Interview Like a Pro: 9 Tips to Nail Your Interview

Are you a rising senior? Do you want to add a bit of your personality to your William & Mary application? Then say no more – sign up for an interview today!

The interviews are extremely casual, and run by rising seniors at William & Mary, all of whom were in your shoes just 4 years ago. There is no way to prepare for these interviews, but we can provide some helpful tips and pointers.

Relax – these interviews will ask basic questions about your academics, extracurriculars and personality. Essentially, we are asking you questions you already know the answers to, and have told your aunt at every family reunion.

Be yourself – we know you’re 16 and 17 year olds – you’re not a student at William & Mary, so we aren’t expecting you to have saved the free world (…yet). Most likely, we are just as worried about being awkward as you are.

Dress Comfortably – We will be wearing business casual, feel free to dress similarly. Really, we want you to just be comfortable so that you can give the best interview possible. Stray away from outfits that you wouldn’t wear to brunch with the grandparents.

Tell us the what, and the why – one-word answers are not your friend in an interview. If you tell us you love swimming, then tell us why you love swimming. If you don’t tell us, we will ask. Similarly, if you answer the question, “if you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?” with Taylor Swift, tell us why Taylor, otherwise we will just have a blank space.

Come with questions – we want to make this the best experience possible for you, so please ask us as many questions as you want. We recommend going on a tour before you interview, but it is in no way a requirement!

Smile and make eye contact – It will make everyone more comfortable! Plus, we are happy you are here, so show us that you are happy too.

There are no wrong answers – Be honest! There are no “right answers” in our interviews, so speak the truth. Just make sure to have an explanation for each answer. If your favorite class is drawing, don’t be scared to share that with us just because it’s not a “rigorous course.” Maybe you are the next Van Gogh, or Monet, or CSI sketch artist — whatever the case we want to know!

Pre-fuel or re-fuel – after a long interview (or before!) please treat your self! You deserve it! Some interviewers’ favorite spots include The Cheese Shop, Aromas, and The DoG Street Pub.

Last but not least: breathe in, breathe out, and Go Tribe.

– Catie Pinkerton ‘16