College interview questions

[linnylu]

My DS has his first college interview on Friday. His HS guidance counselor gave him a list of questions that he may be asked so he has been looking those over. He is also suppose to come up with 3-5 questions that he (DS) needs to ask the interviewer. He is having a tough time coming up with these. He has visited the school, attended a day specifically for the major he is considering, met the rep from the college who came to his HS, etc. He feels that all of his questions have been answered and this is the school for him. I still think he should have questions. Any ideas?

 

[js]

My DS has his first college interview on Friday. His HS guidance counselor gave him a list of questions that he may be asked so he has been looking those over. He is also suppose to come up with 3-5 questions that he (DS) needs to ask the interviewer. He is having a tough time coming up with these. He has visited the school, attended a day specifically for the major he is considering, met the rep from the college who came to his HS, etc. He feels that all of his questions have been answered and this is the school for him. I still think he should have questions. Any ideas?

I'll be anxiously awaiting your responses. My dd is a Junior. We did the open houses in Summer and Fall and will be going back for interviews late Spring/early summer. I would love to know the questions your ds's counselor gave to him and what he is to ask, even if it just a few to start thinking about.
We have a college meeting next month and I am sure we will begin getting more information but would love a start. Is your son a junior or senior?
I believe all Senior applications have to be in by this week, is that correct?
Good luck!

 

[LadyZolt]

He can ask things like:

"What ratio of freshman go on to graduate from this university?"

"What percentage of freshman live in the dorms?"

"Does this university have 'community' options for students who choose to live on campus? For example, all of the business majors live in the same building and often will be enrolled in the same introductory classes so that they will have a sense of belonging to a community, which then decreases the odds that they will drop out."

"Do the professors in <field of choice> have many Graduate Assistants or Teaching Assistants grading their exams, or do they prefer to grade them personally?"

"I am pretty certain I want to major in <field>, but if I do change my mind, how difficult is it to change from one field to another?"

"Does the university have a job placement person who can help me with finding summer internships in my field?"

"Can you tell me about your work-study program?"

Hope this helps and I wish you son the best in his continuing education goals!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[LukenDC]

I interviewed applicants to my alma mater for several years. Your son should not ask questions that could be easily answered by reading the college web page or viewbook. Unprepared applicants or applicants lacking basic knowledge about the school are always a red flag.

Good questions to ask:

• What did you like most about your college experience?
• Are the professors as accessible (or inaccessible) as people claim?
• How do most students spend their weekends?
• Describe what it was like living in (college's city).
• Describe the quality of advising for pre-professional and grad school programs.

Assuming that the interviewer is an alum, your son should not hesitate to ask questions about the interviewer's experiences and memories of college life.

 

[Jestocost]

The questions aren't so much about your DS getting more information about the school as they are an opportunity to demonstrate his intellect from a different perspective. I would ask things like:

What kind of students are most successful here?
What would you say are the three things that make this school different than others I may be considering?
What other schools do students who come to this school consider before makeing their decision to go here?

 

[Mary•Poppins]

He can ask things like:

"What ratio of freshman go on to graduate from this university?"I just finished reading a book where this is a great question to ask. It can let you know in a subtle way how many students can afford the college after their freshman year. According to this book, many colleges will offer their freshmas great financial deals ... but not at the student continues in the school, hence, many have to transfer.

"What percentage of freshman live in the dorms?"

"Does this university have 'community' options for students who choose to live on campus? For example, all of the business majors live in the same building and often will be enrolled in the same introductory classes so that they will have a sense of belonging to a community, which then decreases the odds that they will drop out."

"Do the professors in <field of choice> have many Graduate Assistants or Teaching Assistants grading their exams, or do they prefer to grade them personally?"

"I am pretty certain I want to major in <field>, but if I do change my mind, how difficult is it to change from one field to another?"

"Does the university have a job placement person who can help me with finding summer internships in my field?"

"Can you tell me about your work-study program?"

Hope this helps and I wish you son the best in his continuing education goals!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

Another question I thought was:

"How does your college assist with job placement when seniors are about to graduate?" (ie. job fairs, resume writing assistance, etc.)

I have a junior this year ... so I will also be looking at this thread. Hope this helps.

 

[Bob NC]

Is there a discount on tuition if I already know everything?

 

[AKL_Megs]

What special events do I have to look forward to at this campus on my downtime, or when family comes to visit?

 

[libraryfreak]

I saw this the other day:

http://blogs.oberlin.edu/applying/applying/a_visitors_3.shtml

I thought it gave good advice.

 

[libraryfreak]

I posted this awhile ago, maybe some of the questions would be useful:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2596811

 

[linnylu]

Some good questions so far- thank you. This is for a spot in a medical school class. The interviewers are 3 members of the faculty. There are about 900 applicants and under 200 spots.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Is there a discount on tuition if I already know everything?

Well ... since my teenagers really "know everything", I should have colleges banging on my doors!!

 

[Buckeye Princess]

As a PP mentioned, the questions are as much about showing off your son as they are about him gaining information. He should ask questions that pertain specifically to this school. Does he know what type of medicine he wants to pursue? He can ask questions about the programs focus on those areas of medicine. If he can say something like, " I am interested in orthopedics and know that your institution recently published an article on XXXXX/ or has increased funding for YYYYYY. And then ask a question about the research or what the increased funding might do for the medical students. Does he know who exactly will be interviewing him? DH is graduating from med school this year and is currently interviewing for residencies. He researches the attending physicians who could interviewing him before going that way he can ask them specific questions about their personal research. What med school is your son applying to? Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions. I can always bounce them off of DH for you.

 

[libraryfreak]

Some good questions so far- thank you. This is for a spot in a medical school class. The interviewers are 3 members of the faculty. There are about 900 applicants and under 200 spots.

