Road to a top college: 6 tips for the interview

If you’re stressing about a college interview, take heart: Experts say these talks are an opportunity rather than another stressor in the college application process.Think of it as a chance for both parties to get to know each other better and gauge if there might be a potential fit.“While an interview generally isn’t the make or break of an application, it certainly plays a role in reinforcing the candidate’s interests, experience, and passions while also showcasing their knowledge of the school,” said Ian Mullane, senior mentor at Command Education, a top college admissions consulting company based in New York City.The main types of college admission interviews are alumni interviews and admission officer interviews.

Regardless of the interview format, Mullane stressed that such meetings provide an opportunity to add additional insight into your candidacy beyond the personal statement, essays and resume you’ve submitted.In most cases,  most interviews these days happen after you apply, said Cindy Chanin, founder and director of Rainbow Education Consulting & Tutoring in Los Angeles, Calif.“Usually, you don’t request an interview — the school will reach out to you if they would like to interview you,” she said.

“Sometimes students think if they don’t get an interview, they won’t get in.That’s not true at all.” First, a brief primer on what to expect. “The most common college interview will be an alumni interview, where the student will answer questions from an alumni volunteer who will later submit a report back to the school,” said Mullane.

“The goal is to have the report complement your overall application and profile.” The other type of interviews are those with admission officers.These are less common, said Mullane. Last but not least, informational interviews may take place at college info sessions hosted at your school or elsewhere.

These are not something you’ll be evaluated on, but rather an opportunity f...