"The Interview" - Making the Admissions Process Personal
Hey Bloggers,
I was reading this Washington Post article about college interviews and I started thinking about my own college admission journey. I didn’t have to do an interview but, in retrospect, I think I would have liked to. The admissions process can seem so impersonal at times. The admissions reps are looking at your grades and your SAT scores and, of course, your essays and recommendations but doesn’t it seem like the only way to truly know a candidate is to meet them face to face?
The article goes through the different processes that colleges use if they require or suggest an interview. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the importance of the interview is rising in importance in the eyes of college administrators. Some schools, like Wake Forest University in North Carolina, are even offering web cam interviews for candidates who can’t make the trip.
If you know what to expect and you prepare for an interview, it can be a great way to put a face with your application. A great interview can leave a lasting impression on the person who will ultimately decide whether or not to admit you to that school. For some though, the prospect of a face to face interview is daunting. Try practicing with a parent or another adult. Put together a list of questions that you really want to know the answer to but are not typical questions either. If you can get past the nerves, the interview can be an incredible opportunity to show them who you really are.
If you are looking for some tips about how to get creative or have questions about preparing for the college interview you can attend a workshop at our offices in Concord. The next presentation of The College Interview is on 8/18 at 3pm. You can register today by clicking this link.
Good Luck!
Kerry
Hey - can you tell me more about what your College Interview workshop next week is like?
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Sure Casey,
The workshop involves a presentation discussing the interview process and how to prepare for one. We then break it up and make it personal by doing mock interviews witht he students and providing feedback on what their strengths and areas to work on are. If you would like to register just visit www.nhheaf.org/events.asp
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Interviewing is helpful for both the school and the student. It will help the students learn more about the school and ensure that they are a good fit. Plus, interviewing is a fact of life, so it is good for students to start practicing now. Thanks for sharing this article.
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ABSOLUTELY interviews are a fact of life! So getting comfortable with them as early as possible will only make them easier as you progress through life.
That said, unfortunately MANY schools do not offer interviews, period. Some larger schools simply do not have the resources to offer interviews for the thousands of students who would want one. Others take the position that it gives some an unfair advantage over others who cannot make the trip to the school. This is disappointing for those students applying to REACH schools, who feel that getting in front of an admissions counselor could put them over the mark to acceptance. If this is the case, be sure to attend any informational sessions in your area, college fairs, or high school visits by the colleges, because much of the time the person that comes to represent the college is an admissions counselor responsible for YOUR school's territory. This could be your opportunity to introduce yourself, express your interest, and informally meet the person who may read YOUR application!
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