How to Prepare for College Interview Questions with the Best Answers for Your Admission

by Alex Morgan · March 27, 2024

prepare college interview questions and answers

College preparation can be a daunting task for students. Some people take it way too seriously, and others don’t take it seriously enough. Now, it’s important to prepare for it, but that doesn’t mean you should overthink it.

There’s science behind everything, and understanding the college interview isn’t exactly rocket science. So, today, we’ll be looking over interview questions and answer samples as well as commonly asked questions.

But more importantly, we’ll explore what to bring to a college interview and your appearance, including the type of college interview outfit you should wear. So, let’s dive right into it and understand the process behind college interview questions.

What Are the Interview Questions?

Interview questions in college admissions are asked to assess the skills, qualifications, and abilities of a candidate. While the college admission questions are quite different from some professional questions, such as job interviews, there are some similarities.

For instance, college admission and jobs usually ask similar questions like your plans in 5/10 years, as well as to tell them more about yourself. The main purpose of these questions is to analyze a few things, such as:

Candidate’s experience and abilities in school;
General abilities regarding the field they are applying for;
Skills and qualifications in the field in question;
Problem-solving abilities and decision-making;
Communication skills—both verbal and written;
And the ability to fit into an organization.

While it’s important to portray your personality through these questions, it’s important to remember that they will determine the fate of your college admissions. That’s why, it’s necessary to keep it strictly formal unless the college or university has leniency in that regard.

But usually, colleges and universities like students who are better prepped for these questions. And while you don’t have to answer right off the bat, don’t think too hard or too much before answering questions.

Which Interview Questions Are Most Common?

One of the important things that college students want to know is which are the most common college interview questions. Every college and institution understands the pattern, and they want to surprise the students to see how they respond to a challenging situation.

Although confidence is key, it’s good to be prepped for any out-of-the-box or unordinary questions. You will notice there are specific college interview questions and answers that can be prepared beforehand for the interview quite easily.

For instance, here are some of the most commonly asked questions in college interviews:

Can you tell me about yourself?

Why are you interested in attending our college/university?

What are your academic strengths and weaknesses?

How do you plan to contribute to our campus community?

Can you discuss a challenge you’ve overcome and what you’ve learned from it?

As you can see, there’s a pattern and it’s important to understand that the difference between the job and college interview “tell me about yourself” question is what they wish to hear. In job interviews, they’d like to hear about your professional experience.

Whereas in a college admission, they want to know your ambitions and aspirations to join the specific college. Though, you don’t have to hammer on the nail’s head, and you can define your aims, or what makes you different as a person.

The rest of the questions are self-explanatory, like why you’re interested in joining their college or university. Then, you will have to come up with creative answers to those questions. And while those are 5 of the 25 tough interview questions and answers, here are the rest:

What are your career goals?

How do you handle stress or pressure?

What inspires you?

How do you manage your time effectively?

Discuss a book or author that has influenced you.

What do you hope to gain from your college experience?

Can you describe a leadership role you’ve held?

How do you approach teamwork and collaboration?

Discuss a current event that interests you.

What sets you apart from other applicants?

Describe a meaningful volunteer experience.

How do you handle setbacks or failures?

What do you value most in a learning environment?

Discuss a topic you’re passionate about.

How do you plan to make the most of college resources?

Can you describe a mentor or role model in your life?

What do you hope to study and why?

How do you define success?

Discuss a time when you had to make a difficult decision.

How do you plan to contribute to society after graduation?

Now, don’t go into the college interview thinking these are the questions that you will be answering. But, just for the sake of it, here is how you should answer these questions (first five only):

Say something like “I’m looking to become a leader in the workplace. And I wish to be a skilled individual that organizations and teams can rely on.”
It’s important to get this right, even if you struggle under pressure. So, be honest but say something like “Everybody struggles with pressure, but I believe diamonds are made under pressure. So, I keep positive, and I use it to motivate myself to do better.”
Your inspiration could be anything, providing for family, helping the animals, or just doing better in life. Be profound when you answer this.
Time management is key, so you should emphasize your punctuality. Tell them how you arrive 5 minutes early, rather than 5 minutes late. And how you schedule things that can be scheduled and are always up for a challenge.
It’s as simple as any other question, so be open about things you like, particularly authors. Don’t be ashamed of your taste, even if it’s fantasy, Sci-Fi, or anything like that.

Now, make sure you practice these questions but don’t rely on them too much. Because specific colleges and universities will ask more questions related to your degree/program than general questions like these.

However, some of the best ways to prepare answers to these questions include roleplaying the college admission with a friend, peer, or colleague. This can help you review your answers, and hear them in your voice before you utter the words.

