by Kara Courtois, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Amidst the uncertainty of what his first year of college will look like, I got the chance to catch up with a recent high school graduate, Ben. Knowing what he knows now, I asked if he would share any tips for high school students, including specific advice for rising seniors embarking on the college application process. Here’s what Ben had to share.

Part of our job here at Bright Horizons College Coach is to keep an eye on all the news in college admissions and college finance so you don’t have to. We recently came across a terrific piece by our good friends over at Fortuna Admissions centered on the growing concern about the coronavirus and the opportunity to connect with business schools through remote interviews:

So you’ve booked that college interview. You feel prepared. You’re able to speak to your interests, you can articulate why you hope to attend this particular college, and you’re armed with some good questions to ask your interviewer about the school. What’s stressing you out though? The eternal question: what to wear??? Have no fear. Enter former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, Sai Somboon, to answer the question, “How should I dress for a college interview?”

Many colleges and universities recommend that applicants have a college interview; several even require an interview as part of the admission process. As an international student applying to schools in the US from abroad you might be thinking, “Can I interview?” The simple answer is yes. However, let’s get a better understanding of the process and determine if having a college interview is right for you.

In 2019’s first episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Ian Fisher and his guests get into the New Year’s spirit by suggesting some resolutions for high school students and their families, and then tackles how seniors can successfully navigate panel interviews during college scholarship events this winter and spring. Finally, Ian’s finance guest offers some insights about the advantages and disadvantages of using a Roth IRA to pay for college.

Who is the protagonist in the novel Beloved, by Toni Morrison? Oh wait, that’s a question for an AP Literature class, not a college admissions interview question. Though many students do fret unnecessarily over the interview at Ivy League schools and other selective colleges and believe they need to prepare for it similarly to an AP exam. Like Sethe, the protagonist of Beloved, who is proud, independent, and devoted, all you truly need to do for a college interview is show up and be yourself. You already have all of the answers within you.

The latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, hosted by Sally Ganga, is chock full of useful information!

Jeanne Mahan, College Finance Consultant, joined Sally in the first segment to discuss a very timely topic—comparing financial awards across colleges. Because colleges’ financial aid offers aren’t apple-to-apples comparisons, they can be very confusing to read and evaluate; but as your financial aid packages begin to trickle in, it’s important to pay close attention to key pieces of information.

Is An Alumni Interview Required?

I’m the father of a Chicago senior who was contacted by an alum to interview for Columbia. My daughter tends to become quiet in unfamiliar situations and won’t interview well. Is there any way she can politely decline without going into all the details?  She’s already written about her shyness in her college essay.

—Can She Get Out of This?

How to Ace Tough College Interview Questions

In my time spent as a senior admissions officer at Reed College, I must have interviewed hundreds of students. And I asked weird questions, too. What would be your useless superpower? Is math discovered or invented? If you had one question for God, what would it be? Sub-question: Would you rather he give you the answer to your question or tell you the question you should have asked? My goal was to keep students on their toes, then to catch them off guard, and then, when their expectations had been flipped upside-down, I would find out who they really were.

Most interviewers won’t ask questions quite as odd as the ones I used to ask, but their objective is largely the same: get a sense of the student’s personality and style of engagement.

So you’ve just submitted your application and you’re patiently waiting to hear a response when – beep! – a surprise email lands in your inbox. “Greetings!” the email begins. “My name is Mary Jones, and I’m the alumna assigned to conduct your interview for Grand University.” Whether the idea of an alumni interview puts you completely at ease, or if you’re feeling nauseous at the prospect of impressing an alum, here are six secrets you should know to best prepare for your alumni interview.

Six Tips For Your College Alumni Interview