The college interview is an important part of the college application process. It is vital that students arrange for an interview if the college requires or recommends it. At times, due to location/distance, it is not possible to obtain an on-campus interview; it is then in students’ best interests to request an alumni interview, a telephone interview, or Skype. When preparing for the meeting, students should review the information sent by the college and visit the website for current data. The following questions may be useful in planning for the session with the admission staff. Also, students should give a copy of their activity sheet to the admissions officer.

As students prepare for an interview, they may want to practice with family members, friends, teachers, and counselors. Although the first interview can be somewhat intimidating, students will become more comfortable with practice. As part of the meeting, students might want to ask for a copy of of the student newspaper and the activities calendar. 

Students should also request the interviewer’s business card so that they can send a thank you note; students can then follow up with the interviewer in case they have any further questions. If a student is not interviewed by the person who will be evaluating his/her application, they should try to get that person's business card so they can reach out to say 'hello.'