How soon should I start preparing for my college interviews?

Hi! I'm a junior and I just started thinking about the whole college application process. One aspect that's making me nervous is college interviews. When should I start preparing for them and what resources are there to help me practice? Thank you!

Hi! It's great that you're thinking about college interviews already. Generally, interviews take place during your senior year after you have submitted your application, so there's no need to start seriously preparing until the start of your senior year at the earliest. Prepping too early may actually be counterproductive, as you haven't even had some of the experiences you're likely to end up discussing in your interview yet.

There are a few resources that you can use to practice, when the time comes. Reflecting on your goals and values beforehand can help, as that will enable you to share coherent, thoughtful answers during the interview, rather than scrambling to think about what you want to say. Another option is to set up mock interviews with your friends or family members. They can take on the role of interviewer, asking you questions related to your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any other elements of your application.

You might also consider reading CollegeVine's blog, which has numerous articles on college interview tips and common questions. One particularly helpful post lists 25 interview questions that you're likely to encounter: https://blog.collegevine.com/15-major-college-interview-questions-to-prepare-for. Working through these questions and thinking about how you would respond will hopefully help you feel more confident going into your interviews when they do arrive.

Good luck, and I hope this helps put your mind at ease!