Newsletter, December 2011
spotlight
Helpful Tips for Private School & College Interviews
1. Plan Ahead
It is almost guaranteed that your interviewer will ask you questions such as, “why do you want to come to this school?”, “what are your greatest strengths/weaknesses?” and “what could you bring to this school?” Come up with answers ahead of time.
2. Caught Off Guard?
For tricky questions that you did not expect or plan for, it is perfectly okay to say “can I have a moment to think about that?”
3. "Tell me about yourself!"
Be prepared to walk into an interview and have the interviewer to say that very statement. Obviously, that’s a pretty open ended topic. Take the time to tell the interviewer everything you want him or her to know about you. The idea behind the request is to learn not only about you but also what you consider important.
4. Let the Interviewer Talk
People love to talk about themselves, so if you notice that your interviewer seems particularly enthusiastic about something, ask him or her about it and let them talk for awhile. Not only is it a nice break from being in the hot seat, but people will also appreciate your interest in them.
5. What to Wear?
Your outfit is going to be the first impression the interviewer gets of you, so think about the type of person you reflect through your clothing. Sloppy, wrinkled clothing and messy hair makes it look not only like you don’t care about the interview but also that you do not take things (or yourself) seriously. If you look too business-like, you can appear stoic or intimidating. Dress as if you were going out on a first date to a casual restaurant---you want to impress whomever you’re with, but not to the point that it looks like you’re trying too hard.
6. Research Pays Off
Every school holds a few things important. Those things change for each place you visit (for example: an all girls school might be extremely supportive of feminism). Try to incorporate whatever the school deems highly important into your interview. You also cannot go wrong by looking up each school’s motto. Most private schools and colleges have a Latin motto that they esteem very highly.

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