How Online Tutors Can Help Prep Students for Zoom College Interviews
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people meet. When face-to-face meetings have
been too inconvenient or even unsafe, video conferencing through services like Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime, and Skype have become significantly more common.
No matter how you use video conferencing tools - whether as a way to expand your tutoring business online or simply as a way to communicate with colleagues, family, and friends - test-prep professionals need to be aware of the ways in which video calls have become an unavoidable part of students’ lives.
One of the most interesting new uses for video conferencing has been for virtual college admissions interviews. Rather than requiring students to travel across the country or meet in person with local alumni, many schools are turning to Zoom and similar online video services to connect with prospective students. And given the flexibility of scheduling, virtual college interviews are most likely here to stay.
The college interview, in any form, is an invaluable opportunity for students to display their personality, passion, and commitment to furthering their education beyond what they can fit onto a college application.
As a tutor, you can offer your clients important tips and practice opportunities so students can make the most out of these virtual face-to-faces.
What to Expect From Virtual College Interviews
Many selective schools and leading programs require (or strongly recommend) a college interview for prospective students. These schools place evaluative value on in-person conversations with their applicants. When issues like the pandemic or geographic reach make this challenging, virtual college interviews provide a practical solution. With this option, schools and students still get the same interview opportunity, just in a more modern style.
With that in mind, students should have similar expectations when preparing for their virtual college interviews as they would for a face-to-face interview.
Depending on the school and its requirements, there are two different types of interviews: informative and evaluative. The differences are significant enough that they should impact the type of support that you offer your students.
Informative college interviews are typically optional and pretty low-key. They offer students a chance to learn about the school and have their questions answered by someone in the know - a student, alumnus, or faculty member. Informative interviews exist to benefit the student, not the admissions committee.
Informative interviews are about 30 minutes to an hour long. These conversations are usually student-driven. Commonly, once the student’s questions and concerns have been addressed, the interview is over.
If offered, informative interviews are a great option for prospective students to take advantage of. They allow students an inside look at what a school’s academics and campus life are really like beyond what can be gleaned on a tour or on a school’s website. In some cases, it can even offer students a familiar contact person to connect with once arriving on campus.
Evaluative college interviews are usually either an admissions requirement or strongly encouraged by admissions departments.
Unlike an informative interview, an evaluative interview is formal. These conversations are opportunities for schools to evaluate prospective students while also giving students opportunities to demonstrate interest in particular schools.
Evaluative interviews are about 45 minutes to an hour long and ordinarily conducted by alumni or someone from the admissions committee.
During an evaluative-style college interview, the interviewer will try to engage with the student in a conversation geared toward learning about the student. The goals are to suss out the student’s interests, academic goals, and reasons the student wants to attend the school. Ultimately, the goal is to determine whether or not the school in question would be an ideal fit for both parties.
It is worth noting that whether students choose to participate in an informative interview or are required to participate in an evaluative interview, they can expect to have an opportunity to ask questions. As such, students should always show up prepared with meaningful questions to ask.
How to Help Students Prepare for an Online College Interview
No matter the type of interview, there are a few tips that test-prep professionals can offer students to better prepare them.
Keep your digital profile(s) clean. While this advice applies to all social media platforms, it also applies to the video conferencing services being utilized for virtual interviews.
Students are encouraged to keep their usernames simple: their first and last name is most suitable. Advise them to avoid using any nicknames or usernames that can be viewed as immature or improper.
Profile pictures must be appropriate. Ideally, a simple picture of the student’s face is the best choice. Again, advise them to avoid any pictures that can be misconstrued or viewed as immature.
In addition to video conferencing platforms, remind students that their social media presence, on all platforms, can potentially be viewed by their college interviewer. That said, it would behoove them to audit their public presence to be sure that if an interviewer were to look them up, what that interviewer sees would be representative of who that student truly is.
Dress for success. Just because these interviews are virtual does not mean that students should show up like they would to chat with friends or if they were to roll out of bed for a virtual class.
Encourage your students to dress for success - from head to toe. Interviewers will appreciate the effort that a student puts into their appearance. It shows maturity and a desire to impress - both of which will help make a great first impression.
Students should keep it simple - nothing flashy or garish - but appropriate. Think: what would I wear to my Grandmother’s 80th birthday dinner? They should be advised to keep the sparkles, tassels, and all things bedazzled in their closets for this one.
Keep it professional. Many students probably have never had to prepare for an interview like this before, so advise them to keep their topics of conversation linked closely to the school and its programs. They should avoid oversharing about their private lives, using harsh or negative language, and speaking in slang. Maturity matters.
Do your research. It’s always in a student’s best interest to come to a college interview with solid background information on the school - its history, traditions, programs, clubs, and organizations. The more information that a student can familiarize themselves with ahead of the interview, the better.
Students should be able to demonstrate their familiarity with the school, but also connect themselves to the aspects of campus life and the institution where they feel they could be an asset. The goal is to show the interviewer a real interest in and commitment to joining the school’s community as a positive and productive member.
Ask questions. We mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. This tip is that important. In order for students to truly demonstrate their interest in a school, they need to ask questions. Having a prepared list of questions shows the interviewer that the student is attentive and eager to learn more about the school. Furthermore, that enthusiasm and inquisitiveness will help make a lasting impression.
While specific questions pertaining to academic programs, clubs, and organizations are important, advise students to always ask the interviewer what their personal experience at the school was like. They may offer an opportunity to make a personal connection or gain some invaluable advice.
Check back next week for Part 2 where we will:
Share ways tutors can support students with actionable tips for successful video conferences
Explore ways to build online interview prep into your online tutoring sessions
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