Acing the In-Person Interview

I've already been getting a lot of questions about my Feb. 15 newspaper column on how to ace a college admission, scholarship, or job interview. In particular, a lot of folks have been asking for sample questions that might help students better prepare. So here's a list of practice interview questions to get you started:

General Questions

How would you describe yourself?
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
What is your favorite book, and why do you like it?
Who is someone you admire, and why?
How would you like to be remembered?
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
What was an occasion when you overcame adversity?
What is your family like?
How might you contribute to society in the future?

Activity-Oriented Questions

What are your favorite extracurricular activities?
What are some activities in which you've shown leadership?
What types of things have you done to help others?

Course-Related Questions

What courses most interest you?
Why did you choose your specific major?
Do you plan to continue your studies in graduate school?
Who are your role models in your field of interest?

College-Related Questions

Why do you want to go to college?
What do you hope to gain from college?
Why did you choose to attend your particular college?