Everyone’s a little nervous about being interviewed for acceptance into the college/university of their dreams. Once you feel confident that your resume is up-to-date, your skills are well articulated, your interview look is professional and confident, and you’ve done your homework on the school, you should be ready to step into that interview as prepared as anyone. After the interview process, sit back and do a little debriefing. By jotting down some quick notes, feelings, and observations, you can better prepare yourself for future interview situations, and even help peers prepare for their own interview experience.
Depending on the school, the interview process may have been very casual, or very formal. In your own words, jot down answers to the following questions, adding any additional thoughts or observations as you go:
- Were there several people on the interview panel?
- What was the most difficult question they asked you?
- What was the atmosphere like?
- Did you feel valued as an applicant?
- Were you rushed or was there plenty of time to answer questions?
- Did you feel prepared?
- What were your first impressions of the interview panel?
- Did anything about the interview change your mind about the school? If so, what was it?
These are just a few questions to ask yourself after the interview is over. While most people are just relieved it’s over, it’s important to reflect on the experience to prepare yourself for future interviews, and to provide valuable feedback to other potential students.
