BRITTANY MASCHAL CONSULTING

Alumni Interviews

By BMC BloggerOct 25, 2023

Alumni interview season is here!

For many students, college admissions interviews are fear-inducing. Although there is some decent prep material online, you can often go right to the source for clarity on what the process entails. There is no reason to fear your alumni interview because many schools have their protocols and the guidance/instructions they give your interviewer available for you to review online—including possible interview questions.

You do not need to spend hours preparing answers to hundreds of questions to prepare for alumni or any other college admissions interview thoroughly. Canned responses sound unnatural. In my experience, taking the less stressful approach bodes well for students: they do not waste hours preparing, which can detract from other important tasks (homework, community engagement, application essays, sleep), and because they have not overprepared, they will sound far more natural and “themselves”—a goal for the IV process.

Remember, so much of a college admissions interview (and this entire process!) is about likeability—rehashing your resume word-for-word does not make you likable, but being able to hold a conversation and do so with ease does! You’ll find some alumni IV resources below:

You can find a general list of potential interview questions in older posts, but contact us if you want individualized help preparing for your college interviews—alumni or otherwise—or want access to additional materials. We’ve helped hundreds of students ace their interviews and gain acceptance to their first-choice colleges and universities—don’t miss an opportunity to shine live!

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College Admissions Interviews

By Brittany MaschalAug 24, 2023

General interview prep questions below!

High School Experience

Tell me a little bit about your high school.
Tell me about the courses you are taking currently.
Tell me about your favorite class(es) you have taken. Why favorite(s)?
Which class has been your least favorite? Why?
Which classes have been the most difficult (or most challenging)?
What subjects do you plan on studying at [school name]?
What activities and/or classes have you taken part in related to that field?
What does your dream career look like, what is your dream job?

Extracurricular Activities

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
What do you like to do for fun?
When you’re not in class, studying, or doing homework, what do you do with your time (organized activities or things for fun)?
How did you get involved/started with ____ activity?
What activity is the most meaningful to you and why?
What extracurricular activities do you hope to be involved with in college?
How have you spent your high school summers?

University Specific

What type of environment are you looking for in a college/university?
How did you become interested in [school]?
What do you find most appealing about [school]?
Why do you think you [school] might be the right fit for you?
Do you know any students at [school]?
If you had an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee anything about yourself, what would it be? Why?
What would you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that may not come across on your application?
If I were to ask you to think back in three months to your visit to [school], what would be the first thing to pop into your head?
What have you learned about [school] that seems unusual or surprising?

Miscellaneous

If you got up and your best friend sat down, how would they describe you?
How would your teachers describe you?
If you had a year to do anything you wanted, what would it be and why?
What books are you currently reading? Or what have you read recently for school?
What has been a controversial issue at your school? What was your reaction, and how did you get involved?
Where have you made the biggest impact at your school or in your local community?
Where is your favorite place you have ever been? Why? Where would you like to go (if money and time were no object)?
Would you and where would you like to study abroad? Why?
What do you think is the most pressing issue of our time? Why?
What is your favorite book and why?
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you wanted to talk about?

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College Admissions Interview Season!

By BMC BloggerNov 01, 2022

For many students, college admissions interviews are fear-inducing. The good news is, you are already an expert on you, so all you need to learn is a little bit about the school and how to channel nerves into excitement.

Hear us out: You do not need to spend hours preparing answers to hundreds of questions to thoroughly prepare for alumni or any other college admissions interview. Canned responses sound terrible anyway.

Remember, so much of college admissions (especially the interview) is about likeability—rehashing your resume word-for-word or sounding like a robot does not make you likable—but being able to hold a simple, genuine conversation does.

Practice with a parent or friend, or practice for 30 minutes with us! Never go to an interview unprepared! Learning how to interview is a skill for life, not just for the college process. Email us if you are interested in a short mock interview session.

Below, you will find some common interview questions.

High School Experience

Tell me a little bit about your high school experience and the courses you are taking currently
Which class has been your least favorite? Why?
Tell me about your favorite class(s) you have taken. Why was it your favorite?
Which classes have been the most difficult (or most challenging)?
What subjects do you plan on studying at [school]?
How have you pursued this interest in school and outside of school?

