledge.
What do you plan to do career-wise after your graduation?
The question aims to understand a student’s ambitions and plans for the future. You can discuss your academic and career goals while answering the question. These plans can vary from person to person. However, some of these plans can include:
- Pursuing studies further
- Working on research projects
- Seeking job opportunities in a particular field
- Starting a business project, etc
Throughout your answer, you should demonstrate how your university course will align with your academic and professional plans.
However, in case you do not have your plans figured out, you can answer the question by dwelling on:
- Things you are currently interested in
- Skills you want to work on
- Experiences you wish to get out of attending the university
- Various fields and industries you want to learn more about during your university years.
Since not everyone can figure out their future, this answer will help the interviewer see your commitment to growing personally and professionally.
How will you positively contribute to your subject of study?
To better understand how one can contribute to one's chosen field, contact seniors or people who have pursued the same field. Once you know how various individuals have positively contributed to the field, you can answer the question.
You can mention the following contributions by relating them to your field:
- Research
- Community engagement
- Innovation
- Social impact projects
How can you contribute to our campus community?
Universities need students who contribute to their community and engage in campus life. To answer this question, you must discuss your plans to join various clubs, societies, or events.
To make your answer more specific:
- Look into all the activities and societies that the university offers.
Include your research in your answer to show your eagerness to contribute to the campus community.
How will you handle your academic and personal life simultaneously?
Your answer to this question should:
- Display your balanced personality
- Showcase your time-management skills.
Due to the significance of managing the university workload and personal responsibilities, the question will aim to evaluate your managerial skills. To improve your answer, add specific examples where you had much to handle simultaneously.
Have you ever encountered a situation where you had to work as a leader?
This question will allow you to extend your leadership skills and relevant experiences further. Prepare for it beforehand by listing a handful of specific examples.
What makes you a suitable candidate, and why should we consider you?
This question will be the perfect chance for you to give your pitch. To answer, you should use brief and compelling arguments on why you are a suitable candidate for the programme.
Your answer should:
- Give a summary of your unique attributes
- List your experiences that make you stand out
- Discuss some skills that you have worked on
- Mention your achievements and contributions that can help the campus community.
Step to Follow for Your Interview Preparation
Follow the given steps to ensure that you are well-prepared for your interview.
- Make Arrangements for Your On-site or Online Interview
- Reflect on Your Course and University Choices
- Read Through Your Application and Take Notes
- Research the University Offerings and Course
- Look into the Current Researches Related to Your Field
- Write Down Questions You Want to Ask Your Interviewer
- Practice for the Interview by Carrying Out a Mock Interview
Make Arrangements for Your On-site or Online Interview
You are required to have arranged your on-site or online interview beforehand. In case of an on-site interview, you must arrange your travel and accommodation. For these arrangements, you have to start early.
Begin by deciding your mode of transportation. If you need tickets beforehand, buy them. Lastly, select somewhere close to your interview venue and process your accommodation booking.
You must ensure that your laptop and webcam are working for online interviews. If not, test your devices a few days before the interview and get them fixed or replaced.
Making these arrangements will, hence, save you from last-minute stress.
Reflect on Your Course and University Choices
Once you have sorted out your arrangements, start preparing for what to say in the interview. Begin by reflecting on why you have chosen a specific course and university.
If you cannot answer the reason for your choice of university, you will leave an impression of being impulsive and making bad decisions. To better defend your university choice, you can dwell on how your values align with the university’s.
Lastly, for your chosen major, you must give concrete reasons for your interest and decision. Avoid being casual by saying you just went for it or someone else made you choose it. Furthermore, do not only mention the potential of the field income-wise.
Read Through Your Application and Take Notes
When preparing for your interview, you should read through your application. This step will help you identify points that you would like to repeat during the interview and find points you have yet to mention in your application that you would want to add.
Your personal statement is the part of the application you should thoroughly study. Understand the narrative you have built in your statement and relate all your interview answers to that narrative. You are further advised to align your interview answers with the details in your statement. However, do more than just repeat everything you mentioned in your application.
Research the University Offerings and Course
To answer many of your interview questions, you will need information about all the university's opportunities. These opportunities can relate to clubs, societies, events, charities, or internships. Mentioning specific university offers you would like to take advantage of will show your research and interest in the university.
Likewise, you can leave a lasting impression if you familiarise yourself with the course details and faculty of your chosen field. The interviewer will know you made an informed decision and are genuinely interested in the subject.
Look into the Current Researches Related to Your Field
While academics are essential, the interviewer also wishes to see your wider academic reading habits. If you fail to mention any recent field research during your interview, it will show that you are academically sound syllabus-wise only. Furthermore, the interview will feel like you lack the passion for staying aware and up-to-date about your field.
Mention research that has genuinely grabbed your attention, and feel free to discuss it during the interview.
Write Down Questions You Want to Ask Your Interviewer
Once your interview is over, the interviewer will always give you an opening to ask questions. If you fail to ask any questions, you will seem uninterested. Hence, before the interview, write down all the questions you want to ask the interviewer.
These questions can be related to campus life, course load, or information not available on their website.
