Excerpts From Campus Visits & College Interviews

By Zola Dinein Schneider, Published by The College Board

Questions asked by interviewers usually cover four areas:

1. Your high school experience

2. College

3. You and the world around you

4. Your questions

Questions About Your High School Experience:

1. Tell me something about your courses?

2. Which courses have you enjoyed the most?

3. Which courses have been most difficult for you? Why?

4. Has school been challenging? Which course has been most challenging?

5. Have you worked up to your potential?

6. Is your record an accurate gauge of your abilities and potential?

7. How would you describe your school?

8. If you had the chance, what changes would you make in your school?

9. What extracurricular activity has been the most satisfying to you?

10. What is the most significant contribution you have made to your school?

11. Do you have any hobbies or special interests?

12. Would you make different choice if you were to do it all over again?

13. How do you spend a typical day after school?

14. How would you describe your home town?

15. How has living in your community affected your outlook?

Questions About College:

1. Why do you want to go to college?

2. What do you hope to accomplish in the next four years?

3. What do you want from an education?

Questions To Ask Your Interviewer:

1. What different kinds of people are there on campus?

2. From what economic bracket are the majority of students? Is there a college policy to recruit from all brackets?

3. What is the current percentage of students from public schools? Private schools? Parochial schools?

4. What do students like most about the college? Like least?

5. What role do students have in shaping policy? On which committees do they sit? What voice do they have?

6. Is there a drug culture on campus? How prominent is it? Is there pressure to confirm?

7. Are there any particular tensions on campus of which I should be aware?

8. What do students do for fun?

9. What happens on the weekends?

10. What percentage leave campus on the weekends? (If more than 20%, ask why)

11. What is the role of fraternities and sororities on campus? Has the administration placed any restrictions on hazing and initiation rites?

12. What role do team sports play in the social life of the college?

13. What activities provide a social outlet for students outside of class?

14. Are there any rules or regulations governing drinking and parties? Is there an alcohol problem? If so, how is it being handled?

15. How does the college go about choosing freshman roommates?

16. Does the college provide housing for all four years?

17. What choices will I have as a freshman?

18. Are dorms quiet enough for studying? Where else do people study?

19. What kinds of food plans are there?

20. What alternative eating facilities are there on campus? Snack bar, coffee house? Eating facilities in dorm? May students cook in their rooms?

21. What kinds of facilities does the student center have? What other hangouts are there?