Applying to university can be such a daunting task. You have so many decisions to make and applications to perfect. TutorTime has created these practice interview questions to help you with this process.
You will likely need to interview for potential jobs in the future as well. The better you get at answering these questions, the better prepared you will be.
1. What have you been doing over the past year?
This one pertains specifically to students who have taken a gap year or who are not applying straight out of High school. Make sure you have some detailed, rich experiences to talk about here. Whether it has been travel, work, or even volunteering, describe it with passion and interest to show the university the dedication you would bring to your studies.
2. Why do you want to go to this university?
Do some research about the university beforehand for this question. It would be great to bring up initiatives the university has run or industry connections it has. This shows them that you are knowledgeable.
3. Why do you want to study this course?
They are looking for your passion here. Describe for the interviewer the moment you knew this was the course or the career you wanted to pursue. Talk about the subjects and electives offered in this course and why you prefer this course over the similar one at a different university.
4. What pathways do you want to take in this course?
This is an opportunity to describe your plans for the future. You do not have to have your entire life mapped out, but you should be able to describe some direction. For example, if you are hoping to study science, you should be able to describe that you are interested in pursuing medical research for example. You could also mention plans to study or work overseas if this is of interest to you. This is also an opportunity to mention why you want to pursue your chosen career path.
5. How would your friends describe you?
This is a tricky question because you need to be genuine here. Don’t just say what you think they want to hear as this comes across very obvious in an interview. Having said that, you also don’t want to be too candid and tell the interviewer about some embarrassing moments you have had with your best friends. You might share an anecdote about genuine moments with friends that paint you in a positive light.
6. What achievement are you most proud of?
Don’t say graduating from high school or getting your driver’s license. Both of these are great achievements and important milestones, but they are answers that every other interviewee will use. Share a story about a personal struggle you have overcome. This could be a conflict with a friend or family member or that time you had to change a flat tyre on your own. Just stay clear of the rites of passage every prospective student will have recently achieved.
7. What has been your most difficult challenge?
As with the previous question, stay clear of generic answers such as the HSC examinations. Dig a little deeper. It is ok to choose a personal answer and be a little vulnerable here. They are trying to get a sense of who you are as a person and how you will cope with the pressures of the degree and career path you have chosen. Show them what you are made of and how resilient you are!
8. What can you bring to the university?
This is the perfect opportunity to talk about any leadership roles you have previously taken on, For example, if you were a prefect in school. Any volunteering experience would also be great to mention here. This could also be a time to mention any involvement you have had in extracurricular activities such as newspaper or drama productions. Any research you have done into university clubs and societies or initiatives would help you craft a great answer to this question as well. Remember to stay genuine with your answer though.
9. What will you do if you are not successful in getting into the course?
This is a tough question to answer. You want to express that you want this and that you deserve it. You also don’t want to come across too strong. Confidently re-iterate why you think you would be a great fit for this university and that it is your first choice but also mention that you have applied to other universities as well.
Good luck with your University applications. Give us a call if you need any more help!
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