How Do You Prepare for Interview Questions?

Preparing to answer the said questions can be quite an easy process. Remember, confidence is key, and even if you have the best answer, if you don’t provide it with proper confidence, it won’t be deemed as such.

That’s why, it’s important to understand how to answer college interview questions properly. So, what should be your prepping regimen before the college interview? Here are some of the things that you can do:

Research the college, programs, faculty, and its values;
Practice common interview questions with peers and try doing mock interviews;
Make a list of personal achievements and experiences and note them down;
Be concise and articulate in responses and try not to use fluff words—even verbally;
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer, especially things you’re eager to know;
And show general enthusiasm and genuine interest throughout.

Understand that tough interview questions and answers will come by naturally. Sometimes, the interviewer or admission officer won’t be asking questions they have written. Instead, they might link one thing to another and ask follow-up questions.

So, you have to learn how to improvise and anticipate that kind of situation. And you must understand the basics of the coursework or faculty that you’re aiming for. They might ask follow-up questions regarding that.

That’s why researching elements like that can be helpful in college interviews. And while the admission officer might have the college interview questions to ask, they will surely change it up, or switch things according to your answers.

Do You Get to Ask Questions? If So, What Should You Ask?

The simple answer is yes, you do get to ask questions. However, your questions shouldn’t be condescending and they shouldn’t be just in response to what the admission officer might have asked you and/or already answered.

Instead, the questions should be about the college, your degree, and what sort of environment and experience you can hope for. Here are some of the questions that you can ask during the brief time you are given to ask questions:

How does your college support student success and academic achievement?

What opportunities are there for students to get involved in extracurricular activities?

How does your college support students with internships and job placements?

What resources are available for students who may need academic assistance/counseling?

What is the relationship between students and professors at your college?

How diverse is the student body at your college?

What is unique about your college’s academic programs or curriculum?

How does your college prepare students for life after graduation?

How is your college different from others?

Now, you can ask additional college scholarship interview questions as well, but that depends on the program or faculty, and if they offer any such opportunity. However, these questions should suffice and help you understand more about the college.

Unusual or Trick Questions Some Colleges/Universities Ask

There are common college interview questions to ask, but there are also uncommon ones. Now, these questions might seem out of place, but a lot of colleges ask unusual or trick questions to understand the quick thinking of the candidate.

There’s no saying what sort of unusual or trick questions you might be asked, but here are some examples:

If you were a superhero, who would you be?

What animal best represents your personality?

If you could live in any era, when?

What three items would you bring to Mars?

If you could choose to be a kitchen utensil, what would you be?

So, the key is to stay true to yourself and be creative in these answers. Try to add a bit of humor, but don’t sound like you’re not taking it seriously. Don’t be taken aback by such questions, and certainly don’t let the surprise be visible on your face when you answer them.

7 Tips to Prepare for College Interview: Questions, Answers & Everything Else

Now that we know the basic school interview questions for students, let’s talk about the prep tips. Here is what to do before and after college interview:

1: Research the College Thoroughly

As mentioned before, you must understand the college, faculty, and the general history of the institution you are applying for.

This can be handy in case the admission officer asks something like “What do you know about us?” And, a plausible answer in that situation can improve the chances of you being selected.

2: Practice Common Interview Questions

Practice the common 25 questions that we spoke of earlier in the article. Get a friend, a sibling, or anyone you know, and tell them to ask you those questions. Practice your answers, and if possible, write them down.

3: Prepare Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Aside from the mock questions we have given you, find or research questions of your own. This will give you leverage to ask various questions to the interviewer and understand more about the degree program and the university/college.

4: Dress Appropriately and Professionally

While there is no given college interview attire, make sure you dress properly and formally. It’s important to present yourself well, and groom before walking in. In other words, look your best when you walk into that office.

5: Be Punctual and Arrive Early

It’s not a bad thing to wait 20-30 minutes, but it’s a problem if you’re late by even 5 minutes. So, be punctual, wake up early, get ready earlier, and arrive at the destination before the designated time. No harm in waiting, catch your breath and then walk in for the interview. And if you are late for some reason, inform the administration in advance.

6: Showcase Your Strengths and Accomplishments

Be it a resume or any other sort of portfolio you create, don’t shy away from your strengths or accomplishments. It’s not a good thing to be overconfident but be as confident as you can be without sounding smug.

Conclusion

These are some of the key things to understand about the admission interview. So, research the academy you’re applying to, understand your program, and be ready to answer any out-of-the-norm questions.

And while it’s important to be prepared by practicing these questions, you should also be mentally ready to answer anything out of the norm. These might be trick questions, unusual queries, or general questions to understand the priority and values of a student.