#collegeinterview

Hey, disclaimer popping in now lol. I wrote this on the 24th of October and forgot to post it so just cast your mind back a while.

Yup. It’s that time of the year. I applied to my first college. I got an interview. Let me run through it!

So for starters, I had to go in my school uniform because I wouldn’t make it in time if I went home to change (spoiler: I was totally off, you’ll find out in a second)

Nayak - College ka Nayak - Full On Entertianment

When I was applying to college, I would often get frustrated filling out the various applications. Sure, I could type in numbers and list out honors and awards, but how was I supposed to show admissions officers the real me? I was more than just SAT scores and class rank; in what way could I relay my passions and interests? An essay can only get you so far!

Luckily, Duke understands these concerns. And admissions officers really do want to know the person behind the application, which is why Duke offers the opportunity for many students to have alumni interviews. Duke cares about you as a person and they want to get to know you- take advantage of this opportunity! Through offering interviews with alumni, Duke admissions officers are able to add a new perspective to your application.

I remember my interview; it wasn’t too long ago. I had the chance to sit down with a Duke alum from my area who told me about her time as a Duke student. I learned she met her husband at Duke and, for the first time, I got a taste of what the Duke experience really was all about. I was able to tell her the story behind why I chose certain classes, why my favorite novel was Let the Great World Spin and how much I loved Maya Angelou and thought Duke was the coolest for having her speak to the freshman class every year. The interview started off with her explaining the process and then moving into direct questions, but soon enough the interview evolved into more of a conversation.

After reflecting back on my own interview process, I’ve come up with a few tips for prospective students out there (especially those who just applied ED (early decision) and are scheduling interviews now). If you have any questions, feel free to comment below or send me an email- I’d be happy to answer them or direct you to someone who can.

Before the Interview

Be honest and upfront before, during, and after your interview. Make sure your interview is scheduled for a time you can 100% make rather than saying yes immediately and having to change the time later. Be flexible.

If possible, organize a practice interview with your high school counselor, parents, siblings, or friends. Make sure you articulate basic things out loud before so you won’t stumble during the interview. If you have other interviews and you are serious about Duke, consider setting them up before so you can use them as practice. Luckily, I had interviewed with another university a few months earlier, so I was familiar with the college ADMISSIONS interview process. I also wrote out a few key things beforehand in order to get my thoughts flowing- it was easier for me to articulate certain answers after I had seen my thoughts in black and white.

Reflect on why Duke. Don’t let this throw you off, have a clear and interesting answer to give; but also make it genuine (rather than what you think they want to hear). Don’t limit yourself to simply scanning the admissions website for the best sounding blurb. They want to know why YOU want to attend Duke. Alumni know it has great academics and athletics- they’ve been there! Expand on these things and talk about what else draws you to Duke. For example, I talked about how I felt Duke was the perfect size- big enough to constantly be meeting new people, but small enough and to where I felt like I could develop relationships with a range of classmates, professors, and faculty. I also talked about the diversity Duke offers and the opportunities to get a global education through study abroad programs and community-based research and service.

Prepare and bring a resume. Most interviewers will want to focus more on learning about you rather than what’s on your resume, but it’s a good to have one just in case.  My interviewer didn’t ask to see mine; in fact, she saw that I had brought one and was quick to let me know she was excited to get to know the stories behind the resume and that she trusted that I was an excellent student if I was pursuing admission into Duke.

Don’t be late. There’s always the chance of getting lost; so, if you’ve never been to the interview location before, visit it beforehand and see how long it takes to get there. With that being said, if something does go wrong… don’t freak out! Stay calm and make sure you keep your interviewer updated.

Have questions ready. This is your chance to ask someone who went to Duke about DUKE. Take advantage of this opportunity and let them share their experiences and advice too. The best interview becomes a conversation. Learn from them and stay engaged when they are speaking.  I asked about my interviewer about her major, her favorite professor at Duke, and where her Duke experience took her after she graduated among other things.

Dress business casual- you won’t need to be in a suit; however, you still want to put your best forward. Wear something comfortable and be yourself but, don’t wear anything too distracting or flashy like gaudy jewelry or a lurid tie. Keep it simple, you will impress your interviewer with what you say not what you wear!

During the Interview

Introduce yourself and keep the mood light in the beginning. Be observant to your surroundings, make sure you are in a place that isn’t too noisy and where you can both be comfortable. Also, better to start off with “Mr/Ms/Dr.” My interviewer immediately had me call her by her first name, but let the interviewer make that call first.

Be authentic, personable, and confident. This is the most important thing you can do during your interview. Every time I answered a question, I tried to let my own voice shine as much as possible. I related everything back to my own personal experiences and kept all my answers positive. I even came up with a really creative way to turn around the pesky “what is your weakness” question – reflect on your weaknesses and see how you can turn them into positives and find the best in them. No one is perfect, and being humble enough to admit this is important; however, you also want to give yourself credit for the awesome person you are!

Take a deep breath before answering questions and think about what you are going to say. Make sure you are both clear and concise; however, avoid answering questions too simply without explanation. My interviewer asked a lot of open-ended questions that, and sometimes I found it tough to come up with the perfect response right off the bat. I noticed my answers came more effortlessly when I paused and took a moment to think about the question for a few seconds.

Be attentive and watch your interviewers expressions and body language. If you say something that they connect to, expand on it immediately. If you say something that they seem to disengage from, consider wrapping it up and move on.

Cater your interview to Duke. If there is anytime you can talk about something uniquely Duke or tie in Duke in any way- do so! For example, I talked about visiting Duke for the first time on the request of my dad just a few weeks beforehand and how I immediately fell in love with the campus. I talked about how Duke wasn’t even on my radar but once I did some research, I realized it was just what I had been looking for.

Learn from your interviewer and stay engaged when they are speaking. Make sure to keep eye contact and avoid getting distracted by your surroundings, the time, or if you are eating/drinking. Find a balance between relaxed and prepared- sit up straight but keep your voice and bearing casual. 

After the Interview

End the interview thanking your interviewer and promptly write them a follow-up email or letter if you have access to their address. This is not only courteous and shows how appreciative you are but you can also use it as a tool to remind the interviewer who you were. Remember your interviewer will be reporting back to Duke’s admissions office and they may be interviewing many prospective students so you want to stick out.