Bring a professional looking folder or portfolio binder with some paper for taking notes if needed. Show your personality, ask questions, and demonstrate that you are the kind of student they would have wanted to be friends with when they were in college. Whenever I ask this question I do it as a little bit of a warm up question, and also as a way to get you to relax. Tarahific 111 replies 42 threads Junior Member. Interview tomorrow. That said, if you say you want to major in finance, or want to join the orchestra, make sure the school offers a finance major or has an orchestra. Use the lists of questions below or look up more online and have a friend or family member pretend to interview you. And, in some ways, it is. . This is exactly what I'm looking for, although I tend to phrase it "So, tell me how you came to be sitting in front of me today.". You want to show depth and passion but focusing on those seems cold and mercenary. I start off with my school experience, internships, then work experience. Beginning at the end of this month I'll start doing interviews at various colleges (mostly LACs). Keep in mind that it's fine to take some time to think before responding. Go beyond this with general interests outside of those listed. Pause to let them get the interview started. Some handled the questions well, while others floundered. Learn college interview tips and strategies to crush your university interview. - If you want to apply to selective and highly selective schools, you need to learn how to talk about yourself. Don't offer to buy them a coffee, food, or anything else because you don't want them to think you're trying to bribe them even if it's something small. It's fairly transparent when students ask questions because they're trying to make an impression versus because they actually want to know. may seem like one of the easier job interview questions you'll be asked. Show, don’t tell. After all, who knows you better than…You? Penn specifically requests that you DON'T so that the conversation is more natural. What I really want to hear from you when I ask this question is more or less a brief overview of your professional life, and possibly anything you do in your personal life that can tie into what I'm interviewing you for. Don't put other people down – stay positive and focused on what makes you great. Don't give basic info about where you're from, what you do in school, or anything too directly related to your application. Review this before the interview so you're prepared to talk about it if asked. There is conflicting information on whether you should look them up on Facebook or LinkedIn to get a sense for their background and help focus the questions and conversation. You want to communicate that you think it's great, but you also want to show why you are a good fit for the school. The admission rate for students who interview is often significantly higher. 7. Most interviewers will be impressed with your preparation. Your interviewer does … This subreddit is for anyone looking for advice about undergraduate college admissions, including college essays, scholarships, SAT/ACT test prep, and anything related to college applications. You can offer if you want, but they will probably refuse. i have an interview tonight! Example Answer for Experienced Candidates: “I graduated with a Business degree in 2010, and was offered an account management position from a telecommunications company I had interned with. But for some strange reason, nearly every interviewer can agree that giving a good answer to the question “Tell Me About Yourself” during a job interview can be one of the toughest and most stressful things to do. The other twin was the opposite. In this article, you’ll learn what this question is really about. Get answers to questions like: what to expect at a college interview, interview questions and answers, what to wear for a college interview, do interviews help college admissions, and more. This open-ended invitation often kicks off an interview, so make sure you’re prepared with a smart, short response. Anticipate this question. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. Afterward, the alumnus will complete a report or brief summary of the interview and his or her impressions of you. If you don’t feel like you have anything really punchy and bold, you can be more personal with your response by talking about how passionate you are for something or why it's so important to you. this is a blessing, How bad is it to buy the interviewer a cup of coffee? You could fairly assume that this will be a mix of positives and negatives. Know Yourself It sounds like a silly concept, but knowing yourself (or at least knowing the self that you want to present to an interviewer) is critical. When I signed up, the form did state that it's not always possible to set-up an interview but I live in an area that has lots of alumni. It can also be helpful to review the essays or other materials you submitted when you applied because they will often be available to the interviewer and many interviewers leverage that to structure the conversation. At CollegeVine, we’re passionate about making college guidance accessible to all. There's not a lot to this question and it's often used as build up to other questions or to get the conversation flowing. It seems like such an easy college interview question. This is the most common lead off question. Typically within 15 minutes of the end of the interview I know what my writeup is going to look like, so any thank you note will be too late to affect my evaluation. I do not recommend eating anything (unless it's specifically a dinner or lunch interview) because that can be awkward and get in the way of conversation. You can also search Google or online forums for advice or comments from students who have already been through the process. Some colleges extend offers for interviews to applicants while others require the applicant to request one or sign up to initiate the process. But since other applicants will do them and get an advantage from it, you're indirectly putting yourself at a disadvantage. 