Your college interviews are drawing near, and you want to make the best impression possible; after all, performing well on your interviews could ultimately get you accepted into your target schools.

Keep in mind that you won’t be able to anticipate all of the questions the interviewer will ask. Questions will vary from one interviewer to another, so planning your answers word-for-word is not the best use of your time. Rather than thinking about specific questions, you should consider the themes and topics that will likely come up and prepare to discuss them with specific details and examples. Thinking in general rather than specific terms when preparing for each interview is an important Ivy League admission strategy.

These are some of the themes and topics likely to be addressed during your college admissions interviews:

Family

The interviewer may ask about your family, giving you an opportunity to highlight any interesting and unique background details that will add to your admissions narrative. You should focus on the details about your family, not just discussing the what but dwelling on the why.

Intellectual Curiosity

Much of the interview will be spent answering questions about your academic interests, both in and out of the classroom. The interviewer will likely ask about the academic subjects you are interested in. Instead of simply listing each subject, explain what intrigues you about it, what piqued your interest in it, and what you hope to accomplish in that field.

High School

The more substantive questions will relate to which courses you took in high school. Feel free to elaborate here, drawing on specific experiences to illustrate your reasoning.

You may also be asked more profound questions about your high school years. For example, the interviewer may ask you to share the biggest regret, disappointment, or failure you experienced in high school. They may also ask you what you would change about your high school.

College

One of the most important topics you’ll discuss in your interview is your plan for college—why you are interested in the school, what you plan to study, and why the college should accept your application. These questions require careful research and a fresh memory; the last thing you want to do is speak at length about the major you intend to pursue, only to find out that the college doesn’t even offer that major.

Extracurricular Activities & Interests

The interviewer may inquire about your extracurricular activities, hobbies, interests, talents, employment experience, summer activities, and recreational activities.

While you should generally avoid talking too much about your basic extracurricular activities and interests, do take time to discuss any activities that align with your application theme and narrative. For example, if you are passionate about a particular issue and started a nonprofit, explain why the organization is important, what it is accomplishing, and why you are passionate about that cause.

Personality and Character

The admissions interview may include questions that focus less on what you have done and more on who you are, that is, your character and personality. You may be asked to describe your strengths or weaknesses, discuss times you showed leadership, or share your dreams and aspirations. Questions like these may be difficult to prepare for, so you should just be genuine—remember, it’s okay to pause for a few moments to think before responding.

Again, the key to succeeding in your college interviews is not to memorize your answers. Rather, make sure you are familiar with all of the above topics and can clearly explain what your interests are. If you can convincingly tie in your academic goals with your unique narrative, the interviewer will likely be impressed.

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You’ll want to make the best possible impression during your college interviews, so you need to conduct yourself in an engaging, professional way. The following Ivy League admission strategies will help you impress your interviewers and gain admission to your top-choice schools.

Be Engaged

You need to show engagement throughout the entire interview. This means that you should make eye contact, politely greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, listen carefully, and avoid distractions. Also, consider bringing your résumé (with a copy for the interviewer) and some notes to help keep you focused.

Be Professional

You need to present yourself as a mature, professional applicant. Therefore, do your best to be polite, show respect, speak clearly, and give the interviewer your undivided attention (be especially careful not to glance at your phone). Avoid interrupting the interviewer and do not appear eager to be done with the interview.

Think Before Answering

When you are asked a question, pause and think before answering. Try to develop your unique narrative throughout the interview; give answers that naturally tie in with your story. Instead of saying whatever comes to mind, make sure to share the information that is most relevant to your personal application theme and narrative.

Explain the Why

One of the most important strategies to keep in mind is to explain the why behind the what. All of the topics you’ll discuss in your interview—your courses, interests, activities, and college plans—will lose their significance if they fail to tell your story. Therefore, you must explain the why behind your activities and accomplishments.

However, try to go beyond the why of your admissions profile; also explain why you are interested in the interviewer’s school and how that college will help you achieve your career and academic goals. Doing so will prove that you will be a valuable asset to the school.

Express Interest in the College

Even if the college in question is not your first pick, you should indicate that you will likely attend if you are admitted. This might raise questions about whether you are planning to apply early decision. If the application deadline has passed, then the interviewer might ask why you did not apply early decision or early action. Be ready to give an honest answer. For example, you can explain that your application was not ready by the deadline. Still, take care not to suggest that you applied early decision or early action to another college.

