Your Result: Mostly Ready
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WHAT THIS MEANS
Your interview preparation is solid — you understand the format, you've done some practice, and you can tell a coherent story about who you are.
The remaining gap is polish and specificity: your answers work but may not yet be memorable. At selective schools, the interview is competitive — 'good enough' often isn't.
One or two more focused practice sessions, with an emphasis on sharpening your weakest answers, is the difference between mostly ready and genuinely confident.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Alumni interviewers are looking for students who feel genuinely engaged — not just prepared. The difference between a competent interview and a memorable one is specific, confident answers that feel like natural conversation.
Your 'why this school' answer is the highest-leverage improvement you can make at this stage. If it relies on anything a generic Google search would return, it needs to go deeper.
The follow-up matters at this stage: a well-crafted thank-you note that references specific moments from the conversation can strengthen the impression you leave.
WHAT STRONG APPLICANTS DO DIFFERENTLY
- —They record themselves answering their three hardest questions — 'why this school,' 'tell me about a challenge,' and 'what would you add to campus?' — and watch back to identify what still sounds rehearsed.
- —They prepare two or three specific questions to ask their interviewer — not about logistics, but about the interviewer's experience or the school's culture — to signal genuine curiosity.
- —They treat the thank-you note as a second impression: reference one specific moment from the interview and connect it to why the school is right for them.