The US College Interview: 20 Questions and How to Answer Them

The college interview is where you get to talk directly to an admissions officer or alumni representative. It’s your chance to show personality, clarify your intentions, and make a human connection.

Here’s the good news: the interview almost never hurts your application. It helps if you shine; it’s neutral if you’re average. It’s hard to do poorly unless you’re rude or completely unprepared.

This guide covers what to expect, how to answer common questions, and how to leave a lasting impression.

Types of College Interviews

On-Campus Interviews

What it is: You visit campus and meet with an admissions officer, usually in a 20-30 minute one-on-one meeting.

Availability: Offered by many universities; some require interviews for admission, others make them optional.

Pros:
– Demonstrates interest (you traveled to campus)
– Gives you a tour and campus feel
– More personal connection with admissions officer

Cons:
– Requires travel and money
– Limited time slots (book early)
– Weather, travel delays can affect your performance

Alumni Interviews

What it is: You meet with a graduate volunteer in your city, usually via Zoom or in-person coffee/lunch.

Availability: Offered by many selective universities (Ivies, Duke, Northwestern)

Pros:
– No travel required; interview in your hometown
– Alumni share their own college experience
– Convenient scheduling

Cons:
– You don’t visit campus
– Less formal; can feel casual but is still being evaluated
– Interviewer may be less trained than professional admissions staff

Virtual Interviews

What it is: Video call with an admissions officer or trained interviewer.

Availability: Many universities post COVID

Pros:
– Convenient; from your home
– Good option for international students
– Technology issues are understood

Cons:
– Internet quality matters
– Less personal connection
– Can feel awkward on camera if you’re not used to it

The STAR Framework (How to Answer Questions)

When asked about an experience or accomplishment, use the STAR framework:

S — Situation: Set the context briefly (1-2 sentences)
T — Task: What was the challenge or goal?
A — Action: What specifically did you do?
R — Result: What was the outcome?

Example (Bad): “I won a math competition.”

Example (STAR): “In junior year, our school held a district math competition with 30 schools competing. I’d never placed in a competition before, so I was nervous. I spent three months doing practice problems every weekend, focusing on the areas where I made mistakes. I placed first in the district. More importantly, I realized that preparation and persistence matter more than raw talent.”

Why STAR works:
– Shows your thinking process
– Includes specific details
– Demonstrates growth or learning
– Is concise but complete

20 Common College Interview Questions

Questions About Academics

1. “Why do you want to major in [field]?”

What they want to know: Is your interest genuine? Have you thought about your future?

How to answer:
– Be specific. “I love science” is vague. “I want to major in environmental engineering because I’m interested in designing sustainable water systems, and I’ve researched your university’s water engineering lab.”
– Connect to your experience. “In high school, I took AP Chemistry and became fascinated by how molecular reactions work. I want to apply that knowledge to pharmaceutical development.”
– Show you’ve researched the school. Mention a specific program, professor, or course.

What NOT to say: “I haven’t decided yet.” (If you truly haven’t, that’s okay—say you’re exploring. But have some genuine interests to discuss.)

2. “What classes have you enjoyed most, and why?”

What they want to know: What engages you intellectually?

How to answer:
– Pick classes that connect to your intended major, if possible
– Explain why you enjoyed them: “I loved AP Biology because Ms. Chen made evolution tangible—we didn’t just memorize; we discussed real conservation efforts.”
– Show intellectual curiosity, not just good grades

STAR example: “My favorite class was junior year English. We read ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ and I was disturbed by how the author showed totalitarianism through mundane details. I wrote an essay analyzing how she used language to reveal power structures. Mr. Kim said it was the most thoughtful analysis in the class, and I realized I loved exploring how language shapes meaning.”

3. “What’s your most challenging class, and how do you handle it?”

What they want to know: How do you respond to difficulty? Do you give up or push through?

How to answer:
– Pick a real class you find hard (not a humble brag like “calculus is so hard even though I got an A”)
– Explain specifically what’s difficult
– Describe concrete steps you’ve taken to improve
– Avoid: “I just try hard and it gets better.” Instead: “I meet with the teacher weekly. We’ve broken down the concepts into smaller chunks. My quiz scores improved from 65% to 82%.”