Demonstrate Substance

You should be well-prepared and present yourself in a polished manner while keeping substance in mind. Admissions interviewers can see through shallow applicants regardless of their confidence, charisma, or communication skills. The reverse is also true—interviewers are typically able to recognize an applicant’s substance even if the latter is shy or reserved.

Save Questions for the End

Save your questions for the end of the interview. Remember, the admissions interview is an opportunity for you to take a single-sentence question and provide a deep, expansive answer. Instead of breaking the flow of your narrative, stay focused on showing why you are a compelling applicant.

When the time comes to ask questions, you need to have at least four or five. Do some preliminary research about the college and ask questions that cannot be easily answered by checking its website. For example, you might want to ask about the strengths and availability of the college’s faculty. Alternatively, you could inquire about campus social life, interesting events, or unique opportunities—anything that won’t readily be found online but that will give you a taste of what the college has to offer.

Preparing for the college interview is just one of the many steps in the competitive college admissions process. Learn more about Ivy League Prep’s complete guidance programs and find out how we help our clients gain admission to top schools.

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during high school. If you find a college that suits your academic, career, and personal goals, it will be much easier to succeed after graduation. When assessing potential schools, you should consider the following factors to determine if the college works for you.

Location

A college’s location has a significant impact on its character. You should evaluate the potential college’s geography, climate, demographics, and local amenities. When doing so, try to identify your personal preferences. For instance, you may want to stay relatively close to home or avoid cold weather. Also, you may either prefer the amenities offered by large cities or the quiet of smaller towns.

Funding: Public or Private

The nature of a school’s funding has a bearing on its cost, academics, and campus environment. State-funded colleges and universities tend to have lower tuition costs and a much larger enrollment. On the other hand, private colleges are usually more expensive, enroll fewer students, and offer more financial aid.

Cost

As mentioned above, a college’s cost largely depends on whether it is public or private. Still, every school is different, and the financial aid opportunities offered will be unique for each student. For example, a public college that offers in-state tuition may be much more accessible than a public college in another state. The financial aid opportunities available to you will depend on your grades, test scores, accomplishments, and other factors. Make sure to look into any available scholarships or grants.

Size

The size of a college influences just about every aspect of the institution. Still, larger and smaller schools each have their strengths and weaknesses, so a college’s size is a less critical factor to consider. For instance, larger schools tend to have more majors, higher athletics rankings, and a broader range of opportunities. In contrast, smaller schools usually have a stronger sense of community, smaller class sizes, and more accessible professors.

History

Each school’s nature and character have been developed by its unique history. You can be sure that every college has strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and traditions, all of which relate to its history.

For example, you may prefer schools that have historically strong participation in fraternities and sororities. If you are an athlete, then you’ll want a college with a history of excelling at your sport.

Culture and Diversity

A campus’s culture is largely determined by the backgrounds, interests, and lifestyles of the students and staff. As a result, the demographics of a college strongly influence its culture.

For example, a school with a large number of international students will offer a more diverse culture. Associating with students from different backgrounds will make the learning experience unique for everyone.

Academics

The education offered by each potential school is likely the most important factor you must consider. When evaluating a school’s academics, examine its majors, minors, concentrations, and offered courses. Does the college match your academic interests and goals?

Also, do some research on other matters related to the school’s academics. Can students easily transfer from one of the university’s colleges to another? Does the school employ an open curriculum, or are there certain core course requirements? How are classes structured and taught?

Extracurricular Activities

During high school, you have likely become interested in a handful of extracurricular activities, and you may want to continue to pursue them in college. Find out what extracurriculars, volunteer opportunities, clubs, and other activities are offered by each school.

Choosing a college may be challenging, but these Ivy League admission tips will help you craft a realistic list of schools that suit your needs. Book an initial consultation with Ivy League Prep for more guidance on how to gain admission to the best possible schools.

Making a list of potential colleges and later narrowing it down to a select few may seem like a daunting task; after all, you must consider numerous factors such as your academic preferences and financial situation. Before determining whether a particular college is a good fit, you should give some thought to your personal preferences. This doesn’t mean that you need to know everything about yourself—self-discovery is a lifelong process, but you should be able to determine if the school suits your unique identity.

The more you know about yourself, the better equipped you will be to evaluate potential colleges carefully. Therefore, you should decide what you want to accomplish in college and how you plan to accomplish it. In so doing, you will be able to rule out colleges that don’t match your goals. For example, if you want to pursue computer science, schools with fewer computer science courses will be less appealing than those with rigorous computer science programs. By comparing your priorities against what colleges offer, you will be able to quickly spot colleges that align with your personal and academic objectives.

