8 Essential Virtual College Interview Tips

The majority of colleges and universities (54.6%) surveyed by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) said that interviews have zero importance in the admissions process. Meanwhile, 32.4% said that it’s of limited importance only, while 8.6% said that it’s of moderate importance — only 4.3% consider interviews considerably important.

Usually, institutions that conduct interviews select students based on whether or not volunteer alumni members are nearby.

Sometimes, an interview is required for students applying to competitive programs.

Harvard University, Georgetown University, Grinnell College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are just some of the schools that interview college applicants virtually. Most colleges and universities that conduct online interviews are selective private ones — it’s rare for large public institutions to perform interviews.

Read on if you got invited by your top-choice school to a virtual alumni interview.

In this post, we will look at some tips on acing virtual college interviews. Whether or not considered by admissions officers in the review process, it’s always a good idea to make a positive impression on the college of your choosing.

Inspect Your Tech

There’s no denying that a virtual college interview is more convenient than an in-person college interview.

However, there are a lot of tech-related issues that can inconvenience you and your alumni interviewer during the session, some of which can be kept at bay by preparing for that important part of the college application process.

Of course, you will need to install the video conferencing platform that will be used for the virtual session. And if it’s something you have never used before, make sure that you watch video tutorials on how to use it. The software tool of choice is nothing without an internet connection — check that the one you have at home is stable.

Marks the Spot

An in-person interview with an alumni member takes place locally, particularly in a public space such as a restaurant, coffee shop, library and even the college applicant’s high school.

Meanwhile, a virtual college interview can take place anywhere in your home.

But look for a spot where it’s quiet and free of distractions — don’t forget to ask your family members to keep it down during the interview. Check that the lighting is good and that the background isn’t full of clutter. While it’s possible for your alumni interview to take place in a public area, too, you can be more in control of things in the privacy of your own abode.

Keep Practicing

The importance of practicing for your virtual college interview cannot be asserted enough!

Days before your online alumni interview, ask a family member or close friend to interview you via the video conferencing platform that both you and your actual interviewer have mutually agreed to use. Doing so allows you to have an experience that’s as close to the real deal as possible, thus alleviating some of the doubts and anxieties you may be having about it.

Besides, doing a mock interview online also allows you to familiarize yourself with the software tool just in case you are not that used to it as well as enable you to anticipate any problem that could take place during your online alumni interview.

You may also record the practice online interview and watch it to see if there are certain things to improve on. During the virtual college interview, though, it’s prohibited to record the session!

Also a part of practicing for the interview is anticipating which questions will be asked, such as:

• Could you tell me a little about yourself?
• What are your strengths?
• How about your weaknesses?
• Whom do you admire the most?
• Who is your personal hero?
• What have you liked or disliked about your high school?
• How do you define success?
• Why are you considering attending this college?
• What would you do in case you didn’t go to college this year?
• What extracurriculars do you hope to get involved in in college?
• What could you contribute to the college community?
• What is your favorite holiday and why?

Be Asked and Ask in Return

Contrary to popular belief, an alumni interview is not all about the college applicant being interviewed. It’s a two-way street — the high schooler is allowed and even encouraged to ask his or her interviewer some questions, too.

This is why it’s not just the questions that you may be asked that you should prepare for.

You should also prepare some questions to ask your alumni interviewer that have something to do with the college of your choosing as well as his or her experience with the institution.

Some examples of questions you may ask your interviewer include:

• Why did you choose to attend this college?
• Did you enter the institution decided or undecided?
• What were your favorite classes?
• How were your professors?
• How was your dorm life?
• How did the institution prepare you for your career?
• What sort of extracurricular activities did you participate in?

Dress to Impress

College applicants are usually advised to wear business casual attire for their in-person interviews. Well, you should follow suit even if your alumni interview is the online kind.

Business casual, simply put, is traditional business wear with a more relaxed style.

Although it’s true that the alumni member will only see the top half of your body, it’s a good idea to dress for the part from head to toe just in case you need to stand up anytime during the virtual interview to get something.

Go Online on Time – 3-5 minutes

College admissions officers are constantly looking for qualities associated with college readiness, and one of those is punctuality — a student who is always on time is more likely to reap success in his or her studies.

The general consensus is that you should log on to the web 2 to 3 minutes early for your virtual college interview.

Don’t be Plain — Explain

Unless you are specifically asked by your interviewer to answer a particular question using only one word, always elaborate on your answer. That’s because it’s not just your answers to the questions that the alumni member interviewer will take note of but also how you answer the questions that he or she throws your way.

Never wait for your interviewer to say something like “why is that?” or “would you like to elaborate on that?”

The goal of an alumni interview, whether online or on campus, is for the college of your choosing to obtain more info about you, and skimping on answers each time kind of defeats that.

Express Your Gratitude

Immediately after the alumni interview online, send a short and heartfelt thank-you note to your interviewer.

Needless to say, don’t forget to politely ask for his or her contact details right before the two of you bid each other farewell. But there’s really no need for this if your interviewer used his or her personal email to send you an invitation to participate in a virtual interview in the very beginning.

The best way to express your gratitude toward your interviewer is via email. Mention how much you appreciate his or her time and briefly reference something about the interview that has made the most impact on you.

Other Questions

How Will I Know If I Were Invited for a Virtual College Interview?

College applicants who are chosen to undergo a virtual admissions interview receive an invitation via email. Usually, the invitation is from an alumni member who has volunteered to conduct interviews on behalf of a college’s admissions officers. In the weeks after you have submitted your college application, remember to check your email spam folder regularly.

How Long Does an Online Alumni Interview Typically Last?

Whether conducted online or in person, a college alumni interview usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. How much time you will have to spend speaking with your designated alumni member interviewer will depend on factors such as how many questions the interviewer asks you as well as how many questions you ask your interviewer.