By Billie Nagy

Here’s something to look forward to when Junior and Senior year rolls around: college and scholarship interviews! Wait! Before you gasp and try to forget this idea all together, I want to tell you that yes, I know, your first college or scholarship interview is something (if you wish to have one) that is just that, a first. Do not worry! When the time comes, I bet you you’ll be exceptionally prepared for anything and everything, and maybe you’ll even enjoy it.

Now, it’s no secret that everyone is nervous when it comes to firsts, but interviews are something that no matter how much you frighten over, you just have to push through, and they’re actually not so bad if you have a few tips and tricks to help you along the way. De Equitibus talked with two seniors, Rachel Neglia, who interviewed for the Flinn Scholarship, and Quinn Collins, who interviewed with prestigious colleges Yale, Duke, and Harvey Mudd, to get their thoughts and opinions on the matter.

First of all, “be able to talk about yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and have a good understanding of your resume before you go into the interview,” Rachel notes. “Have basic talking points about your academic and personal success,” as this will “not only give you internal confidence, but it will guarantee that you can quickly and efficiently respond to general questions, which are often the most difficult to answer.”

As Quinn reasons, “it’s important to know your interviewers. Know all about the colleges you’re interviewing with, and make sure that they’re colleges you actually admire and would honestly consider attending.” If you do choose to interview for a college or scholarship, “make sure to be well prepared, wear a presentable outfit, and have confidence in yourself and your talents,” he says.

Lastly, as Rachel remarks, “Interviews are not as intimidating as they seem. Stressing about them can only harm the interviewee.” It’s important to always remember to “relax, take a deep breath, and remember that making the interview stage of a scholarship or college process is an accomplishment in itself.”

Good luck to all who will be interviewing in the future!