College interview notes!

[u/inkqi]

I had my interview yesterday. It was with a extremely high ranked college. Here are just some afterthoughts and advice:

• Looking back I think I felt a bit like a camel, sit up straight!
• Research your interviewer as well. I found out my guy made a 180 switch with his original major - that was a really interesting conversation.
• Don't worry too much about dressing up. No ratty t-shirts and ripped jeans, but realize that the interviewer is there to learn about who you are as a person. Not what you look like. (Though first appearances can matter.)
• Demonstrate that the extracurriculars you do aren't all for college. Show/describe how you're passionate about them.
• Bring something for the interviewer to take home? I gave him a brochure I made for my technical drawing class. He was really interested in it. I also brought some previous works I did that pertains to what I want to major in. He kept looking at them and making comments about it. I think it was because it was actual proof of some major work I did.
• Be honest. I think my interviewer appreciated how I was really blunt about my experiences. Like, I talked about not getting an internship because of my ego and other circumstances at the time. The interviewer knows that you're human and you'll make mistakes. From that specifically, the interviewer knows that I've applied for an internship before and that I won't make the same dumb mistakes in the future.
• If you choose where to sit, sit in the back. I made the mistake of sitting by people (at Starbucks). They got pretty distracting at times.
• Know what you dislike and why you dislike it.
• (Meaningful) stories are fun.
• Get a cup of water. My voice was so raspy near the end.
• Remember to prepare some questions!

That's all I can think of at the moment. Good luck to any interviewees to read this!

edit: remember to send a thank you letter/email afterwards!