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Although it may be intimidating, the college admissions interview is your chance to bring your application to life.  These interviews often take place with the very person that will be advocating for you in the admissions review process, and provide you the chance to present yourself to the school (as well as learn more about the college from an expert).

It’s important to prepare well for this opportunity.  Working with an experienced College Admissions Coach to prep for your interviews can help you perform at your best – and as a Zinch user, you work with an InsideTrack Coach for FREE for one month.  Get started today!

Here are a few tips from InsideTrack’s team of College Admissions Coaches to get you started:

Do your homework – You don’t need to be an authority on a college, but you should know the basics before you meet with the admissions representative or alumnae.   Use websites and guidebooks to learn the key facts.

Know how to talk about your high school – Don’t assume that your interviewer knows a great deal about your school.  Be prepared to describe it in detail – size, courses, level of competition, commentary on students, diversity.  Give the interviewer a clear picture of your academic and social community.

Be prepared to ask questions – Always have 2-4 questions prepared to ask at each interview.  But make sure not to ask questions that can be easily answered by visiting the school’s website.  Choose questions on topics that you are truly interested in and use the interview as a chance to get answers.

Keep your answers conversational – You don’t need to speak in a very formal way, but you do need to use strong vocabulary and grammar.  This is not the time to utter one word answers.  Your interviewer wants to get to know you, so answer as naturally and clearly as you can.  In preparation, think about questions that you may be asked, but don’t memorize the answers.

Be yourself – This is not the time to pretend you are a literary critic, budding scientist, or avid reader of the New York Times, if you’re not.  Don’t worry about what you think the interviewer wants to hear.  They want to get to know who you are and what makes you tick, so answer the questions honestly and thoughtfully.

After the interview is over, make sure to send a personal hand-written thank you note (not email).  Thank your interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in their school.  This will likely end up in your application file, so double check for typos and grammar before sealing the envelope.

Ready to get started on your interview prep or want an experienced professional to support you through this high-stakes process and decision? As a Zinch user, you’ll receive your first month of InsideTrack College Admissions Coaching (with no minimum purchase required) – get more information and register today!

Is your college student coming home for the Holidays?  If so, we’re sure you’re very excited.  Some parents, though, may be concerned how your student’s new found freedoms away from home will translate to your home life.  It’s a valid concern, so here are some tips for navigating this special occasion.

1. Be careful not to overdo it.  Sure, it’s fine to prepare a magnificent meal occasionally and pack a few leftovers to send back to campus, but be careful not to suffocate your child with attention.

2. Make your child mindful of family visits. Remind her that visiting with extended family is an important part of the holiday and you want the whole family to be together if possible. Establish plans early and set the expectation that your child’s social activities may need to be scheduled at other times.

3. Discuss new ideas.  There’s a chance that with your child’s new found independence, his worldview may be changing.  Understand that considering ideas outside those of the family is a step in your child’s development.  If he brings up a thought or idea, consider it an opportunity for conversation. Hear him out, and explain why you hold certain beliefs dear.

4. Establish Responsibilities. If sleeping late every morning is not an option, make it known ahead of time.  If household chores are required, set the right expectations now. If your child will be asked to help with younger siblings or the family business, establish schedules as soon as possible and leave time for those activities he’s planned with friends.

Yes, things will be different this holiday season.  Your hope has been that your student will become a responsible and self-sufficient adult.  With those changes can come some stress and anxiety for both of you, but these can be kept at a minimum by maintaining a atmosphere of mutual consideration, and a focus on enjoying the holiday season as a family.

“I have been surfing Lake Michigan since I was three years old.”

“While traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe?”

“I almost didn’t live through September 11th, 2001.”

Intrigued? So was the Stanford University admissions staff who read these opening personal statement lines (later published by Stanford Magazine). Unique, personal and engaging, these opening lines made the admissions committee want to learn more about the applicant.

If you’re one of many parents unsure of how to leverage the college application essays as the writers above did, you’re not alone. What many families don’t realize, however, is that the application essays and personal statement are in fact a student’s biggest opportunity to shine on the college application. This is the one element of the application where your student takes the driver’s seat and is able to sell themselves.

Help your student write a standout essay with these tips from InsideTrack’s team of College Admissions Coaches. Then, sign your student up for a FREE month of College Admissions Coaching to support them in developing their essays and applications as a whole (a $94 value!)

1. Topic matters. An interesting, unique essay topic will make a reader want to learn more about the writer.  Have your student quickly brainstorm 3 personal interests, 3 interesting/unique facts about them, and 3 things they might want to do or accomplish one day.  The key here is to not get hung up on whether something is “worthy” of being written about – almost any topic that is true to your student can be an effective topic.
2. But, topic will only get you so far. An interesting topic will hook a reader’s interest, but ultimately admissions committees aren’t evaluating your student on what topic they select. Admissions committees are looking for an essay to illustrate the way a student thinks and the level of enthusiasm and curiosity they will bring to their campus.  A topic should be used as a device to introduce who a student is and what he or she will contribute to the university’s student body.
3. Open strong. Encourage your student to be creative, especially in selecting the essay’s opening lines.  An interesting essay very rarely begins with the words “I want to go to your college because,” but instead opens with a personal anecdote or intriguing statement that will introduce the topic.  The essay openings above showcase how a single line can set the tone for a coming essay and make the reader instantly want to learn more.

InsideTrack’s team of College Admissions Coaches help students craft stellar college applications, from developing a standout personal statement to acing the in-person interview.  As a Zinch newsletter subscriber, you’ll receive a free month of College Admissions Coaching to prepare your student for the application process – a $94 value!