What To Say During A College Interview

While most colleges do not require admissions staff to conduct interviews with prospective college students, select colleges do so it never hurts to be prepared. Besides if your college application has something listed that needs further explanation or clarification, a trip to the admissions office could be the smartest move you ever make!

The key to a successful interview isn’t polished, flawless answers or high test scores. Sure those help, but the key to a successful interview is showing the admissions officer that you take your education seriously.

When answering questions, keep these tips in mind:

1. Be brief.
   When you’re nervous, you have a tendency to ramble. Don’t. Answer the question asked directly. Offer any explanation necessary to get your point across, but don’t get side-tracked.
   
   
2. Be specific.
   Did you take Chemistry II and fail, but later passed with a C? Why did you fail? How did you accomplish the C the second time around? Don’t be afraid to tell the truth: major illness, a death in the family, job loss, learning disability, or you simply couldn’t grasp the subject the first time around. Just don’t offer excuses—everyone has them and they won’t help you succeed.
   
   
3. Share your successes.
   When asked why you should be accepted into the college, don’t just list off a bunch of awards and accomplishments. Don’t just tell the admissions officer where you see yourself when you graduate. And don’t just mention your strengths. Share a few success stories. Give concrete information showing how you went from point A to point B and what the outcome was. In other words, show off your assets.
   
   
4. Show interest.
   Take the time to ask a few questions of your own. What questions do you have that you couldn’t find on the college website, in the application packet, or through word-of-mouth? Show the college admissions officer that you are so serious about attending that even after you did your research you still have questions and would like answers before the interview ends.
   

Interested in a career as a diagnostic medical sonography or nuclear medicine technologist? Our admissions officers are ready and willing to answer any questions you have.

Come back on Friday as we tell you what types of questions to be prepared for.

Entrance Interviews

Sometimes grades from high school or current college courses are not enough to get into medical school. Sometimes, college admissions personnel want to know more about you and why you think medicine would be a good fit—career wise.

Here are a few tips to help you make a good first impression during your college entrance interview:

1. Eat before the meeting.
   Nothing makes you more fidgety than getting the shakes because you skipped a meal or two. And nothing is more embarrassing than a loud, grumbling stomach. Besides, eating just might help calm your nerves!
   
   
2. Dress nice.
   You don’t need to wear a suit, but where something that shows you are serious about your meeting.
   
   
3. Be on time.
   Show the interviewer that you value your education enough to show up on time. Remember, excessive tardiness or absences can get you kicked out of school.
   
   
4. Sit up straight.
   Slouching tells the interviewer that you aren’t interested in what he/she has to say.
   
   
5. Give eye contact.
   Show the interviewer that you are secure in who you are. If you can’t look the interviewer in the eye, how are you going to be able to look your patients in the eye?
   
   
6. Be honest.
   Don’t avoid questions you don’t have answers to. And never lie—especially if a simple computer search can turn up the answer. If you’re unclear on what’s being asked, ask for clarification.
   
   
7. Be prepared.
   Know why you are in the meeting and what is expected of you. Some entrance interviews require resumes, letters of recommendations, copies of previous college or high school grades, and even bank statements showing you can indeed afford to attend the school of choice—and if you can’t, that you have some way of paying for your education such as a student loan, grant, or scholarship.
   
   
8. Say thank you.
   A little manners can go a long way. Take the time to thank your interviewer for making the time to see you and for answering your questions.
   

To learn more about how to act during a college entrance interview, read these articles:

What Medical Schools Look For In Interviewees

Your Virtual Interview

Come back on Wednesday as we discuss what to say during college interviews.