|
WHAT IF YOU ARE SHY?
If you are a shy or nervous person, the best advice is to prepare, prepare, prepare; then practice, practice, and practice before you have an actual interview. Students who “freeze” usually do so when they are asked questions for which they don’t have answers. If you have thoroughly prepared and practiced, it’s unlikely that you’ll freeze.
Spend some time preparing information for your interviews, both written answers for questions, as well questions you can ask of the interviewers. Don’t try too hard to impress the interviewer; rather, try to be the way you are with your parents, favorite teachers or older good friends. Act calm even if you don’t feel it.
DO’S AND DON’TS ABOUT COLLEGE INTERVIEWS
Here are some quick do’s and don’ts to remember while you’re practicing (and for the interview itself):
| DO |
DON'T |
1. Be specific in your answers, give details; always
try to SHOW why. |
1. Give one or two word answers such as "Yes,” “No,” or “Golf,” “Math,” or “Video games.” |
2. Relate questions back to your activities and
involvements. |
2. Miss opportunities to give examples from your personal experience. |
3. Be interested in the interviewer’s questions and what he or she has to say. |
3. Appear to be bored or uninterested in the
interview process (even if you are). |
4. Talk about what you are interested in and about
what you feel passionate. |
4. In any way, brag, boast, or appear to be a
know-it-all, or arrogant. |
5. Be positive. |
5. Be negative, complaining; or put-down others, yourself, your school or other colleges. |
6. Tell the truth. |
6. Lie or exaggerate. |
7. Show real interest and knowledge about the college. |
7. Say or intimate that you are more interested in other colleges. |
8. Say that you don’t know, but then recover by asking to think about the questions, come back to it later, or suggest that you will email the interviewer an answer after you had time to think about it. |
8. Say, “I don’t know,” and leave it at that. |
9. Smile and look the interviewer in the eye. |
9. Avoid eye contact. Scowl, or look unpleasant. |
10. Focus on your strengths, even when asked about weaknesses; e.g. “While one of my major weaknesses is taking on too many activities at one time, I am at least aware of that propensity now, and I have made major strides in getting it under control.” |
10. Make excuses for or be defensive about a
weakness or blemish on your record; e.g. “Well, yes, I got a D in English last year, but I was sick and then I had a teacher who really had it in for me.” |
|