8. Have you ever noticed how many commercials you hear where the voices jump from one person to the next? I like to work hard but I also like to make time on the weekends to be with family and be active...bullshit like that. Share why it's your dream school or one of your top choices. Sometimes you will find common interests, acquaintances, or other connections you can mention in the interview. Similarly, don't fire off a bunch of impressive sounding test scores/GPA/class rank stats. Indeed, the interviewer might simply say: “Tell me something about yourself.” These types of personal questions are often the most difficult to answer because you want to be able to share the positive aspects of your personality and your achievements without sounding like you are bragging. To get some more direction though, it can be helpful to dig deeper. Any response to a question about your weaknesses or struggles should be focused on your growth, what you learned, and how you improved as a result of it. June 2014 edited June 2014 in College Search & Selection. Selective colleges get many applications with high stats and reject many of them. Thanks for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion! Also don't care if you bring a portfolio/resume . Don't be put off by this – go with the flow. If they say personally, I have a chance to show off who I am and why I'd suit their culture and if they ask professionally, I know that they're wanting to remain strictly business focused. Talk about what you want to do after college, what kind of career you want to have, what you hope to achieve or learn, and what the impact of those things might be. Talking about yourself should be the easiest thing to do. ED deadline is Nov 1st (already completed). Tell us what makes you unique. “So, tell me a little about yourself.” This common interview prompt inspires dread for many internship and first-time job seekers. I tell them where I'm from, where I went to school, my last/current job, and why I am sitting in front of them. Talk about how even though that's what first caught your eye, you were encouraged and affirmed by the additional research you've done. Peruse the college’s website. Don't give basic info about where you're from, what you do in school, or anything too directly related to your application. As a general rule, your questions should be about things that can't be answered through a Google search or through the school's website. There was this study done once where some guy acted like a potential employer interviewing applicants and was asked to do only this: ask each applicant to tell you about themselves, that's all. “Tell me about yourself,” is one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview. Is it okay to bring in a list of questions that I want to ask? This is one of the questions that will make you glad you have your application in front of you and that you reviewed it before the interview. This could be an interest you have and how you pursued it, or a unique combination of interests you have, or an outstanding accomplishment. A few will be stellar and put the applicant on the fast track to admission. Most people relax after the first few questions. Questions about specific details of your ECs, Recs, awards, essays, or other application materials. The secret for this is simple – just ask about things you actually want to know and make a brief effort to find out for yourself in advance. Same thing with these kinds of interview questions. I do think some of this advice is more appropriate for MBA interviews than undergrad interviews (for example, very few schools give interviewers your essays or a list of your achievements). I've done alumni interviews for several years. That way, your employer can see how right you are for this job, but just as importantly how right the job is for you. As such, it's ok and even preferred for the interview to be fun. It can be very helpful to do your own "mock interview" before the real thing. Skype, Google Hangout, etc). I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Then interview all the others like that. It can be simple and attainable, just make sure you are able to show how it will be meaningful to you and that you've put some thought into it. Yup. You will learn more about the college and it will help you make decisions too. Although the “tell me about yourself” prompt may seem vague, there are specific things the interviewer wants to learn about you as a candidate, while other aspects of your life may be irrelevant and even inappropriate to mention. You make excellent points and a lot of that rolls up into the fact that interviews are handled differently at different schools. My take on this is: (1) I don't care much about what you wear (jeans are