Be true to yourself

Adarsh Khandelwal

Many schools in the United States, the United Kingdom, and certain other places to which you might be applying include an interview as part of the admissions process. The goal of the interview can depend on the school, but there are some general similarities. However, for you the goal  is  to show who you are, where you’ve been, and where you want to go, with passion, candor and clarity.

Here are some guidelines that can come handy while dealing with the interview part of the admission process:  

1  How do you talk about yourself? More importantly, how do you talk about the accomplishments you might be justifiably proud of without sounding arrogant or superior? How do you connect and share your passions in ways that show off who you really are? And how do you talk about your accomplishments and passions without simply listing them?

The worst thing many students do is just try to list all the things they do, or prizes they’ve won, or tests they’ve scored well in. Don’t fall into this trap! This interview is about the rest of you, not who you are on paper. Resist the temptation to list things, and try to actually connect.

Other students try to repeat "buzzwords" they’ve heard, like leadership opportunity or learning experience, trying to shape their every story into what they think the admissions officer is looking for. 

2 You need to research the school, and not just the statistics or the teaching staff. Look into the philosophy of the school, look up alumni testimonials, find out what the true nature of this programme and place seems like to you, and think about how you will fit within that, and what you can bring to that community.

For example, if you are a applying to a small liberal arts college, what about that appeals to you? Maybe it's the nuturing community and the opportunities for working closely with professors in seminars and research labs. If you are applying to a large State school, maybe you love the resources, opportunities and options. Go deeper than a glance at the website, and be prepared to talk about the school and why you see yourself there.

3 It's also important to take some time to think about what you want out of college, and that might mean reflecting on your current high school experience. What do you like about it? What frustrates you? What can you bring from this experience that will help you in the next one? What have you always wanted to study but never had the chance to?

Think about these things, especially if you are someone who is typically shy with new people or adults. You have limited time with your interview, usually an hour or less, and you want to break the ice quickly and connect in a way that makes you comfortable and able to talk about yourself.

4 Another way to prepare is to practice. Get together with a friend and give each other mock interviews. Ask questions, and challenge each other by trying some out of the box ideas. Here are a few sample questions often used in admissions interviews for schools in the United States:

"Which three adjectives best describe you?" Remember, when you answer this question give examples of why these adjectives work for you. Saying I'm brave is less interesting and informative than saying I’m brave because I love to try new experiences that force me to depend on myself, like when I went hiking through the Himalayan foothills with nothing but a backpack and a camera last summer.

"What are your strengths and weaknesses?" While it's tempting not to admit weaknesses, think about answering this honestly, and in a way that talks about how you've dealt with and work to improve these weaknesses.

For example, you might say I have a lot of trouble getting myself to sit down and read, which is why I've forced myself to take an hour each day with no distractions and tackle a novel."

"What activities are your favourites?" Always talk about why, describing what interests you about the things you spend your time doing.

"Which is your favourite book?" Even if you aren't much of a reader, it would be worth it to try and answer this question. If you can't think of a book, how about a newspaper, or a movie? Try to engage and talk about why you like whatever it is you've chosen. I love Twilight because it's the best is a far less interesting response than I love Twilight because of the way it takes these myths and superstitions and puts them in a modern relatable context.

The interviewer also might ask you questions about current events, your fields of interest, the city you live in, anything really to get to know you and get a sense of how curious- minded, conscious and aware you are of the world around you.

Going to college outside of your hometown means you will have to be responsible for yourself, and especially with international students from India, interviewers want to see that you don't rely heavily on people around you but have, in fact, developed a sense of self-sufficiency. 

Questions about your life, how it works, how you feel about your hometown and country, can reveal your independent abilities or lack thereof.

— The writer is Co Founder,   Collegify, a college consulting for for study abroad