The official e-newsletter of The Equestrian College Advisor.

From the blog:

I’ll be honest, readers, I’m the type of person who is easily invited to stand atop a soapbox and can rant ad nauseam on various topics with the best of them. (After all, if this blog proves nothing else, it demonstrates that I’m rarely without an opinion and not terribly shy about sharing it.) So you can imagine that when a dear friend posted a link on her Facebook feed that led to a blog posting entitled “Screw Finding Your Passion,” I was intrigued. Read More

College Interview Basics

At some point in you college search and admission process, you might find that you’re required to

complete an interview

. The types of interviews – and interviewers – can vary widely and, while the interview is rarely the final say regarding admission to a particular school, the more informed you are about the process, the more successful you’ll be.

The two primary types of admissions interview are:

1. Informational – This is a more conversational interview that not only allows the interviewer to learn more about you and your interest in the college, but also allows (and encourages!) you to ask questions regarding particular programs or admissions practices.

2. Evaluative – An evaluative interview is often weighted more heavily when it comes time to render an admission decision because there is typically a more rigid framework. Evaluative interviews are also typically used for scholarship awarding purposes.

The people who conduct admission interviewers range from admission counselors and directors to faculty, alumni, and even student interviewers.  Interviews can be held on campus, at your home or a local coffee shop, or remotely over phone or via Skype.

Interview Goals

Your primary goal in any interview is to demonstrate specific reasons that you are interested in attending a particular college. Thus, be prepared to go beyond the items listed in your resume and share additional pertinent information – your deep passion for mathematics that’s driving you toward a major in engineering, for example. You should also be prepared to ask questions about the school that aren’t easily researched with a simple Internet search – what the average amount of homework is for an engineering major or what students say is their favorite meal in the dining hall.

Dressing for success is also vital to interview success; while you don’t necessarily need to dress to the nines, jeans and t-shirts are

never

considered acceptable interview attire. Look your best so that you can present your best self to the person asking the questions – and don’t forget to smile! 

An Ivy League school - or even just a Big Name College might be completely wrong for you -

and here's why.

If student loans are a financial transaction (which they are), then why are they referred to as

financial aid

?

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