That 'tell me about yourself' question always trips me up. Can anyone suggest some good ways to structure my answer to this question during a college interview?
Sure, I'd be happy to help with a potential structure for your answer.
A good way to tackle the "tell me about yourself" question is by following a three-part structure:
1. Background: Start off by giving a brief overview of where you are from and your current situation, such as "I'm a senior at XYZ High School in City, State."
2. Academic Interests: Next, switch gears into discussing your academic interests. You could talk about your favorite subjects in school and why they appeal to you. For instance, "I've always had a strong fascination for biology, especially in relation to environmental studies, which has led me to take several AP classes in these fields."
3. Extracurriculars & Personal Interests: Now that you've touched on your academics, share something about your extracurriculars or personal passions. For example, "Outside of classes, I'm currently serving as President of our school's Biology Club, which has allowed me to extend my interest in environmental studies beyond the classroom. I also enjoy playing chess and have been a part of our school's chess team for three years."
Remember, this is your chance to introduce yourself in a well-rounded manner and set the tone for the rest of the interview. You can end with a statement linking your interests to the college you're interviewing for like, "And it's the combination of strong environment studies program and the vibrant extracurricular scene that drew me to XYZ college."
Hope this helps, and good luck with your college interviews!
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