Extracurricular Activities

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
When you’re not in class, studying, or doing homework, what do you do with your time (organized activities or things for fun)?
How did you get involved/started with ____ activity?
Which activity is the most meaningful to you, and which one is the most fun?
What extracurricular activities do you hope to continue in college?
If you could only continue taking part in one EC, which one would it be and why?

College Expectations

What type of environment are you looking for in a college/university?
Have you visited [insert college name]? What did you learn?
What matters most to you in a college setting?

School Specific

How did you become interested in [school]?
What do you find appealing about [school]?
Why do you think you [school] might be the right fit for you?
Do you know any students at [school]? Have you reached out to them to learn more about [school]?
If you had an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee anything about yourself, what would it be? What would you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that may not come across on your application?
What have you learned about [school] that seems unusual or surprising?

Miscellaneous

How have you spent your high school summers?
How would your best friend describe you?
How would your teachers describe you?
If you had a year to do anything you want, what would it be and why?
What are you currently reading?
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you wanted to discuss?

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Advice, Alumni Interview, College Application, College Interview, Demonstrated Interest, High School, Interviews, Ivy League Admissions, Newsalumni interview, college admissions interview, college interview, college interview questions, interview prep, interviewing skills

Preparing for Interviews? Prep With Us Online!

By Brittany MaschalJun 11, 2020

College admissions interviews are a way to demonstrate interest, learn more about the school, and help the school learn more about you.

Colleges are now offering interviews online via various platforms. We are offering interview prep sessions via Zoom and Google Meet this summer and fall. Here’s a sampling of schools offering online interviews:

Babson
Bowdoin
Claremont McKenna
Dickinson
Grinnell
Hamilton
Haverford
Holy Cross
Lafayette
Providence College
Rochester
Skidmore
William & Mary

Some schools with informal online offerings:

Pomona (Zoom session with an AdCom to ask questions)
Richmond (Zoom session with an AdCom to ask questions)

Practice with a parent or friend, or practice with us! Never go to an interview unprepared! Learning how to interview if a skill for life, not just for the college process. Email us if you are interested in learning how to ace your online interview.

Below, you will find some common interview questions.

High School Experience

Tell me a little bit about your high school experience and the courses you are taking currently
Which class has been your least favorite? Why?
Tell me about your favorite class(s) you have taken. Why was it your favorite?
Which classes have been the most difficult (or most challenging)?
What subjects do you plan on studying at [school]?
How have you pursued this interest in school, and outside of school?
What is your dream job?

Extracurricular Activities

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
When you’re not in class, studying, or doing homework, what do you do with your time (organized activities or things for fun)?
How did you get involved/started with ____ activity?
Which activity is the most meaningful to you, and which one is the most fun?
What extracurricular activities do you hope to continue in college?
If you could only continue taking part in one EC, which one would it be and why?

College Expectations

What type of environment are you looking for in a college/university?
What matters most to you in a college setting?

School Specific

How did you become interested in [school]?
What do you find appealing about [school]?
Why do you think you [school] might be the right fit for you?
Do you know any students at [school]? Have you reached out to them to learn more about [school]?
If you had an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee anything about yourself, what would it be? What would you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that may not come across on your application?
What have you learned about [school] that seems unusual or surprising?

Miscellaneous

How have you spent your high school summers?
How would your best friend describe you?
How would your teachers describe you?
If you had a year to do anything you want, what would it be and why?
What are you currently reading?
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you wanted to discuss?

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Advice, College Application, College Interview, Interviews, News, Summer, Tutorialcollege admissions interview, college interview, interview skills, life skills, online college interview, online interview prep, prepare for college interviews, virtual college interview, virtual interview for college, Zoom interview prep

College Admissions Interviews: Alumni Interview Protocols

By Brittany MaschalSep 26, 2019

Alumni interview season is upon us, so I wanted to get a post up for seniors looking to get a sense of what’s in store for 2019-2020.

For many students, college admissions interviews are fear-inducing. And though there is some decent prep material online, you can often go right to the source for clarity on what the process entails. There is no reason to fear your alumni interview because many schools have their protocols and the guidance/instructions they give your interviewer available for you to review online—including possible interview questions.

