Many of you would probably prefer a 6-hour workout to a half-hour interview with a college recruiter. However, if you approach your college interviews like you would an important game or competition - with energy, practice, and staying power - you'll have greater confidence and better chances for success.There are three essential parts to preparing for an interview:
1. Setting your agenda in advance.
2. Practicing to avoid mistakes.
3. Avoiding pitfalls the day of the interview.Your agenda is your offensive strategy, the framework you'll use to answer questions. Decide in advance what you want to say, then put your main idea into one concise sentence. Remember that no matter what's asked, you have the ability to guide the interview.
The second part of your strategy is practice - but relax, you don't have to do it alone. Ask a teacher, parent, or fellow student who has been through the interview process to help you come up with a list of possible questions. By thinking about the kinds of questions an interviewer might ask, you're giving yourself the advantage. Next, plan answers for each question and practice them (either alone or with someone else). If you walk into an interview with a game plan, you'll feel confident - and you'll come across that way too!
The third part of your strategy occurs the day of the interview. It's your defense - avoiding the most common pitfalls. The biggest pitfall happens when you don't listen to the question. If you're distracted even for a second, you can end up giving an inappropriate answer. To help yourself give a great answer, ask yourself: "What's the meaning behind this question?" Not "What did they ask?" but "What did they mean?" This helps you to form a more insightful answer.
Pre-Interview Pointers
- Build your confidence by writing down your strongest assets. Write down your academic goals and your personal goals, and find a way to connect the two. A college interviewer wants to know that you'll be committed to the institution both athletically and academically. These lists will help you to focus and rehearse.
- Have a teacher, parent or friend help you stage a mock interview. This is especially useful if they have experience giving or being interviewed. Take these rehearsals seriously, and ask them to be constructively critical. If you don't have time for this, try it alone in front of a mirror. It may seem silly, but you'll feel more confident when you're walking in that door!
- Do your homework by researching the team, the institution, and the decision-makers (such as the Admissions Department and Athletic Department). Most of this information can easily be found on the Internet. You can find background information and check out previous media coverage in the form of official and unofficial Websites, chat groups, discussions forums, etc.
The Day of the Interview
In face-to-face communication, 93% of your effectiveness rests on how you look and sound, while only 7% of your credibility comes from your words. You have only seconds to make your first impression, so you appearance and dress are extremely important. People believe what they see more than anything else, so be sure to package yourself and your ideas in an attractive way.
Interviewers are interested in what you have to say, but they're also interested in how you say it. This includes your overall appearance, how you conduct yourself, your facial expressions, and your body language. Most people don't believe they can read minds, but they do believe they can read the tenseness in your body, or nervousness in your voice. Use the following pointers to control your appearance:
- Remember to speak slowly, confidently, and in a natural voice.
- The higher pitched your voice is, the more emotional you'll sound.
- Always speak in complete sentences, not fragments.
- Don't mumble, speak loudly and clearly enough to be easily heard.