What are some top questions to expect in a college interview?

I have a college interview coming up and I'm not sure what to expect. What are some of the top or most common questions that are usually asked in these interviews? I want to be prepared and practice my answers.

Sure, I can help you with that. College interviews are a good opportunity to demonstrate your interest in a school and to show aspects of your personality that might not come across on your application. Most of the time, the questions will be about getting to know you better, assessing your fit with the school, and understanding your ambitions and interests.

Here are some common interview questions:

1. "Can you tell me a little about yourself?" This is a broad question often asked to start the conversation. You might briefly mention your academic and extracurricular interests, as well as a personal detail or two.

2. "Why are you interested in our college?" For this one, it's important to have specific reasons aligned with unique attributes of the school, such as a particular program, activity, school tradition, or even the campus culture.

3. "What are your academic interests and career goals?" Be open and enthusiastic about your current academic interests, and if possible, link them to potential career or long-term goals.

4. "How have you contributed to your high school community?" Be prepared to discuss your extracurricular activities, leadership roles, or any impactful projects you've been involved in.

5. "How do you handle challenges, can you give an example?" For this question, it’s good to have an example ready - it could be from academics, extracurriculars, or your personal life. Make sure to also discuss what you learned from the experience.

6. "Can you tell about a book, article, or research project that has deeply impacted you?" This question is looking to assess your intellectual curiosity, so choose something that genuinely interested you and explain why it was impactful.

7. "Who is a person you admire and why?" This question helps interviewers understand your values. You might choose a historical figure, someone from your personal life, or even a fictional character.

8. "What would you bring to our campus community?" This is your chance to talk about the unique attributes you would bring to the school, whether it's a particular talent, perspective, or enthusiasm for a specific area.

Remember, interviews are also an opportunity for you to get to know the school, so don't be shy to ask your interviewer questions about their own experiences or any aspects of the college that interests you. Good luck with your preparation!