Admission to a university in another country requires the candidate to pass an interview with the admissions committee. How to ace the interview and what do you need to know to secure admission to the desired university? Learn the secrets of college admission.
I have been invited for an interview!
If you have received an invitation for an interview with the admissions committee, it means that you are seriously interested in the representatives of the university.
In this case, during the interview, you need to confirm their positive opinion of you and present yourself as well as possible. Of course, the interview stage is one of the most exciting, but you have to take charge and fully reveal your positive qualities in front of the commission.
Remember that there are the same people around you, behave calmly and confidently.
What an interview might look like
Previously, to pass the interview, the candidate had to appear in person at the admissions committee. But nowadays, with the development of technological progress, university interviews are most often conducted through remote means of communication, such as Skype or telephone.
In addition, when applying for a university, the candidate in many cases must write and submit a motivation letter. This letter is designed to explain why a person wants to study at a particular university, what they can bring to it, and also to express their enthusiasm for studying there.
The letter should be professionally written and include information about the candidate’s goals, accomplishments, and ambitions. If you’re looking for help writing your cover letter, there are plenty of websites available. You can consult Paper for Me reviews to see if this service is right for you by providing expert assistance in creating a successful cover letter.
Objective of the interview
First, the university interviews applicants to determine their level of intelligence, ability to control themselves, and resistance to stress.
It is important to know that the student will be able to cope with a difficult workload and adapt quickly to another country. During the interview, university representatives should understand about you:
1. Your intelligence levels. Whether you will be able to successfully master the study program, whether you can cope with the academic loads of the chosen study program.
2. Competitiveness. Committee members will assess whether you can compete with other applicants.
3. Your priorities. Often a candidate applies to several schools at once. In this case, the admissions committee will ask you which university is your priority.
4. Will you be able to contribute to the development of the university? It is very important for any foreign university that its students actively participate in the life of the university and make their own contributions to the development of the institution.
Think about your answers to questions on this topic in advance. How you can be useful to the university and what you are ready to contribute to the development of the university.
5. Potential. During the interview, members of the admissions committee should assess your potential for the future. Will you study well in the future and not lose interest in your chosen profession? What are your motivations to succeed in your studies?
Questions you will be asked
When preparing for an interview with the admissions committee, prepare answers to the most common questions and answer honestly, without exaggeration or lies. It is not necessary to use enthusiastic epithets and flowery phrases. Your answers should be concise, clear and frank.
The most common questions are:
Questions about the program and university you have chosen
- Why did you choose this particular university and this particular program?
- Why did you choose this specialty and what do you want to achieve by obtaining it?
- How did you prepare for your admission to this program?
- What additional activities interest you during your studies?
- What contribution can you make to the development of the university?
These questions are very important for the representatives of the university. Based on your answers, the committee will decide if you are ready for successful study in your chosen program.
The committee will also determine the degree of your responsibility to the profession you have chosen. You must convince the committee that you are fully aware of your choice and the specialty that really interests you.
Questions about your future career and future plans
1. What will be your actions if you are denied admission to this university?
2. Where else did you apply?
3. How do you plan to start your career after graduation?
4. What do you expect to accomplish 4-5 years after graduation?
5. What goals in life have you already achieved and what efforts did you have to make to achieve these goals?
When answering these questions, you should not just say that you want to get a degree to work in a certain position. You must detail your actions after obtaining your baccalaureate.
The admissions committee must understand that you have serious plans for career development and that you are ready to pursue your higher education to achieve your goals.
Questions about your personal qualities
- Where are you strong and where are you weak?
- What are your hobbies?
- Have you been through difficult situations in your life and how did you get out of them?
- Have you participated in various programs and projects? What was your role?
- What personal accomplishments can you highlight?
When answering these questions, you must be very honest. Do not invent and invent non-existent hobbies or achievements. Otherwise, the following questions may put you in a bind, and the members of the commission will realize that you are not entirely honest.
In fact, this group of questions is the most difficult for many people. However, you must learn to properly assess yourself and your abilities.
Questions you should ask
Often, at the last stage of the interview, representatives of the university offer to ask their questions to the candidate. In order to leave a good opinion of the representatives of the university about yourself, you should think in advance about what it will be useful for you to ask them.
Questions should be written and clear. Try to prepare questions about the information that will be useful to you.
Sample questions:
- Can I gain hands-on experience while studying in my chosen program?
- Is there a possibility of getting a job at the university?
- Can I get a loan for my studies?
- What type of research is currently being carried out at the university?
- Will I be able to take part in the scientific activities of the university?
Your questions should indicate that you intend to integrate fully into the university community and participate fully in student research activities.
You must also show that you are ready to work and do internships during your studies to become a completely independent and autonomous student.
How to prepare for an interview with the admissions committee
Your attitude is very important for a successful interview. Try not to think that they want to accuse you of lying or ask sensitive questions to prevent your admission to college.
On the contrary, think about the fact that representatives of the university are sincerely interested in your application because you have already received an invitation to an interview.
Remember that the university needs you as much as you need it. If you show your enthusiasm and infect the committee members with friendliness and positivity, consider that the place is already reserved for you.
If you are worried about successfully completing your studies at your dream university, you can always ask for help at do your homework for me. The online service provides qualified assistance for any type of assignment, including admissions essays, research papers, and presentations.
If you are unsure and nervous before the interview, repeat it. Ask your friends to play the role of a representative of the university, pass the interview with your friend several times, gain confidenceand go ahead – to conquer the admissions committee.
It should be noted that if the interview is conducted on Skype with video, attention should be paid to your appearance. You should look neat but without excessive shine. Your clothes should be clean and ironed. It is not necessary to wear a strict office suit, but you should dress modestly and tastefully.