Ohhh... medical school. Thats a whole different ballgame isn't it? From what I hear it's very tough to get in. Does his/her undergrad institute offer services for this? I'd talk to profs, they could be very helpful. How about a discussion forum specifically for medical school admissions?

 

[trip]

My DS has his first college interview on Friday. His HS guidance counselor gave him a list of questions that he may be asked so he has been looking those over.

Some good questions so far- thank you. This is for a spot in a medical school class. The interviewers are 3 members of the faculty. There are about 900 applicants and under 200 spots.

I guess we/I am a little confused. His HS guidance counselor is helping him prep for a Med School interview? Wouldn't his undergraduate university be helpful?

It's great if he is getting help from the guidance counselor.

 

[js]

My dd wants to be an othodontist but she still has to go to undergraduate school first. What kind of schools are your son applying to? He is in HS correct?

He can ask things like:

"What ratio of freshman go on to graduate from this university?"

"What percentage of freshman live in the dorms?"

"Does this university have 'community' options for students who choose to live on campus? For example, all of the business majors live in the same building and often will be enrolled in the same introductory classes so that they will have a sense of belonging to a community, which then decreases the odds that they will drop out."

"Do the professors in <field of choice> have many Graduate Assistants or Teaching Assistants grading their exams, or do they prefer to grade them personally?"

"I am pretty certain I want to major in <field>, but if I do change my mind, how difficult is it to change from one field to another?"

"Does the university have a job placement person who can help me with finding summer internships in my field?"

"Can you tell me about your work-study program?"

Hope this helps and I wish you son the best in his continuing education goals!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

Thanks Dorothy. But, I can tell you, sitting through an admissions presentation for 60 minutes or so during an open house usually has all these questions answered. I would be a little worried that the admissions person would wonder if we bothered to sit through the talk.

I interviewed applicants to my alma mater for several years. Your son should not ask questions that could be easily answered by reading the college web page or viewbook. Unprepared applicants or applicants lacking basic knowledge about the school are always a red flag.

Good questions to ask:

• What did you like most about your college experience?
• Are the professors as accessible (or inaccessible) as people claim?
• How do most students spend their weekends?
• Describe what it was like living in (college's city).
• Describe the quality of advising for pre-professional and grad school programs.

Assuming that the interviewer is an alum, your son should not hesitate to ask questions about the interviewer's experiences and memories of college life.

Love these questions. Love, about the professors, weekends and my dd can expend on the advising since she will need to be in a pre-professional program. Thank you.

Is there a discount on tuition if I already know everything?

Bob, LOVE THIS! I would LOVE my dd, at the end of her interview, to ask this question for a little insight about her personality but I don't think she would have the nerve, I think it actually would be great for a teen to ask this and laugh as they asked if everything was running smoothly.

 

[Best Aunt]

I interview local high school students who have applied to my alma mater. LukenDC gives great advice about alumni interviews. (I seem to recall from prior posts that he went to an excellent school.) Alums interview because they love their school. Ask them specific questions about their experience at the school, and you buy yourself a few minutes to sit back, relax, and let them talk about something that made them happy.

Alums do not have answers to the type of detailed questions in LadyZolt's post. If you're not being interviewed by a school employee, don't get that specific.

I always (100% of the time) end the interview by asking if the student has any questions for me. If the student doesn't have any questions, I assume that he/she isn't really interested in my school and didn't bother to learn enough about it to ask questions. Have several questions in mind, because we may have covered some of them during the course of the interview. But don't write them down. If you pull out a piece of paper, it seems like (a) you can't remember a simple list, and (b) you think you're such a hotshot that you'll get in wherever you like, and you're interviewing me.

I assumed this

Is there a discount on tuition if I already know everything?

was a joke, but some posters seem to think it's a good idea. It's not. The interviewer is taking the interview seriously. You should do the same.

 

[js]

I assumed this

was a joke, but some posters seem to think it's a good idea. It's not. The interviewer is taking the interview seriously. You should do the same.

Noted, about asking about discount if you know everything.
I work for the Provost in a Private College and we both thought that was very funny. I will not have my dd ask that kind of question LOL

Let me ask those that interview for their AMs, do you think you are more critical than the admissions person for your state?
The schools my dd are looking at and really liked are mostly in PA and one in DE (at CT school will be her safety school as well as the one I work for but she will still interview at the CT school). We don't mind taking more rides there this late spring/early summer for interviews but I wonder if it makes a difference where/whom you interview with.
We live about 2-2.5 hours away from each school in PA and DE, CT a little farther so I guess the location is not a deterent for her to interview at the school.

Thank you all again.

 

[honugirl]

Well color me confused... if it's for med school, why is a HS guidance counselor giving tips? The undergrad uni should be doing that. They tend to have pre-med advisors/clubs that help with this kind of things. If he's still in HS, med school is a LONG time down the road, like at least 4-5 years.

I would probably ask what types of tutoring/assistance are available for students? Do the profs have tutoring hours? I know at my school (community college) I'm extremely spoiled in that my profs actually have "office hours" in the tutoring lab so you can get expert help, not just a grad student. What is the computer lab to student ratio? Inevitably, even if you have your own computer, things happen and usually during finals week... so you want to be sure that even during that time, computers are accessible and available. What percentage of my classes will be based online or have online components? If you're not a self starter, a program with a large percentage of online classes can spell disaster. If it's for pre-med, asking what type of connections they have for undergrad summer research opportunities?

If it's for med school asking what percentage of students graduate and get into their top choices for residency?

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

There are some schools who have 7 or 8 year medical programs. They are accepted as college freshmen but they can continue on at the same school (not needing to apply for an PhD and/or MD program) and obtain a PhD and/or MD.