You know those people who seem to have no idea how to end a conversation? The ones who are still talking and trying to keep the conversation going while you’re smiling awkwardly and backing out of the door? You do not want to be one of those people during your all-important college interviews!

Luckily, there’s no need to draw things out: the length of an interview is not generally an indication of how well it has gone. The most important part of your interview takes place in the first few minutes. Showing up early, greeting your interviewer with a firm handshake, and being confident and friendly right from the start – these are the foundations of a successful interview.

The average on-campus college interview lasts for 30-45 minutes (alumni interviews are a bit longer) and that is generally enough time to make a good first impression, answer the interviewer’s questions and ask some of your own. Coming well-prepared with questions and a general idea of how you might respond to common questions, will help prevent valuable time from being wasted.

It’s a good idea to ask your most important questions first, in case you run out of time. If you do run out of time and still have questions you didn’t get to, ask the interviewer if you can communicate further in writing. It’s always a good idea to send a thank-you note following an interview – this is a good time to ask more questions.

When the interviewer indicates that your time is up, it’s important to take the hint and not try to keep things going. Remember, a longer interview is not necessarily a more successful one!

If a school requires an interview to apply, the decision is obvious. However, many colleges and universities offer the interview as an optional part of the admissions process, and leave it up to you to decide. As an applicant, the first point to determine is whether the interview will be informational or evaluative. When it’s solely informational, it’s a good idea to interview if you are undecided about the school and want to learn more. In that case, it’s a matter of personal preference that can’t help or hurt you as an applicant.
An evaluative college interview, however, is a tool that the admissions office uses to assess you as a candidate. Keep in mind that even if you interview with an alum, student, or faculty member off-campus instead of the dean of admissions, your interview will influence your chances of admission. Generally if the interview is strongly recommended by the school, it’s advisable to go ahead with it, to demonstrate both your interest and qualifications. Also if you’re applying to a “reach” school when you may not be the most obviously qualified candidate, it’s wise to interview if you can show positive qualities in person that may not be visible in your paper application. If your grades, writing, test scores, or recommendations are not as strong as your personality, social confidence and interpersonal skills, an interview will work in your favor.
You should decide against an optional evaluative college interview if you have strong grades, writing, test scores, and teacher recommendations, but tend to get anxious and make a poor impression in face-to-face interactions. Sometimes, you may not be the best judge of how you present yourself. If you’re uncertain, it’s best to ask an adult who knows you—such as a teacher or college counselor you’ve worked with—for their opinion about how you would come across in an interview.

If you have a college interview coming up, chances are you’ve already thought about what you’re going to wear (and hopefully you’ve decided against an ensemble of torn jeans and your favorite T-shirt from Six Flags). You may have even thought about how you’ll answer certain questions you think the admissions counselor may ask. All of this is very admirable, but it would be a mistake to think your interview preparations are done; because now it’s time to come with some questions of your own.

Colleges like to accept students who show a strong interest in attending their school, so one of your main goals in an interview is to make your interest clear. The best way to do this is by having questions ready that show you’ve given this thought and have put in the time to prepare.

Don’t waste the interviewer’s time by asking questions you could easily find answers to on the website (like how many students attend the school.) Instead, ask about things that really demonstrate your desire to learn more about this college or university. You might ask if many classes are taught by graduate students, or if the school sponsors lots of activities on weekends. Whatever you ask, listen carefully to the answer and don’t interrupt the interviewer; make sure the answer is complete before you ask your next question.

The key is being prepared, so make sure to come up with your questions in advance. Once you’ve accomplished this, you can give your full attention to picking out an outfit. In case you’re wondering, there are no hard and fast rules about interview attire, but you may want to give some serious thought to leaving your eyebrow ring at home.

Given a choice between root canal and on-campus college interview, many high school seniors would choose the root canal. What these students obviously don’t realize is that interviews can be surprisingly painless. And, unlike intrusive dental work, they can be a major advantage in the college admissions process.

Adding an interview to a campus visit shows a high level of interest and usually works in the applicant’s favor. Admissions officers understand that interviews are stressful and they tend to forgive students who are nervous or not particularly outgoing. At a workshop I attended recently, the head of admissions at a small, selective college said that students “would almost have to try to make an interview work against them.” What is the one thing she said interviewers would not forgive? Attitude!

Apparently, what you say during a college interview may be less important than how you say it. You should certainly come prepared with an idea of how you’ll respond to certain questions, and it’s important to have questions of your own ready to ask. But be aware that interviewers will also be judging your manners, body language and overall attitude.

It’s important to show up on time and greet your interviewer with a firm handshake. Your attitude should send the message that you are friendly, polite and confident.

Don’t argue with the interviewer, complain, or correct anything that he or she may say. Your body posture should be relaxed, but not excessively so (don’t slouch!) Try to get comfortable speaking about yourself by practicing in front of a mirror or another person.

A good college interview can improve your chances of being accepted – and if you approach it correctly, it will almost certainly be more pleasant than a day at the dentist.

What do you think? Do you have an interview experience you’d like to share?