Skip To Content Skip To Menu Skip To Footer
+ Share

Interviews

Interview Tips and Tricks

Need a refresher on conducting an interview? We've got you! Here are some of the tips and tricks that we use in our admissions office. (And we now have an instructional video to help you navigate the interview process as well.)

  • Students may provide you with a resume/transcript for the interview. Review them briefly, feel free to ask questions about them. After the interview, give those materials to the operations staff.
  • Feel free to provide the contact information of an additional college resource (for example: athletics brochure if student wants to contact the coach, business card of the students regional counselor, tour guide card of a member of the equestrian team, etc).
  • Note-taking: highly recommended.  Not feel you need to write everything down word for word, as that can be intimidating to a student. Just be sure to write enough so that you remember the conversation and observations. 
  • DO NOT stress over TIME. Generally, interviews last about 30 minutes. It's OK to go longer or shorter.
  • Do not ask any question that you would not want to be asked.
  • Please don’t make negative comparisons to other colleges. Instead, emphasize Dickinson’s strengths and what was special for you in your Dickinson experience.
  • Present information about Dickinson accurately and in a positive manner. This does not mean you should avoid information that is not positive. Students appreciate honest answers to difficult questions.
  • Do not ask what other colleges a student is considering or whether Dickinson is his/her first choice. It’s fine if that information comes out naturally, but it is not important for the admissions committee to know this information.
  • Leave time for the students’ questions. Some students will come with a list. Others will not have any, in which case you should be ready to keep the conversation going or wrap it up.
  • At the end of the interview, be sure to ask the student if there is any important information about her/himself that they have not had a chance to talk about, but would like to.