Getting ready for your college interview can be extremely stressful. With so much on the line, even the cool heads tend to crack under pressure. During these interviews, not only should you know what to say, but you should also avoid certain comments.
By understanding the common mistakes, you’ll strengthen your case. “Having a calm, collected demeanor will score you additional points in the eyes of interviewers,” according to H&C Education, a college admissions consulting agency.
In this article, we’ll go through some of the most common errors high school students make when applying for college and how to avoid them.
- Lacking School Research
If you don’t know much about the college, it will show that you’re not that interested in the program. Lack of research usually shows that this college was your third or fourth option and that you’re doing the interview just because you did badly during main applications.
Best Way to Avoid
The good news is that you can easily avoid this mistake by simply being proactive. Check out the college website beforehand and learn more about its history. See what separates this institution from other schools and, using that knowledge, create an argument about why you want to attend it.
- Using Robotic Responses
Although you must prepare for your interview, robotic, premade responses usually come off as not genuine. Most interviewers will take note of this and might penalize you as someone who doesn’t speak from the heart.
Best Way to Avoid
It’s vital that you go through your talking points without necessarily cramming your responses. List the main reasons why you’d want to go to this school and simply expand on the general idea. It is even recommended that you engage interviewers in some back-and-forth so that the conversation becomes more organic.
- Being Late to Appointment
There’s nothing more disrespectful than being late for your interview or a meeting. Although admissions officers understand that you might’ve come across a traffic jam, that doesn’t justify your lack of professionalism. Not only does being late show you’re not interested, but it also shows your immaturity.
Best Way to Avoid
Always plan for delays. If you’ve never been to a city, go to Google Maps and plan the journey from your apartment to the college’s admissions office. If you’re doing an interview online, jump on the call beforehand and test the equipment and the program.
- Wearing Inappropriate Clothes
Another major red flag is being underdressed. As with everything else, it shows your lack of professionalism and the fact you don’t care much about the interview. Furthermore, it is a direct slap in the face of interviewers.
Best Way to Avoid
Learn more about the college’s traditional attire and what is considered appropriate. Keep in mind that conservative and religious schools are usually much more strict when it comes to dress code. A suit is usually a universal choice, and the least you can do is wear a sweater or a polo shirt.
- Being Unprepared for Basic Questions
Among other things, interviews help admission officers determine if you can think on your feet. There will be a lot of questions and topics that you might not have been prepared for. Nevertheless, you should still have a list of the most likely questions that are going to be asked.
Best Way to Avoid
Go through questions such as “What are your scientific interests?” or “Why do you want to attend this school?” Discuss these questions with your parents, especially if they have a lot of business and interview experience. Try role-playing to get used to the interview dynamic and potential back-and-forth.
- Not Asking Questions
Similarly, you should ask about the school. As with other parts of the interview, this will show your genuine interest and commitment. Most importantly, you should focus on questions that aren’t easily obtainable through the official website.
Best Way to Avoid
Create a list of questions in advance. Think about questions that would be logical to ask for someone who is interested in the school’s programs. We also recommend that you ask subquestions once the interviewers respond.
- Focusing on Weaknesses
Most interviewers want to pry out information about your weaknesses. And while it’s totally ok to mention a few of your flaws, you shouldn’t go overboard. Furthermore, you shouldn’t talk about your weaknesses unless you’re asked.
Best Way to Avoid
When talking about your weaknesses, you should focus on growth. Talk about situations when a certain flaw caused you issues and how you decided to address it. More than anything, show your commitment to growth and self-improvement.
- Not Providing Data
The interviewers’ main job is to understand your background and academic accomplishments. However, if you’re continuously giving vague answers, it makes it feel as if you’re hiding something or that you’re disinterested. Vague answers won’t help you stand out from the crowd.
Best Way to Avoid
We recommend that you use examples to showcase yourself in different situations. For example, just saying that you’re interested in a certain field of study won’t do the trick. Instead, you should talk about the books you’ve read, events you’ve attended, and so on.
- Being Negative
Having a negative disposition of showing disrespect is the last thing you want to do. It might indicate you’ll have trouble following professors’ instructions and causing other types of issues. Even having a negative, gloomy disposition might turn off interviewers.
Best Way to Avoid
If you want to have the right mindset, make sure to get a good night’s rest before the interview. Address all previous obligations so you don’t feel stressed in the days prior to the meeting. Practice deep breathing to calm yourself down and think about activities that make you smile.
Conclusion
Even if you put your best foot forward, there’s a chance you’ll make some mistakes during the interview. This is why preparation is vital for reducing potential errors and leaving the best impression possible.
