How to Prepare for a University Interview

The key to having a great interview lies in your preparation. Learn how to get ready for that all-important meeting to gain entry into your dream college.

Congratulations if you have been called up for an interview as part of your college application process. This means that the college or university is thinking seriously about offering you a place.

The interview is an opportunity for the college to assess your potential and learning ability and to see if you would do well within your selected faculty. This is also your chance to determine if the university is right for you. Maximise your chances of a positive outcome by asking yourself the questions below.

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Know Yourself
“Tell me about yourself” is one of the frequently asked interview questions. Related to your personal statement, it is a variation of many others which you will be asked. To even begin thinking about answering them, it is useful to do a personal stock take.

What are you passionate about?
What are your personal strengths and areas for improvement?
What are some experiences which show you are self-motivated with leadership qualities?
What is one recent challenge you faced and what did you learn?
What are your non-academic interests and skills?
What are you currently working on?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Know Your University
Visit the school website, check university ranking tables and scour news mediums to find out information about your chosen place of study. How much you know is an indication of how committed you are to studying and working there. They would also want to know what value you will bring should you be admitted.

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Why do you want to study at this particular institution?
What is it about the place and culture that you find attractive?
What are the notable achievements and traditions that contribute to the university’s reputation?
In what ways can you contribute to the school?
How will they benefit from having you in its student ranks?
What are your views on public and/or industry opinions about this university?
What other places have you applied to and how do you rank your choices?

Know Your Course and Subject
Read widely around the course you are applying to. Peruse the prospectus, course leaflets, news articles and journals. Current students, alumni and industry professionals are also invaluable in giving you an idea of the issues that surround your chosen subject and the possible applications of what you will learn.

What do you want to study and why?
What are some specific aspects of the course – for example structure, topics, assessment format – that interest you?
What have you read that is related to the subject area?
What kind of experience – academic, work or personal – do you have that is related to this area?
What are your opinions about developments and current happenings in your specialised area?
How will your course help in solving problems in society?
What do you intend to do with a degree in this subject?

Know Your Questions
Toward the end of your interview you will be given an opportunity to ask questions. By doing your homework and thinking about the points above you will avoid questions that reveal your limitations and lack of preparation. So think about some things that you would most like to find out from your interviewers.

 An interview is all about selling yourself, your skills and talents. And before you do that you need to know your product – you, and your customer – your university and course faculty. And remember it is a two-way street. The process is designed such that you get to decide your choice of university.