Tips for Applicants Preparing for Admission Interviews
admission interviews
Tip 3: Illustrate Your Answers with Personal Experiences
More than a decade later, I vividly recall some of the discussions I’ve had with applicants in admission interviews. These conversations all share one essential thing in common: the applicants illustrated their answers with anecdotes, experiences, perspectives, and other personal material.
Personal material helps your interviewer see who you are and what matters to you. It also gives you the opportunity to speak with authority and conviction. And because stories are the bridges that naturally connect us with one another, they can inspire your interviewer to advocate for you.
In the next three tips, we'll talk about how to gather this material. But in this one, I hope to convince you that that work is worth your time.
Personal Material is the Raw Ingredient of Successful Admission Interviews
Suppose your interviewer asks you about the academic subject that fascinates you most. Rather than simply telling them your favorite subject, consider this question an invitation to tell them about a topic within that subject that truly captivated your imagination.
What was it? Where did it lead you? How did your work to learn about it give you opportunities to support, share, and connect with friends? What were you doing when you first realized you were totally absorbed in it? How did you explore it beyond what was necessary for school? Why do you think it resonates so deeply with you? What are your deep thoughts about why the topic matters? What does it teach you about yourself? About your love of learning? About your community? The world?
I’m not suggesting you answer each of these questions; I offer them to illustrate the many personal directions in which you can take your answer to help the interviewer see your love of learning. Remember: that's the goal.
Be Ready to Share the Material that Helps the Interviewer See Who You Are
There’s another reason I recommend you gather personal material for the subjects your interview is likely to cover: interviewers are volunteers. They usually aren't trained. They may not be ready (or motivated) to ask the follow-up questions that pull a full picture out of you.
In one interview, I asked a student about their academic interests. Their primary one was math. I asked them to tell me about a math project they enjoyed. "Studying for the AP Calculus Exam." After a couple more failed questions, I said, "I understand that math interests you. Now help me understand what math means to you on it's deepest level." Their eyes lit, and they said, "Math is the DNA of everything. It controls matter, experience, perception. We can use math to understand everything around us!" This kicked off a rich discussion. And more importantly, it gave me the opportunity to experience the student's true fascination for the topic.
I've often reflected on that interview. As an interviewer, it showed me the importance of finding the doorway that an applicant will guide you through.
But there's a takeaway for you as an applicant too: every question is an invitation to share the perspectives, experiences, and anecdotes that make you who you are. Your interviewer may not ask the perfect question. Before your interview, prepare to illustrate your answers with personal stories and perspectives so you can fit them smoothly into whatever imperfect questions your interviewer does ask.
