Show Up and Be Curious

The other important part of their 30 minutes on campus is spending time with you, the students. They want to hear about your interests, answer your questions, and share more about their schools.

I know it can feel daunting to sit down and talk with someone who may ultimately be reading your application, but remember: they want to talk with you. They got into this profession because they enjoy working with high school students and getting to know them.

So, my first piece of advice is simple: show up. Be on time, be present, and come ready to ask questions. You don’t need to have the perfect question or say the perfect thing. Just engage. Share Your Story

Another way you may engage with a college is through an interview. Interviews can be with alumni, current students, or admission staff.

Not all colleges offer interviews, and more colleges are now offering pre-recorded video responses because they simply don’t have the capacity to interview every applicant. If you do have an interview, remember that it is a conversation. Traditionally, it lasts about 30 minutes. They will ask you questions, but they will also talk about their school and give you the opportunity to ask questions.

As someone who used to conduct hundreds of interviews every year, I can tell you that if we ask a yes-or-no question, some students will simply answer yes or no! Don’t be that student. Be ready and open to talk about yourself, your interests, accomplishments, experiences, and why you are interested in their school.

I think one of the hardest questions you can be asked is also one of the simplest: “Tell me about yourself.”

Where do you even begin? Be Yourself

My recommendation is to start with three or four basic facts about yourself. For example:

“My name is Elena. I’m a senior at Menlo School in Atherton, California. I’m the youngest of three daughters (we all have E names), and in my free time, I love cooking.”

That’s it! The interviewer will take it from there and ask follow-up questions.

We are often taught not to talk about ourselves in a way that feels like bragging. This is the time to talk about yourself. You don’t need to boast, but you do need to help the interviewer get to know you.

Also, write your questions down and ask them. If you’re interviewing with an alum or current student, they usually love talking about their school. Ask about their experiences and hear their perspectives. You can learn a lot from those conversations.

Before you leave, make sure you have your interviewer’s contact information so you can send a thank-you note afterward. It can be handwritten or sent by email—either works. Before You Hit Send

Colleges will continue to communicate with you primarily through email. I know it can be challenging to keep up with everything coming into your inbox, but please check your email.

It can be easy to think of an email like a text message, quick and informal, but remember that you are communicating with professionals, and potentially with someone who will be reading your application.

Always start with a greeting. Ask your question clearly. Grammar matters. Capitalization and punctuation go a long way. And before hitting send, read your email one more time.

If you have a genuine question, absolutely email the college. But if you’re asking something that is easily found on the college’s website, take the time to look there first.

The bottom line when thinking about how you engage with colleges is simple: be yourself. Be thoughtful, respectful, honest, curious, and open. You don’t have to perform or try to be the person you think a college wants you to be.

They want the opportunity to get to know you.