Commonly Asked Questions on US University Admission Interviews

Why interview?

You might ask why interviews are such an essential part of your college admission process. For those of you who are going to study in the US, this is an almost inevitable part of the process. Admission officers use the interview to get to know you more; they want to make sure that you are a suited candidate to study at their institution. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions in university admission application interviews and how to best answer them!

1. Why do you apply to our university?

Interviewer uses this question to dissect your motivation on applying to their university. Make sure you did a thorough research about the university and why they appeal to you. Emphasize some of its strengths and relate them with your personal interest. Bonus point if you can articulate why you will be a good asset to them.

2. Tell us about yourself!

This question is pretty straight-forward but the answer might not be as simple. This is your chance to "sell" yourself. Use verbs more than adjectives to describe your personalities. Instead of over-dramatizing your accomplishments, tell the interviewer how you achieve them and what you learned from the process. Describe how you tackle challenges and overcome your weaknesses.

3. What activities do you enjoy the most? What is your goal after college?

They want to know about your priorities in life. Emphasize on how studying in that university could help you reach your future goals. Avoid describing impossible goals such as going to the moon, but stick to the practical one, such as having your own software company. However, remember to stay genuine and honest. Do not say things just to please the interviewer.

4. What is your opinion about (an issue on the news lately)?

The interviewer wants to see the way you think, how you value yourself and how you perceive things. He or she also wants to test your level of curiosity, whether you are an "up-to-date" person or rather an "outdated" one. Make sure you are well-informed about the current news.

5. If you win a lottery of one million dollars, what would you do?

This is a tricky question, be careful not to get too enthusiastic. In interviews, this type of questions is asked to dig more into your personality. Colleges need a potential student that is able to balance future goals and practical approaches, so you need to give an answer that combines both of these aspects. Remember not to come up with an overly self-centered answer.  

More tips on how to ace your interviews:

• Practice and practice, but do not memorize a script. Be a natural conversationalist.

• Show interests by asking questions. It is important to make the interview lively and smooth to show the interviewer that you are looking forward to be admitted at the institution.

• Be yourself. This could be the most cliché tip of all, but it always works. Originality is an important point in an interview. It makes you stand out from the crowd.

• As part of our consulting services, ALL-in Eduspace provides practice interviews! Our consultant is experienced in doing university admission interviews. What else are you waiting for? Give us a nudge.