Practice for the Interview by Carrying Out a Mock Interview
Request your counsellor to conduct your mock interview. The interview will help you realise your shortcomings and provide helpful feedback. It will help you correct your body language and evaluate your ability to handle high-pressure situations.
If you find yourself lacking somewhere, it will be an excellent opportunity to start practising again and improving your answers.
Your counsellor can also help you write precise and appropriate answers to all the expected questions.
Tips to Keep In Mind for Interview Preparation
- Wear something comfortable yet formal
- Arrive to the interview on time
- Make sure you communicate effectively
- Be honest and confident in your answers
- Listen to the questions carefully
- Be ready for group discussions
- Prepare for subject-specific questions too
- Think before answering your questions
- Be factful and avoid being vague and generic
- Ask specific questions from the interviewer
Wear something comfortable yet formal
The interviewer will not be biased toward you depending on your looks and dress. Hence, it is wise for you to wear something comfortable. However, understand that there is a difference between comfortable and casual.
You must dress up formally and comfortably instead of wearing casual clothes. Hence, instead of wearing a suit, you can opt for a shirt/blouse and pants/skirt. Dressing up like this will leave an impression that you have come prepared and put in an effort.
Furthermore, if you dress casually, the interviewer can deduce that you do not take this opportunity seriously. Thus, whether you are interviewing on-site or online, ensure you have dressed appropriately.
Arrive to the interview on time
Punctuality is the key to leaving a good impression. If you arrive on time or, ideally, a while before the interview is due, you will be considered a responsible individual.
Failure to be on time for an on-site or online interview can leave a poor impression of your management skills. This initial poor impression of your irresponsible behaviour can negatively impact your interview results.
Make sure you communicate effectively
Communication is the key to acing your interview. Imagine answering all the questions correctly but speaking too fast or with a low voice. In such situations, the interviewer can deduce you need better communication skills.
Note that your speed of talking and tone can make all the difference. You have to word everything you say correctly and with enough gaps that everyone can understand. However, be mindful that you sound fast enough.
By communicating effectively, the interviewer can analyse your ability to adjust with your fellows and teachers.
Be honest and confident in your answers.
Honesty is important. You might exaggerate facts and overstate your abilities. Nonetheless, this approach will get you nowhere. The interviewer will eventually know you were dishonest about something in your application or interview. Hence, you can severely damage your chances of getting into the university of your choice.
Furthermore, if you are being honest, you also have to be confident. Refrain from looking confused or clueless because lacking confidence is unacceptable for university students. If you answer questions with conviction rather than seeking validation from the interviewer, you will display yourself as strong-headed and self-sufficient.
Listen to the questions carefully
Being nervous can cause you to lose focus or zone out. In high-pressure situations like an interview, you must ensure that you are present and the interviewer knows you understand everything they say.
Your attentiveness will help you understand the questions better. As a result, to better understand what is asked of you, be present mentally. You can further display your alertness through your body language.
If you fail, the interviewer might misinterpret your ability to handle stressful situations.
Be ready for group discussions
The number of interviewers can vary depending on the course and degree level. For example, discussion interviews are conducted with postgraduate research students. In cases like these, the panel consists of several interviewers to conduct a discussion.
Depending on your course and degree level, you should be prepared for a group discussion. During these discussions, ensure you participate well rather than just listen in. Your participation can either add to an interviewer’s point or argue against it. Hence, your participation will help the panel evaluate your ability to argue against and agree to various points.
Lastly, if you are still unsure about the number of interviewers, you can email your university's admissions department.
Prepare for subject-specific questions too
Though the commonly asked questions are discussed above, the interviewer can ask further questions. Most of these unusual questions are related to the subject you have chosen. These questions will help the interviewer understand your interest in the subject and your subject knowledge.
Hence, ensure you prepare answers to the commonly asked and various subject-specific questions. Since your answers can determine your chances of getting accepted, research thoroughly regarding your course.
Think before answering your questions.
Even if you are well-prepared for the question asked, take your time. Rather than answering, write away, think about it. Doing so will help the interviewer see your ability to think critically before answering questions.
It is common for students to need time before coming up with an answer, hence, feel free. When thinking about the answer, consider all the keywords used by the interviewer. These keywords will help you determine what the interviewer wants. Once you have analysed what is asked of you, you can quickly answer the question.
Be factful and avoid being vague and generic.
You need to consider the answer to a question carefully to avoid making it abstract and vague. Answers that are biased or do not provide factual information are highly discouraged.
The answers to your questions must have facts and figures backing your claims. You cannot give generic answers to questions about your interests and hobbies. For personal answers, instead of facts and figures, you must provide specific examples to support your statement.
Your well-constructed answers will allow the interviewer to see your ability to be sound and avoid biases.
Ask specific questions from the interviewer
Once your interview is over and you are allowed to ask questions, be specific. Most students make the mistake of asking interviewers general questions. The answers to these questions are primarily available on the university’s website.
As a result, your general questions regarding the tuition fee or accommodation leave the impression that you could have researched the university better. It will further make the interviewer believe your decision could have been better thought-out and informed.
An impression like this can reduce your chances of admission since universities only accept individuals passionate about joining their university. To avoid making such a mistake, conduct your research and ask questions that did not have their answers on their website. Some of these questions can be about a specific offering that did not have enough information on the university’s website.
