Introducing myself in a university interview

What's the best way to introduce myself during a university interview? Should I talk about my studies first, or is it better to start with my family background?

For a university interview, it's often best to lead with the academic and extracurricular aspects of your profile. This doesn't mean you can't mention your family background at all, especially if it's had a significant impact on your interests or ambitions, but generally, the interviewer's primary interest will be in learning about you as an individual and a student.

You can start by sharing your name, where you're from, and what year of school you're in. Then, you might want to jump into your academic interests: what you love studying, what your favorite classes have been, what you hope to study in college, and so on.

Here's a template that might be helpful:

"Hello, I'm [Your Name] from [Your City or Town]. I'm currently a senior at [Your High School], and I have a strong interest in [Your Primary Academic Interest]. I've found that I have a passion for it because [reason why you're passionate about it]."

From here, you can transition to discussing any related extracurricular activities or projects you've been a part of, as well as any notable achievements you're proud of.

Remember, this is just an introduction to get the conversation going. The interviewer will probably ask more specific questions to dig deeper into your experiences and goals, so make sure to leave room for that in your responses. It's important to be concise but detailed enough to provide a clear picture of who you are as a student and what drives you.

If you wish to talk about your family, you could do so after introducing your academic and extracurricular experiences, especially if your family has played a role in shaping your interests and ambitions. But be sure to maintain the focus on you, your endeavors, and how you've demonstrated your passion in concrete ways. Your family is part of your story, but remember that the focus is on you.