Hidden Benefits of College Admissions Interview

By now, you’ve submitted your applications, and you may have the option to interview with college alumni. You might wonder whether or not they’ll positively affect your admission decision. More importantly, honing your interview skills goes beyond college admissions.

College interviews are a great tool to utilize if you feel you aren’t able to articulate your entire story within your admissions essay, or if you want to better familiarize yourself with the university from a former student’s perspective. While most colleges don’t offer interviews, and even fewer require them as a part of the admissions process, here are a few reasons (other than college admissions) you should schedule an alumni interview if you have the option.

Teach you grace under pressure

For the most part, your undergraduate college admissions interviews are the first time you have to talk about your accomplishments in a professional manner. There is a fine line between discussing your accomplishments and boasting – the trick is to keep the emphasis on your hard work, give credit when credit is due, most importantly, be comfortable in your own success. An interviewer can tell when you’re being inauthentic or are uncomfortable talking about yourself, so practice is key! 

Read more: How to Answer These College Admissions Interview Questions (the Way Your Interviewer Wants)

Networking 

It doesn’t matter how young you are, you’re never too young to network. When you meet with an alum from any university, you have the chance to ask them about their academic and career accomplishments, and the steps they took to get where they are now. You’d be surprised how willing they are to answer your questions, connect with you on LinkedIn, and keep in contact throughout the years. About 80% of job seekers find their job through their networks, so the more people know about you and your accomplishments and goals, the closer you are to your future job. 

Read More: The Value of Networking

As I said before, I know most universities don’t offer alumni interviews. But that isn’t to say you shouldn’t practice the skill. Interview a teacher or a coach or even a family friend, preferably someone who doesn’t know you too well. These informational interviews give you a chance to introduce yourself and reflect on how you got to where you are today. And of course, Insight counselors offer mock interviews for you to practice before your actual college admission interview. 

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone in the next few weeks, months, and even years. College is about new experiences, and all of us at Insight want to set you up for success.  

Read More: The Art of Informational Interview