So, as you make a list of the schools you want to apply to, try to identify your personal priorities. Make sure each college will give you the resources you need to succeed. If a college cannot provide you with your must-have priorities, then it isn’t a good option. You should also consider your lesser priorities: programs or features you would like but could live without.

When choosing potential colleges, follow these Ivy League admission tips to make sure each school aligns with your personal preferences:

Values and Interests

Your unique way of looking at and interacting with the world should have a bearing on your choice of college. Do you thrive in larger or smaller classes? Do you like to get away to walk somewhere quiet and peaceful, or would you prefer to study in a crowded café?

Identify any important priorities related to your lifestyle and find colleges that fit those preferences. Also, make a list of the activities and interests you would like to pursue in college.

Remember to weigh your values, interests, and needs against the college’s core identity and set of priorities. For instance, you might do research to find out whether the college is known for being conservative, liberal, or somewhere in between. If you would like to champion a particular social issue or have a unique interest, find out if the college has any related student-led organizations.

Community

Every college community is different, but so is every student’s concept of an ideal community. You will have to determine how much weight to place on the school’s proximity to family and friends. Further, you should assess how important social interaction will be to you during your college years.

Academics

One of the primary factors to consider when selecting colleges is your academic area of interest. Make sure that your potential schools all align with your planned course of study. Making a detailed list of the academic subjects you want to focus on in college will be helpful.

Goals

You should consider your expectations for college life and for your career after graduation. What do you want to learn and experience? What do you hope to gain from college? Try to think in general rather than specific terms. For example, instead of trying to decide exactly what kind of business you want to start after graduating, you should simply determine that you want to study business to eventually found a company.

Ivy League Prep can provide you with invaluable guidance during the competitive admissions process. Book an initial consultation to find out more about our complete guidance programs.

Once you have graduated from high school and been accepted into college, the hard work involved in crafting an outstanding application theme and a compelling narrative will be behind you. Still, that doesn’t mean you should just relax during the summer before college. Instead, you should make the most of your summer by spending extra time with family and friends, refining any underdeveloped skills, preparing your résumé for internships and jobs, and beginning the transition to college life. These Ivy League admission tips will help you get ready for your long-awaited first day of college.

Spend Time with Family and Friends

The summer before college is a great time to focus on family, especially if you will be moving far away. Spend quality time together at local events or go on a special family vacation. Further, the summer before freshman year in college will likely be one of your last opportunities to spend time with high school friends, so you should take whatever opportunities are available to enjoy socializing with your peers.

Hone Your Skills

While you can take advantage of the summer to catch up on leisure activities, you should also take out time to consider your weaknesses and hone your skills. If you struggle with time management, for instance, you might read or listen to a few books on how to better manage your time. Other options include participating in a writing workshop, working through online tutorials for Microsoft Office, reading a book on money management, or taking a course on research methods and tools.

Prepare a Résumé

If you have not yet created a résumé, the summer before college is the time to do so. A résumé is not a static document; it should change as you develop new skills, acquire greater work experience, and expand your education. If you created a résumé for the admissions process, you must now update it to reflect that you have graduated from high school and enrolled in college. As you develop or refine your résumé, you should focus on your successes and accomplishments, using numbers to demonstrate impact.

You should also highlight any community projects or nonprofit organizations you have been involved with. Again, the focus should be on impact and measurable results. As you prepare to use your résumé for future internship and job applications, be sure to review and customize it for each new role.

Transitioning Toward College Life

Obviously, the summer before college will be a time of transition. Soon, you’ll experience more freedom as well as increased responsibility. Summer is a good time for you to tie up loose ends and prepare for your new role as a college student.

For example, you might organize your room, update your wardrobe, and get maintenance done on your car. You should make sure that your bank account is easily accessible at college; local and regional banks may not have a branch near the school, so you might have to set up an account at a national bank with branches near the school. Additionally, you may need to shop for clothing and accessories (keeping presentations and interviews in mind), a college planner, a laptop, and other items.

Enjoy Summer Responsibly

Keep in mind that colleges can rescind your acceptance based on behavior. You should be careful about what you post online—admissions officers could deem your social media memes, jokes, or comments inappropriate. Depending on the severity of the charges, getting arrested can also result in a rescind letter.

The path to successful college admissions requires years of hard academic and extracurricular work, but gaining acceptance to a prestigious school is well worth the effort. Book an initial consultation to learn how Ivy League Prep can help you succeed in every stage of the admissions process.