Questions About Activities and Interests

4. “Tell me about an activity you’re really involved in.”

What they want to know: How do you spend your time? What do you care about? What leadership or impact have you had?

How to answer (using STAR):
– Situation: “I’m on the debate team. We compete at regional and national tournaments.”
– Task: “Junior year, our team was ranked 25th in the state. I wanted to improve our results.”
– Action: “I suggested we start a weekly practice session focused on rebuttals. I created a file of common arguments our opponents use. I mentored the freshman on how to research efficiently.”
– Result: “We improved to 4th in state by senior year. More importantly, the freshman I mentored competed at nationals.”

Not every activity needs this level of depth, but the interview is where you show impact beyond “I participated.”

5. “What do you do in your free time?”

What they want to know: What do you actually enjoy? Are you interesting?

How to answer:
– Be honest. If you love video games, say so (and explain why—strategy, creativity, community).
– Go beyond social media. “I scroll Instagram” is boring. “I follow architectural accounts and save designs I like; it’s become a hobby to sketch houses in that style” shows depth.
– Show personality. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re thoughtful, be thoughtful.

Examples:
– “I’m obsessed with basketball. I play for fun with friends, watch NBA games, and I follow basketball analytics—there’s so much data science in how teams now evaluate players.”
– “I write poetry. It started as journaling, but I’ve started submitting to literary magazines.”
– “I volunteer at a dog shelter. I’m there every Saturday. I’ve gotten attached to several dogs.”

Questions About Growth and Mistakes

6. “Tell me about a failure or setback you’ve experienced.”

What they want to know: How do you handle difficulty? Can you learn from mistakes?

How to answer (STAR):
– Situation: Describe a real failure (not a humble brag)
– Task: What was the goal?
– Action: What did you do after failing?
– Result: What did you learn? How did you improve?

Example:
“I tried out for the soccer team sophomore year. I was confident I’d make it. I didn’t. I was devastated. But instead of quitting, I asked the coach what I could work on. I trained privately, improved my speed and footwork, tried out again junior year, and made the team. The real lesson wasn’t just that I could improve—it was that I learned my initial overconfidence wasn’t helpful. Now I’m more realistic about areas where I need to grow.”

7. “What’s a challenge you’ve overcome?”

What they want to know: What obstacles have you faced? How resilient are you?

How to answer:
– Don’t feel obligated to share deep trauma (you don’t have to)
– Academic challenges, family moves, language barriers, health issues—all count
– Show how the challenge shaped you, not just how you survived it

Example:
“I moved to the US in 9th grade from Mexico. I spoke limited English. High school was terrifying. I was placed in ESL, and while it helped, I felt isolated. By 10th grade, I was determined to mainstream into regular English class. I worked with teachers, read extra books, joined the journalism club to practice writing. By junior year, I was in honors English and writing for the school newspaper. The move taught me that struggle can be motivating if I’m committed.”

Questions About School Fit

8. “Why do you want to attend this university?”

What they want to know: Have you researched us? Are you genuinely interested or just applying to a name?

How to answer:
– Research the university thoroughly before the interview
– Mention specific programs, professors, research centers, or campus culture
– Connect it to your interests and goals
– Avoid generic praise (“great reputation,” “beautiful campus”)

Good answer:
“I want to attend Northwestern because of your School of Communication. I’m interested in documentary filmmaking, and I’ve watched interviews with several of your alumni who’ve won awards for their work. Your program’s emphasis on both storytelling and technical skills aligns with my goals. I also love that Northwestern is in Chicago—I want to intern at production companies in a major media hub.”

Bad answer:
“Northwestern is an excellent university and I’d be honored to attend.”

9. “What do you hope to get out of your college experience?”

What they want to know: Are you thoughtful about your education? What are your goals?

