College Interview err HELP
College Interview err HELP
Author
Discussion

SXi Lad

Original Poster:

2,964 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
Im just curious what i should prepare myself for, maybe what they normally ask and things like that. How can I leave a good impression?
Thanks

Brad

King Herald

23,501 posts

245 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
SXi Lad said:
Im just curious what i should prepare myself for, maybe what they normally ask and things like that. How can I leave a good impression?
Thanks

Brad
If it is anything like the college in Stafford where my wife went, be prepared for total chaos and a complete lack of any idea what curriculum's and courses the college offers and what its entry requirements are. Be prepared for a long day of waiting and being sent to other departments because "I think they should know over there", and other such cretinous behaviour.

Carpie

1,119 posts

224 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
If it's just the local college there's not too much to worry about, they tend to be very lenient on who they let in and would have to have a pretty good reason not to let you on the course.

Dress reasonably smartly, don't wear a hoodie, be polite, and have a good reason for doing the course.

Kurtblythman

2,856 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
Personally id say suit.

I just did a lot of interviews in September, never had a interview in my life. Dressed in a suit, answered politely to everything said, got through to every second stage of interviews and a few successes

SXi Lad

Original Poster:

2,964 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
I was just going to wear my school clothes, black shirt and tie

Kurtblythman

2,856 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
SXi Lad said:
I was just going to wear my school clothes, black shirt and tie
That will do. I didnt ware a full suit, just shirt, tie, trousers, sorted. Best of luck to ya! Just be calm and it all seems to go fine smile

parakitaMol.

11,876 posts

280 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
Have a look at the course modules and as has been said, have a reason for wanting to go. Regardless of it being a 'local college' some courses are still very competitive. They want to fill the places (funding) and they want the best students so they get good pass rates and can advertise themselves as successful institutions.

Good luck

Stevenj214

4,941 posts

257 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
Kurtblythman said:
Personally id say suit.

I just did a lot of interviews in September, never had a interview in my life. Dressed in a suit, answered politely to everything said, got through to every second stage of interviews and a few successes
A suit for a college interview? I wore a hoody and jeans to my uni interview and got accepted just fine.

Kurtblythman

2,856 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
Oh another tip, a common question is 'how will you get to college?' if its just around the corner then thats fine but if its a good bit away find out about bus routes and tell them that in the interview, it will show that you really have looked into starting at the college.

SXi Lad

Original Poster:

2,964 posts

218 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
parakitaMol. said:
Have a look at the course modules and as has been said, have a reason for wanting to go. Regardless of it being a 'local college' some courses are still very competitive. They want to fill the places (funding) and they want the best students so they get good pass rates and can advertise themselves as successful institutions.

Good luck
Cheerssmile

Kurtblythman

2,856 posts

223 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
quotequote all
Stevenj214 said:
Kurtblythman said:
Personally id say suit.

I just did a lot of interviews in September, never had a interview in my life. Dressed in a suit, answered politely to everything said, got through to every second stage of interviews and a few successes
A suit for a college interview? I wore a hoody and jeans to my uni interview and got accepted just fine.
Wey aiy. Better to be overdressed than underdressed.

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

280 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
College interview. Here's my view on preparation:

Wearing something smart is a good start. Turn off the cellphone. I repeat, turn the phone OFF, not to vibrate, but OFF.

Speak like an educated human who can string a sentence together.

In terms of the interview it's normally what GCSEs did you get, what A level grades do you expect to get. Then they ask why you're not getting a grade higher than what you expect.

They might ask what your hobbies are. Have enough to be interesting, few enough to give the impression you'll have time to do some work.

Stay off contentious subjects. Assume your interviewer is a car hating vegan.

If you look vaguely athletic, say you like to run a couple of miles now & then to keep fit. If you are stocky say that you weight train. Or you like to swim. Because all of those are very hard to hate.

Then thay ask something about what you will offer the college. Saying that you'll prop up the bar may be accurate but won't win points. So say that you're keen to learn the subject you're studying for, that you'll work hard to do it, and if time permit's you'd like to join a club and you'll see what's on offer during Freshers' week but it would probably be something sport related and you might want to try something you've never done before.

They might ask you if you have a Saturday job. If you haven't then say that you use the time to study. If you do, think of a positive quality it gives (such as is helping me save for expenses when I get to college, plus you may learn skills such as dealing with the public (and believe me it is actually very useful in the world of real work when you actually need to deal with live humans)).

I think you need to rehearse your answers - don't answer in a plain yes or no but don't bore the interviewer to death either.

HundredthIdiot

4,477 posts

313 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
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If they ask you to write anything at the interview, make sure to use only txt spk.

This will impress them with your youthful vigour and grasp of modern communications.

Edited by HundredthIdiot on Wednesday 7th January 01:56

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

246 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
SXi Lad said:
I was just going to wear my school clothes, black shirt and tie
Don't you think that will look a bit bad for a 46 year old?

Slagathore

6,224 posts

221 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
I shouldn't worry too much!

All the times I've been to college they havn't even asked for proof of GCSE results.

I rang up 2 weeks before the course was starting and got on to it without even having an interview!

Judging by some of the people I see around college, they really aren't that strict as to who they let in.

AUDIHenry

2,201 posts

216 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
I've done one entrance interview. It was for USC. I bombed it.

They ask you things which you may not know the answers to and I wasn't quick enough on my feet to make something up.

The tough question was "What were the last three books that you read?" at a time when I couldn't remember what the last three meals I ate that day were!

A - W

1,724 posts

244 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
This is a college interview, they will be thankful if you attend.

It is bums on seats I keep being told so I doubt you can fail to get on a course.



rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
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All the help you'll need here.

NSFW with audio on (bad language).

Munter

31,331 posts

270 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
As in 6th Form college? An interview! scratchchin Thats a new one on me. In fact I didn't even have an interview to get into Uni... I thought all that had been done away with.

Brown and Boris

11,838 posts

264 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
Always have an insightful but non threatening question ready for the end when they ask if you have any questions. Makes you look interested. But don't make it one they can't answer or which is so contrived it makes you look like a fool.