fine) or how firm your handshake is. I signed up for an alumni interview about 3 weeks ago but no one has contacted me yet. And it should be one of the easiest questions to answer — because you can anticipate and prepare for it — but, just as commonly, it’s one of the most anxiety-provoking and confusing questions. After all of this you'll have a solid knowledge base to ask informed questions and show that you're really interested. Prepare by reading up on the school, student life, groups/activities on campus that are similar to your activities and interests, and the cities or towns near the school. Ultimately the story should conclude by explaining how you came to be applying for this job. Employers like to give jobs to people who will appreciate it. We’ll show you a tried-and-tested formula for structuring your answer. If you find yourself jittery, simply acknowledge it and move forward. Yep. Handwritten notes are ok too, but no matter what your grandma says emails are sufficient. Most interviewers are using this question as a "warm-up" question to have time to arrange their questions, read again your CV, test your communication skills. The applicants were sets of twins (so the interviewer couldn't make judgements about looks). Usually these will be arranged individually between you and the alumnus at a local coffee shop, library, bookstore, or park. Your answer should make the interviewer interested in going deeper, so don't respond like it's a boring documentary. You don’t need to be unrealistic or overly lofty with the Nobels, Pulitzers, and elections you hope to win. (6) I would never ask a question like "What makes you different/more outstanding than other applicants," but you should think about the answer. In this article, you’ll find advice that’s tailored to new college graduates and early-career job seekers. Have you ever heard of an Elevator Speech? One student I know led off with "I'm a professional and volunteer magician. People pay strongest attention when first listening to a voice. Now that we’ve covered the basics on how to answer “tell me about yourself,” we’re going to cover several essential tips that can help you stand out even more. Choke, and someone else gets that fat job, 401k and flexible hours. When is it appropriate to contact the admissions counselor to push for a interview date? Want to see a trick?" It might be a bit braggy or salesy because they want both themselves and their school to appear to be outstanding, but don't let that catch you off guard. They can only gain so much insight from your written application. Answer wrong, and the interviewer thinks, next! Remember, the college interview is an opportunity for admissions officers to get to know you and see if you would truly be a good fit for their school. Overall, when you practice your answer, you want to tell a great story about yourself that you can share in no more than two minutes. A mock interview will give you a better feel for what it will be like to respond live. At the same time, the interview is an opportunity to show more of yourself, to corroborate the outstanding image presented in your application, do add more data points to the process, and to actually meet you face to face. When the interview is done, shake hands firmly while maintaining eye contact, and thank them for taking the time to meet with you. They were scripted how to answer the "tell me about yourself" question. I agree that there is conflicting advice about how much you should research the interviewer ahead of time. Consider the applicant as a prospective Penn student, a fellow roommate, classmate, dining hall companion, and friend." In general, the more casual it is, the less preparation and such are necessary. a high ranking or high average salary of graduates), be sure to go beyond that. They are in a position of power (after a manner of speaking), so it's doubly awkward if they accept your offer. Most alumni interviews are informal and more personal in nature. It should be common sense, but don't chew gum or hit your Juul either. Just make sure you actually follow through with it because a surprising number of students don't. Why do colleges say that it won't hurt you to no take the interview, when it seems like it does though? The easiest way to do this is to use an example from your background and experience. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit: [r/u_reallysickdud] Guide to Confident Alumni Interviews, If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads. Now that we’ve covered the key steps to answering, “tell me about yourself,” let’s look at some full answer examples to this interview question. People on Reddit shared the toughest questions they've ever had to answer in an interview, from "Can you tell me a joke?" So by being interesting you make yourself memorable and also can give a good first impression. Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Some students have even been asked about a single word choice from one of their essays. Colleges say it won't hurt you because they aren't going to dock your scores or ratings for not interviewing. Attention! I always mention how balance is a good thing. thanks! When they do, don't press the issue. After this, they will go through a list of questions. The answer to this should be customized person to person BUT I can tell you what not to say. What are the best ways to answer the question: Tell me about yourself? If you're a quality applicant (which most are), all of that will help you. Please keep in mind that the OP of this thread has chosen to mark this post with the [Serious] replies only tag, therefore any replies that are jokes, puns, off-topic, or are otherwise non-contributory will be removed. By Jeff Gillis. Without one exception, the twin that mentioned positive things first "got" the job because that's the stuff they listen to the most - the first things you say. Why do you want to attend college here? Ask me about my time at college, but don't ask me about my profession, family life, etc. It’s a teeth-chattering interview question. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. You can use fillers and non-verbal cues like "Hmmm…" to indicate that you understood the question and are contemplating a response. Remember to answer each interview question behaviorally, whether it is a behavioral question or not. But being friendly, open and charming will do wonders for you. Many of you will be scheduling alumni interviews in the coming months. According to the experts at Yale University's Office of Career Strategy, the best answers to "Tell me about yourself" all follow a simple formula. So make the interview enjoyable. Just be honest and tell the story. A few will be very negative and will result in a deferral or rejection. Be sure to review our blog on how to prepare for your med school interviewfor the best strategies a… And you probably shouldn't take a huff of your all purpose glue stick either. And don’t worry if you lack relevant experience. Get the show on the road. Aside from bringing the right things, coming prepared to your interview really boils down to knowing two things: yourself and the college you’re applying to. They may ask if you want anything to drink or eat. Your answer should include some things that couldn't be said by just anyone. Where do you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now? After all, if there's one subject you truly know something about, it's yourself. At some colleges they can also be arranged digitally (e.g. Graduate school interviews allow university staff to evaluate your potential to succeed in their program. You can be honest, but you should try to stay positive. At the end, tell us which one you'd most like to hire. On the day of the interview, wear comfortable but nice clothes. Give them a feel for the kind of person you are. Penn recommends wearing the sort of clothes you might wear to give a presentation at school while Stanford suggests you just wear what you normally wear to school. For instance you might not want to say "In my free time my friends and I go out bar hoping” that could be a red flag that you are going to call in sick on me when you over do it some night. It should be evident that you've given some thought or exploration to this. Everybody should be comfortable talking about themselves, and I don't want you stressing out so early in the interview. Most interviewers are gainfully employed and would not feel great about regularly letting broke high school kids buy them coffee. I ask, "would you like to know about me personally or professionally?". But for many candidates it can be tricky—either they're too modest in their response or they don't highlight those strengths that most closely match the job requirements. In fact, it’s usually the first one. Make sure you have contact info to send a follow up thank you email later that day or the next day. The hero we need, don’t deserve. 9. (EDIT: Many of these may no longer be functioning), Penn Principles of Good Practice: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=1147&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1, Penn Sample Interview Questions: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=8156&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1, https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&sitebuilder=1&pgid=13330, Penn Mock Interviews: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&pgid=8155, Penn Instructions for Interviewers: https://www.alumni.upenn.edu/s/1587/gid2/16/interior.aspx?sid=1587&gid=2&sitebuilder=1&pgid=13274#panel5, Stanford Interview Site: https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/freshman/interviews.html, Business Insider Article on Harvard Interviews: https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-harvard-interviewer-shares-the-questions-she-typically-asked-in-the-interview-2016-10. They will remember "this is a guy who thinks a lot", not "he doesn't know". Then interview all the others like that. She did no prior research. It demonstrates interest in the college and gives you a chance to show your personality. The biggest question they seek to answer is "Will this student be a good fit at our school?" The same can be said for optional essays, demonstrated interest (for colleges that are into that), sending scores at test optional schools, declaring a major vs undecided, etc. Talk instead about your personality, what you like to do, or something actually interesting about yourself. But it does make them less awkward and unnatural. That’s a mistake. In place of "I don't know / I'm not sure", try "You know I've thought about that a lot and I'm hoping for an answer but I'm not sure right now.". Alumni know what the college's culture and student body are like and they are generally well-equipped to make these assessments. 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