How to answer:
– Think about intellectual growth, skills, connections, and experiences
– Be specific to your field or interests
– Show ambition but also openness

Example:
“I hope to deepen my understanding of environmental science through rigorous coursework and research opportunities. I also want to work on real projects—whether that’s a lab with a professor or fieldwork in the summer. Socially, I’m interested in finding a community of people who care about sustainability so I can learn from their perspectives. And honestly, I want to challenge myself in ways I haven’t been challenged yet.”

Questions About You Personally

10. “Describe yourself in three words.”

What they want to know: What do you think are your defining traits?

How to answer:
– Pick words that are genuine but also reveal something
– Avoid clichés (“hardworking,” “nice,” “smart”)
– Be ready to explain each word

Example:
“Curious, resilient, and collaborative. I’m curious because I ask a lot of questions—in class, about how things work, why people believe what they believe. I’m resilient because I don’t give up when things are hard. And collaborative because I genuinely enjoy working with others toward a shared goal.”

11. “What’s something about you that’s not in your application?”

What they want to know: Do you have depth beyond what we read? Are you interesting?

How to answer:
– Pick something genuine that reveals personality or values
– Avoid repeating what’s already in your essays
– This is your chance to be memorable

Examples:
– “I’m obsessed with documentary films. I watch them constantly. I’ve probably watched 50 films from directors like Ken Burns and Ava DuVernay.”
– “I sing in the shower constantly. My roommate jokes that I’m running a one-woman concert series.”
– “I’ve been learning Arabic on my own. I started because my grandparents speak it, and I wanted to understand our family history.”

12. “Who is someone you admire?”

What they want to know: What values do you have? What inspires you?

How to answer:
– Pick someone real (doesn’t have to be famous)
– Explain specifically what you admire
– Show how that person influences you

Good example:
“I admire my mom. She came to the US without a degree, worked as a teacher’s aide, and eventually became a special education teacher. She had to go back to school while working full-time. What I admire is her persistence and her genuine care for her students. She stays late to help them, calls families to check in, celebrates their small wins. She shows me that meaningful work matters more than money.”

Questions About World/Current Events

13. “What current event or issue are you following?”

What they want to know: Are you engaged with the world? Can you discuss thoughtfully?

How to answer:
– Pick something you genuinely care about
– Show you’ve followed it over time, not just read one article
– Avoid being preachy or partisan (college is diverse; don’t alienate)
– Explain why it matters to you personally

Example:
“I’ve been following climate change policy in the US and globally. I read articles from different perspectives—conservative and progressive sources—to understand the debate. What strikes me is that we all agree climate is changing, but we disagree on the pace and solution. I’m interested in how we can bridge that divide because policy requires cooperation across beliefs.”

Questions About Your Application

14. “I see you’re interested in engineering. Tell me more.”

What they want to know: Do you understand what the field actually is?

How to answer:
– Go beyond “I like math”
– Describe projects or experiences that sparked your interest
– Show you’ve researched what engineers actually do

Example:
“I became interested in civil engineering after my uncle, who’s an engineer, showed me the blueprints for a highway he was working on. He explained how they calculate load-bearing and design for different scenarios. It struck me that engineers solve practical problems using math and physics. In AP Physics, we designed a bridge that could support weight, and I loved the challenge of balancing strength with efficiency. That’s what I want to do—solve real problems.”

15. “Your test scores are [strong/average/lower]. What’s your explanation?”

What they want to know: Are you self-aware about your performance?

How to answer:
– If strong: “I prepared thoroughly and test-taking is a strength for me.”
– If average: “I did okay. My grades and coursework better reflect my abilities than a single test.”
– If lower: “I struggled with test anxiety. I retook it and improved. I also think my grades and essays better represent who I am as a student.”

Don’t say: “The test was unfair” or “I didn’t care” (comes across as making excuses)

The Closing Questions

16. “Is there anything else you’d like me to know?”

What they want to know: Do you have anything you want to clarify or add?

How to answer:
– Use this to address anything important that didn’t come up naturally
– Don’t just say “no”—use it as a chance to reinforce something about yourself

Example:
“Yes. I know I didn’t initially mention that I founded a coding club for younger students. It’s something I’m proud of because I had to teach myself how to lead and organize, and it’s grown to 20 members. I thought it showed my commitment to making community better.”

