When It Comes to Online College Interviews, Practice Makes Perfect
Creating a mock virtual interview for your students is a great way to give them a better idea of what to expect during the real thing. You can help them curate their questions, provide instant feedback, and make productive suggestions that will make them better prepared for their real interview.
Rehearsing with your students can also provide ample opportunities to stress-test students’ tech to be sure that it works well for interview day. Here are some important areas to check while doing a trial run:
Find an optimal setting - Choosing the best place to carry out the interview is critical. Students will want to find a quiet, private place free from any interruptions or distractions so that they can give their undivided attention to the interviewer.
Test microphone and camera setup - A test run should help students iron out any wrinkles with their audio or video setup. They want to be sure that they are able to be heard and seen clearly through their microphone and camera.
Background noise - It can be hard to tell what sound from your side carries through to the other on an online call. Obviously, things like loud fans, heaters, air conditioning units, pets, or traffic can create noises that interfere with someone’s ability to be heard in a video conference setting. This could also include computer and phone notifications that could be unintentionally transmitted over the call. Sometimes there are even subtler sounds that students need to be told are carrying through their microphones. A test-run should help suss all of these out.
Background visuals - Beyond just testing basic camera functionality and lighting, students need to be deliberate in making sure that they are in front of an appropriate background. A neat and tidy study area or a bookshelf in the background are fine, but a messy bedroom, blinking lights, PEZ collection displays, video game setups, or Free Britney posters are not. Again, the vibe students need to portray is mature, so advise them to pick a neutral background with as few distractions as possible.
While many video conferencing platforms allow for blurred or fake backgrounds, these can range from distracting to downright tacky. They may be useful in a pinch, but ideally, students need to find a suitable environment to take their interview video call.
Look at the camera, not at the screen - Proper eye contact is paramount to any interview. That said, virtual calls can make that difficult. The only way to give a caller the impression that you are making eye contact with them is to look directly into the camera - not the interviewer’s eyes on the screen. This may take practice and is, quite frankly, difficult for most of us. However, staring at the camera rather than the screen will make it easier for students to focus on what they’re saying rather than getting distracted by the interviewer’s video stream or self-consciously fixating on their own mirror image.
Internet connection - A stable internet connection is essential for a virtual college interview. Without one, students will have a difficult time communicating with their interviewer. While everyone knows technical snafus happen, it still does not exactly make a great impression when an interview is interrupted by a dropped connection.
Battery Life - If your clients opt to use a portable device like a laptop, smartphone, or tablet for their college interview, advise them to err on the side of caution and keep their devices plugged in and charging for the duration of the interview.
Online Tutoring Can Help Build Comfort With the Virtual Meeting Format
For test-prep companies that offer their clients online tutoring, preparing for a virtual college interview can be an ongoing fringe benefit. Online tutoring sessions help create some comfort and confidence for students as they become more accustomed to communicating through virtual conferencing platforms. As a tutor, be sure to capitalize on these virtual meets prior to your students’ interviews with the above-mentioned tips. Many students have had plenty of online experience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unlikely that they have been held to any meaningful standards - especially for optimally showcasing themselves in such a high-stakes scenario as a college interview.
As part of your online interactions with students, try to make a habit of conferencing with your clients about their academic progress, collegiate goals, and any questions or concerns that they may have. This is a prime opportunity to practice virtual conferencing to help them become even more competent communicating through a virtual meeting, as well as a way to keep their academic growth and objectives in check.
If your tutoring company has not already made the jump to offering online test prep, we highly recommend it. Opening the door to virtual instruction can offer a number of benefits for both test-prep professionals and students alike.
Clear Choice offers a 100% custom-branded test-prep software package to help your business seize the opportunity to branch out online.
For more guidance and information on whether you are ready to scale your business with online test prep, what tools you’ll need for online test prep, and how to extend your test-prep company’s reach with online tutoring, check out these linked articles from Clear Choice. When you are ready to take your experience to the next level, reach out to us directly for a free demo of everything our curricular tools and materials have to offer your tutoring business.
