Hey! I'm prepping for a potential admissions interview with Cornell University. Does anyone have tips on what types of questions they typically ask and how best to prepare?
Sure, happy to share some insights! Cornell University's admission interview typically falls under the category of an informal conversation aimed to learn more about your interests, experiences, and overall fit for the university. Here are a few things to consider when preparing for the interview:
- Understand Cornell: Each university has its unique strengths, traditions, and ethos. For Cornell, it's critical to be familiar with their motto, "Any Person, Any Study." Their deep commitment to diversity and breadth of academic options should inform your responses in the interview.
- Prep common questions: While questions can certainly vary depending on the interviewer, there are some common questions you might prep for: "Why Cornell?", "Tell me about yourself", "What do you plan to study and why?" or "What do you engage with outside of class?". Be ready to discuss your extracurricular activities, academic interests, and why you feel that Cornell is a good fit for you.
- Know your application: Be prepared to expand on anything you've mentioned in your application, from activities to essays. They might ask for more details on an activity you mentioned or ask about how your interest in a particular field of study developed.
- Be curious: Interviews are as much for you to learn about the university as they are for the university to learn about you. Prepare some questions to ask your interviewer, preferably ones that are specific to Cornell and not easily found answers to on their website.
- Practice: Consider having a mock interview with a friend, family member, or mentor to get comfortable with speaking on the spot while still providing thoughtful, concise answers.
Remember to relax and be yourself. The interview is a chance for the admissions team to know you as a person, so a sincere and genuine standpoint will help create a positive impression. Good luck!
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