17. “Do you have any questions for me?”

What they want to know: Are you interested enough to ask questions? Do you listen?

How to answer:
– Always ask at least 2-3 questions
– Ask about their experience or the university
– Avoid questions easily answered by the website
– Listen to their answers and reference them in follow-up conversation

Good questions:
– “What was your experience like as a student here?”
– “What do you think makes this university unique?”
– “What do you enjoy most about being an alumni mentor for admissions?”
– “What do you wish prospective students understood about the admissions process?”

Bad questions:
– “What’s the graduation rate?” (Check the website)
– “Can I bring a car?” (Research this yourself)
– “When will I hear back?” (They already told you)

Other Curveballs

18. “If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?”

What they want to know: Who are your interests/influences? Can you think creatively?

How to answer:
– Be genuine. If you choose someone, be able to explain why
– Avoid generic answers like “Bill Gates” just because he’s successful
– Show personality in your reasoning

Good examples:
– “Malala Yousafzai. Her advocacy for education changed policy, but she also showed that teenagers’ voices matter.”
– “My grandmother. She raised seven kids alone and never complained. I want to understand how she managed and what gave her strength.”
– “Michelle Obama. She’s written about doubt and imposter syndrome even as First Lady, and I’d want to hear how she pushed through.”

19. “What would your friends say about you?”

What they want to know: How do others see you? Are you self-aware?

How to answer:
– Pick traits that friends would actually recognize
– Show social awareness and humility
– Be real, not idealized

Example:
“They’d say I’m the person who remembers everyone’s birthdays and checks in when they’re stressed. They’d also say I ask too many questions in group work—I’m the person always saying ‘but why’ and pushing for clarity.”

20. “Is there anything you wish you’d done differently in high school?”

What they want to know: Are you reflective? Do you have regrets or wish you’d pursued things differently?

How to answer:
– Be honest but not self-critical
– Show growth mindset (you learned from your experience)
– Avoid dwelling on negatives

Example:
“I wish I’d started studying for the SAT earlier. I got a decent score, but I know I could have done better if I’d started prep in sophomore year instead of junior year. I’ve learned to plan further ahead. For college, I’m not waiting until the last minute for anything.”

Interview Etiquette: What NOT to Do

Arrive early: 10-15 minutes early for on-campus; log in 5 minutes early for virtual

Dress appropriately: Business casual (not a tuxedo, not gym clothes)

Put phone away: Completely off, not on silent

Make eye contact: Especially important for in-person; reasonable for virtual (look at camera sometimes)

Listen actively: Don’t interrupt; show you’re engaged

Be respectful: Of the interviewer’s time and feedback

Follow up: Send a thank-you email within 24 hours

Don’t:
– Be arrogant or condescending
– Complain about your school or teachers
– Use filler words (“like,” “um,” “basically”) excessively
– Lie or exaggerate
– Ask about party scene or Greek life (saves for after you’re admitted)
– Bring a parent (they wait outside)

Practice Before Your Real Interview

Do mock interviews:
– Practice with your school counselor
– Practice with a teacher
– Use yourdreamschool.com to get feedback on your interview prep

Record yourself: Listen to how you sound. Do you ramble? Use filler words? Rush?

Research the school: Know key facts—campus size, location, notable programs

Prepare examples: Have 3-4 anecdotes ready that showcase different sides of you

Get sleep: Not sleep-deprived on interview day

The Bottom Line

The interview is not a test to fail. It’s a conversation. Be yourself, show genuine interest in the university, answer thoughtfully, and ask questions. You’ll be fine.

Most importantly: colleges know you’re nervous. They don’t expect perfection. They want to meet a real person, not a polished robot.

Ready to prepare for your college interviews? Book a free US admissions consultation at yourdreamschool.com/contact for personalized interview prep and mock interview practice.

Author

About Adam Girsault

With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam has over 10 years of experience in education and student mentoring. Passionate about helping students achieve their academic dreams, he co-founded Your Dream School to guide students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.

Know More About Adam