Knowing the questions you might be asked is one thing but thoroughly preparing is another completely. You do not need to spend hours preparing answers to hundreds of questions to thoroughly prepare for alumni or any other college admissions interview. Canned responses sound unnatural. In my experience, taking the less stressful approach bodes well for students: they do not waste hours preparing, which can detract from other important tasks (homework, community engagement, writing admissions essays) and because they have not overprepared, they will sound far more natural and “themselves” therefore win over an interviewer.

Remember, so much of a college admissions interview (and this entire process!) is about likeability—rehashing your resume word-for-word does not make you likable, but being able to hold a conversation and do so with ease does! Getting to the point of doing so with ease is the hardest part for high school students (who have not interviewed all that much, typically), but over-preparing won’t help. Resist the urge.

Below, I’ve compiled a few of the alumni interview links for some popular, selective schools. Take some time to read over the information provided, but do not obsess over it.

You can find a general list of potential interview questions in one of my older posts, but contact us if you want individualized help preparing for your college interviews—alumni or otherwise—or want access to additional materials. We’ve helped hundreds of students ace their interviews and gain acceptance to their first-choice colleges and universities—don’t miss an opportunity to shine in person!

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Advice, College Application, Interviews, Newsace the college interview, admissions interview, alumni interviews, applying to college, college, college admissions, college interview, college interview prep

Prepare Now for College Admissions Interviews

By Brittany MaschalAug 29, 2019

Not all colleges require interviews. In fact, many don’t offer them. At schools that do, they are not always evaluative or even considered in the admissions process. That said, we still suggest you interview if you can. Why? It is a way to demonstrate interest, learn more about the school, and help the school learn more about you. Seems like a no brainer!

Below, you will find some common interview questions. Practice with a parent, or a friend, or with us!. Never go to an interview (even those that are not evaluative) unprepared!

High School Experience

Tell me a little bit about your high school.
Tell me about the courses you are taking currently.
Tell me about your favorite class(s) you have taken. Why was it your favorite?
Which class has been your least favorite? Why?
Which classes have been the most difficult (or most challenging)?
What subjects do you plan on studying at [school]?
How have you pursued this interest in school, and outside of school?
What is your dream job?

Extracurricular Activities

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?
When you’re not in class, studying, or doing homework, what do you do with your time (organized activities or things for fun)?
How did you get involved/started with ____ activity?
Which activity is the most meaningful to you, and which one is the most fun?
What extracurricular activities do you hope to continue in college?
If you could only continue taking part in one EC, which one would it be and why?

College Expectations

What type of environment are you looking for in a college/university?
What matters most to you in a college setting?

School Specific

How did you become interested in [school]?
What do you find appealing about [school]?
Why do you think you [school] might be the right fit for you?
Do you know any students at [school]? Have you reached out to them to learn more about [school]?
If you had an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee anything about yourself, what would it be? What would you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that may not come across on your application?
What have you learned about [school] that seems unusual or surprising?

Miscellaneous

Apart from looking at colleges, how have you spent your high school summers?
How would your best friend describe you?
How would your teachers describe you?
If you had a year to do anything you want, what would it be and why?
What are you currently reading?
Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you wanted to discuss?

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Academic Resources, Advice, Alumni Interview, College Application, Common Application, Demonstrated Interest, Interviews, Newsadmissions interviews, college admissions interview, college counseling, college interview, college interview prep, common college interview questions, preparing for college

Insights on Preparing for Alumni Interviews

By Brittany MaschalFeb 11, 2019

Alumni interview season is coming to an end, so I wanted to get a post up for high school juniors looking to get a sense of what’s in store for 2019.

For many students, college admissions interviews are fear-inducing. And though there is some decent prep material online, you can go right to the source for clarity on what the process entails. There really should be no reason to fear your alumni interview because many schools have their protocols and the guidance/instructions they give your interviewer available for you to review online—including possible interview questions.

Knowing the questions you might be asked is one thing but thoroughly preparing is another completely. You do not need to spend hours preparing answers to hundreds of questions to thoroughly prepare for alumni or any other college admissions interview. Canned responses sound unnatural and can be a give away that you were nervous (understandable given the hype around these things) and as a result, over-prepared. In my experience, taking the less stressful approach bodes well for students: they do not waste hours preparing, which can detract from other important tasks (homework, community engagement, Spotify) and because they have not overprepared, they will more naturally which tends to win over an interviewer.

