“Why Did They Ask That?” Decoding Common Admissions Interview Questions

When you’re applying to your dream school, an admissions interview gives you another chance to tell your story and highlight your strengths. But the process can also be intimidating, especially when it’s your first time. One way to make it less daunting is to know what kinds of questions might come up—because there are certain things that seemingly everyone loves to ask—and what interviewers are really looking for in your responses.

I’ve got you covered there! Below, I’ll share a few questions I like to ask as an alumni admissions interviewer for Tufts University (go Jumbos!), and that I use during practice sessions with students. I’ll also talk about why I ask them, and what I look for in responses. Read on, and if you’re looking for individualized coaching and support, you can always book a one-on-one session with me!

Common Question 1: What are you most excited about when it comes to your college experience?

What I look for in responses: Specifics! Two common themes in my post-interview student reports are curiosity and diversity of interests: from areas an applicant might want to major in, to extracurricular projects and favorite hobbies. I love when people are able to show me their love of learning by telling me how they’re interested in studying their favorite subjects along with new ones, as well as trying new activities, connecting with new people, etc. This question also presents a good opportunity to point to specific things you like about the school. Here, you want to stay away from superficial things like going to parties or being excited to live independently from your parents; this may seem obvious, but I had a student mention the second one during a practice session!

For example: I wrote about one student who was admitted to Tufts, “While her passion for [her intended major] consistently shone through, so did her eagerness to explore new subjects.” Another talked about prospective majors and minors, and how they were closely tied to her future professional goals. I appreciated this thoughtful connection. To prepare for questions like this, think about what you’re genuinely excited to explore in college. Do careful research on the school; take note of everything about it that you like, and why.

Common Question 2: Tell me about a challenge that you’ve faced—either in or out of school. What was difficult about it? What did you do to overcome it?

What I look for in responses: Get used to this question, because it’s really common. Though it might seem cliché, at its heart it’s meant to gauge someone’s resilience and ability to learn from mistakes they’ve made or difficulties they’ve experienced. I like to hear people tell me about the ways they’ve changed their thinking, grown personally, or otherwise taken a bad situation and turned it into an opportunity. Often, these are things that happened at school, but just as often they involve extracurricular activities, friends, family, or something else altogether. My favorite answers are the ones that are honest and self-reflective, but that also emphasize the positive over the negative.

For example: One student told me about how a back injury that ended her dancing career eventually led her to explore theater, which she now loves. Others have described taking challenging classes that have forced them to change their thinking, but that they’ve come to enjoy. Another candidate mentioned a teacher who had been a poor communicator; this forced her to be more assertive and to develop stronger communication skills, of which she’s now very proud. Think about experiences that have tested or challenged you (because we’ve all had them), and how you navigated through them. What unexpected things did you learn? How did your perspective change for the better? Asking yourself questions like these will help guide you to your best response.

Common Question 3: What’s your favorite class you’ve taken in high school? Why? 

What I look for in responses: There really are no wrong answers to this question! I want to see that the student loves learning and has had a meaningful experience in one or more of their classes—and for reasons that go beyond good grades. The best responses demonstrate a person’s genuine interest in something: how a class has helped them grow (for instance, challenging courses that they initially struggled with but learned to appreciate), or their discovery of a new passion that they want to continue pursuing in college. Talking about your academic interests can be a great way to give the interviewer more insights into you as a person—for instance, on what matters to you and why, and on what you want to do with these interests in the future.

For example: A student told me about unexpectedly enjoying AP Bio and Calculus, having discovered “how it could be applied to the rest of her life and her interests.” Another commented in answering this question that she’d rather get a C and actually understand the material than get an A or a B and not fully comprehend it; to me, this showed a love of learning over grades, which was refreshing. Think about the classes you’ve taken that have been the most meaningful: the ones that have introduced you to new ideas or perspectives; the ones that you didn’t initially think you’d like, but ended up loving; or just the ones that you were genuinely excited to attend every day. Then, consider the why behind your answer, and go from there.

Common Question 4: What is it about [insert school name] that specifically excites you? (Basically, why did you apply?)

What I look for in responses: I really want to see that a) the student is genuinely excited about attending the school, and b) they’ve carefully done their research, and taken the time to think about what they’d do as a student there—because the question is also intended to gauge how well they’d fit the school. Like in the first question above, good answers go beyond superficial things like location, attractiveness of the campus, and social life. They mention specifics: a professor whom you’d love to study under, a club that really appeals to you, a class or aspect of the curriculum that you find exciting, etc. As I listen, I look for a sense of enthusiasm about the school; this is harder to describe, but I can tell when someone is really excited about attending Tufts from their tone of voice and ability to talk about it at length. Think about what first interested you in the school, and do your research. When you’re able to clearly articulate the what and the why, your passion will shine through.

For example: I love when students tell me about a wide range of different (specific) things that they’d plan to do at Tufts, from classes and majors to clubs and activities. In one candidate’s report, for instance, I wrote, “It really seemed like she was committed to taking full advantage of the school’s resources and opportunities should she be accepted.” It’s also great when people make clear through their answers that they’ve taken the time to really think about the role that they’d play in the school community—whether that involves giving back through volunteer work, or simply getting to know their fellow students. In another report, I commented that a candidate “expressed interest in meeting people from a wide variety of different backgrounds, and with different views and opinions.” I often tell the students I work with that they’ll learn just as much from their peers in college as they will from their professors. This definitely borders on cliché, but it really is true, and I appreciate it when the people I interview speak to that perspective.

Hopefully, learning more about the “hidden meanings” of these common questions will help you feel ready to ace your admissions interviews. Good luck! And remember, you can always book a one-on-one session if you’re interested in more individualized interview coaching.