The college application process can seem daunting. From crafting a powerful personal statement to ensuring that your stellar extracurricular experience will impress admissions officers, students spend countless hours perfecting their applications in hopes that their application will stand out.
While not always a mandatory component of the application process, the admissions interview can be nerve-racking. However, we firmly believe that it shouldn’t be: the admissions interview is your chance to truly let your admissions counselors get to know you and to find out if the university is right for you.
At John Cabot University, we believe that the interview is fundamental in determining if a student will fit well into our international campus community. Here are our best tips for acing your interview.
Rule Number One: Relax and Be Yourself!
While admission interviews to get into a new school can be daunting, especially one where you’ll be studying at an international university abroad, they don’t have to be! The interview is simply a conversation, and it allows our admissions counselors to get to know why you are a good fit for JCU. Just relax and let your personality shine through, and we are sure that we will be impressed by you and your many accomplishments.
Think About Your Answers in Advance
Brainstorm answers to the questions that your interviewer will most likely ask, such as your strengths and weaknesses, your high school academic and extracurricular experiences, and most importantly, why you think that John Cabot is the right university for you while you study in Italy. If you are particularly nervous, practice your answers in front of a mirror or with a friend. Try not to practice too much though—you want to make sure that your answers sound authentic, rather than overly rehearsed!
Talk About Why Studying at JCU Interests You
One of the best things you can emphasize during your admissions interview is how an experience studying at an American university in Rome would interest you, and how studying at JCU specifically would be a great opportunity for you academically. If you already have a lot of experience traveling in different countries around the world, be sure to bring it up during the interview. Furthermore, explaining in detail why Italy—and specifically Rome—appeal to you as a place to develop yourself academically can also work in your favor.
Talk about certain facets of the university that make it particularly attractive for you, such as its location in the heart of Rome, its diverse student body, and opportunities for growth both on and off-campus. More than anything, you’ll want to explain why John Cabot is the right university for you while studying abroad, and why studying at an international school would appeal to you.
Want to study at a university in Rome?
Contact John Cabot University for more information!
