Some colleges and universities offer applicants an opportunity for an interview. (Some may even require an interview.) Although the college may offer an interview, some students find the interview to be a scary proposition that involves having to answer the interviewer's questions and having to talk about themselves. On the other hand, the interview may provide the opportunity to impress the admission officer or to explain an unusual situation. Given the advantages and disadvantages, many students ask, "Should I ask for an interview with the admission office?"

What is the purpose of a college interview?

Colleges generally offer two types of interviews - an informational interview or an evaluative interview. The informational interview is designed so that the applicant can gather needed information about the college. The interviewer is expecting the applicant to ask questions about the school, its programs and admission policies. Normally, the interviewer is not using the meeting as a criterion for determining whether or not to admit the applicant.

The evaluative interview is designed for the purpose of determining whether or not the applicant is a suitable candidate for admission. In this type of setting, the interviewer will ask the bulk of the questions and the applicant is expected to answer them. The quality of the answers will be used as a criterion in the decision process.

Since the two types of interviews are very different, you should know, in advance of the meeting, which type of interview the college is providing. The only way to know what to expect is to ask the question when you set up the interview.

Who will interview me?

That depends upon the type of interview. In the evaluative type, the interviewer is often a member of the admission staff, an alumnus, or a member of the faculty. Some colleges will offer interviews in your locale while others will require that you travel to campus for the interview. In either case, make sure you know with whom you are talking. If you are not sure, ask the interviewer. They won't be offended. In fact, they will be impressed that you are exhibiting a serious approach to the interview.

Informational interviews can take place in either a private or group setting. Group meetings, sometimes referred to as information sessions, might be conducted by a member of the admission staff, a faculty member, an alumnus or a current student. If the session is a group session, make sure that you allow the other prospective students an opportunity to ask their questions. If they have asked a question that is on your list, don't ask it again.

How do I get ready for the interview?

The first thing you need to do is to schedule the interview. Call the admission office to determine if an interview is required or recommended, if the format is informational or evaluative, and if it will be an individual interview or group session. Generally interviews are scheduled during Monday through Friday business hours, although some colleges may provide Saturday hours as well. When you call to make the appointment, have a list of dates and times during which you will be available. Once you have scheduled the interview, confirm the date, time and place with the person you talked with to set up the interview. This can be done through either email or a short note. It's also wise to check on directions if needed and parking suggestions and policies.

Once the interview is set, you should take care of a few other preliminaries.

Obtain a "student copy" of your high school transcript - The interviewer may not have access to your high school record during the conversation so be prepared to provide the interviewer with a copy of your transcript. An unofficial "student copy" is sufficient.

Get a copy of your standardized test scores - Some high school transcripts contain a record of the student's SAT or ACT scores while others do not. If your transcript does not contain this information, make a copy of the score reports that you have received and bring the copies with you to the interview.

Create a resume - Interviewing for college is similar to interviewing for a job. The idea is to provide the interviewer with as complete a picture of your background as possible. The best way to do this is to create a resume that includes information regarding your academic achievements, internships, employment, extracurricular activities and any awards that you have received. Try to keep it to one page but make sure that it includes everything you want the college to know.

Review the college's publications - A good interview is one in which you discover information that you can't get from any other source. Make sure that you know the basics about the college, its size, programs offered, etc. Don't waste your time or the interviewer's by asking questions that have already been answered in the materials that the college has sent to you.

Prepare a number of questions - Don't go into the interview "cold." Make sure that you know what you want to find out. Write down several questions before the meeting and make sure that you are ready to answer the question, "so, how can I help you?"

So what do I wear to the interview? What do I do at the interview?

The answer to the first question is a matter of personal taste, but it is best to avoid extreme styles and jeans are out. Neat, casual dress is acceptable and business attire (suits, ties and dresses) may be over the top.

Above all, be yourself during the interview. Tell the truth without embellishing and make eye contact with the interviewer. Answer questions directly and keep your answers to a reasonable length of time. The more direct your answers, the more time you will have to explore other topics with the interviewer.

So do I ask for an interview?

You should ask for an interview if you need questions answered or have some special circumstance that is best addressed in person. If the interview is optional and you know that you don't interview well, you may be better off skipping the interview. Remember, there isn't any advantage to making a bad impression at the interview.