Remember, so much of a college admissions interview (and this entire process!) is about likeability—rehashing your resume word-for-word does not make you likable, but being able to hold a conversation and do so with ease does! Getting to the point of doing so with ease is the hardest part for high school students (who have not interviewed all that much, typically), but over-preparing won’t help. Resist the urge.

Below, I’ve compiled a few of the alumni interview links for some popular, selective schools. Take some time to read over the information provided, but do not obsess over it.

You can find a general list of potential interview questions in one of my older posts, but contact us if you want individualized help preparing for your college interviews—alumni or otherwise—or want access to additional materials. We’ve helped hundreds of students ace their interviews and gain acceptance to their first-choice colleges and univesities—don’t miss an opportunity to shine in person!

*Stay in the know! Subscribe for news, tips, and advice*

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College Interviews and Interview Prep

By Brittany MaschalNov 27, 2017

Not all colleges require interviews. In fact, many don’t offer them. At schools that do, they are not always evaluative or even considered in the admissions process. That being said, I still suggest you interview if you can. Why? It is a way to demonstrate interest, learn more about the school, and help the school learn more about you. Sounds worth it to me! If you can’t, don’t worry about it.

College Kickstart compiled some helpful interview data regarding colleges that require or strongly recommend interviews, and how that interview is used (or not used) in the admissions process. Head over to their website to check it out!

Below, you will find some common interview questions. Practice with a parent or friend. Never go to an interview (even those that are not evaluative) unprepared!

High School Experience

Tell me a little bit about your high school.
Tell me about the courses you are taking currently.
Tell me about your favorite class(s) you have taken. Why was it your favorite?
Which class has been your least favorite? Why?
Which classes have been the most difficult (or most challenging)?
What subjects do you plan on studying at [school]?
What activities and/or classes have you taken related to that field?
What is your dream job?

Extracurricular Activities

What extra-curricular activities are you involved with? What do you like to do for fun (outside of the classroom)?
When you’re not in class, studying, or doing homework, what do you do with your time (organized activities or things for fun)?
How did you get involved/started with ____ activity?
What activity is the most meaningful to you, and what is just the most fun?
What extra-curricular activities do you hope to be involved with in college?

College Expectations

What type of environment are you looking for in a college/university?
To what other colleges/universities are you applying?
How is the admissions process going for you?

University Specific

How did you become interested in [school]?
What do you find appealing about [school]?
Why do you think you [school] might be the right fit for you?
Do you know any students at [school]? Have you reached out to them to learn more about [school]?
If you had an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee anything about yourself, what would it be? What would you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that may not come across on your application?
What have you learned about [school] that seems unusual or surprising?

Miscellaneous

Is there anything we haven’t talked about that you wanted to discuss?
Apart from looking at colleges, how have you spent your high school summers?
How would your best friend describe you?
How would your teachers describe you?
If you had a year to do anything you want, what would it be and why?

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Don’t Miss the Opportunity to Interview

By Brittany MaschalSep 27, 2017

Not all colleges require interviews. In fact, many do not even offer them. At schools that do, they are not always evaluative or even considered in the admissions process. That being said, I still suggest you interview. Why? It is a way to demonstrate interest, learn more about the school, and help the school learn more about you. Sounds worth it to me!

College Kickstart compiled some helpful interview data regarding colleges that require or strongly recommend interviews, and how that interview is used (or not used) in the admissions process. Head on over to their website to check it out!

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Newscollege, college applications, college interview, College Kickstart, demonstrated interest

Brown alumni interview gone wrong…

By Brittany MaschalFeb 26, 2016

From the Brown Herald:

A YouTube video in which high school senior Matt Sarafa claims that his Brown alumni interviewer used racist and homophobic language during his interview has gone viral. Sarafa said that during his alumni interview in Southern California, the alum told him Brown was “not very accepting of your kind,” implying that Brown students would discriminate against him because he is gay. Sarafa said that Leora Johnson ’01, assistant director of alumni interviewing and admission, told him in a phone call that the alum had admitted to using homophobic and racist language but that there wasn’t enough evidence to remove him as an interviewer. Sarafa withdrew his application to the Class of 2020 following his experience.

Not a good move Brown!

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