College admissions

[EmmasMom]

My daughter will soon be going on a college interview. Does anyone know where I can find some tips on how best to prepare her?

[Jeff-Upromise]

Check out the Preparing for Admissions Interviews article in our Resource Center.

http://www.upromise.com/member/resourceCenterArticle.do?aid=preparing-interviews

I'm sure you'll find it helpful.

[ivy_interviewer]

As someone who has interviewed hundreds of students for a top ivy league school, my best advice is for your child to be herself: let her enthusiasm and energy show through. She should be prepared to discuss her academic interests and articulate why they are important to her, how they might affect her future career choices, and any special achievements she has attained. She should also be able to discuss her extracurricular interests, and discuss why she chose them and how they have helped make her the unique person that she is. Interviewers are looking for genuine, candid interviews, not rehearsed packaged commercials! We look for a sense of humor, the ability to articulate complex ideas, accomplishment, passion, and in general, a person we would have like to have had as a classmate or roomate in college ourselves. Don't overprepare. And try to play down the importance of the interview-- they are rarely the deciding factor at our school, and should be a relaxed, humanizing experience for the student, not an anxious, high pressure hurdle for them to clear!

[beachbum]

Your advice is very helpful. I have a daughter who is looking at colleges too. Can you offer any essay writing advice? She is having a difficult time with this. She has changed topics three times. I imagine there are some valuable resources that can point her in a direction. Any you would recommend in particular?

[ivy_interviewer]

My advice for essays depends on the student. If she has done something extraordinary, write about that. If she is a talented writer, write about something with artistry and humor. If there is a topic about which she is passionate, choose that.

You have to remember that the poor admission officers read hundreds if not thousands of essays every year. Tell her how boring that job can be and ask her to write an essay that doesn't put the reader to sleep. They've heard almost everything. Something bright and alive is what they need to read. The topic is almost irrelevant!

Hope this helps...

[beachbum]

Absolutely, thank you!!