Interview tips for getting into New Zealand colleges

Cracking a college admission interview is neither rocket science nor a walk in the park. It is an opportunity for students to know the college and for college to know the student better. Individuals applying to graduate schools in New Zealand can expect an interview in certain cases as it is not compulsary.

Tips to Prepare for College Interview

Here are few handy tips before appearing for an interview.

• Prepare Yourself: Students should prepare themselves for what to say and how to present themselves. They should gather all the information about the college they are applying to, the course they have applied for and the faculty that would teach them at the institute. Most importantly, students must not fumble during the interview. 
• Do not panic: Once you have prepared yourself well, you need not worry at all. The admission committee of the college would want to meet the students to know them better, in person. So, if you are getting jitters, calm down.
• Ask questions: It's good to ask questions to your interviewers. It in fact it shows that you possess a keen interest in the college you are applying for. Many times, the interviewer is an alumni of the college, so you can ask them why they chose the college over other colleges and what factor sets the college apart from other colleges.
• Dress suitably: If you are appearing for a face-to-face interview, then you should stay away from jeans and t-shirt. You should never dress casually while going for an interview. You should stick to formals as they are the safest bet. Remember that the interview is your only hope to promote yourself as the best prospective student for a particular course. So you need to project yourself as a sincere candidate who is serious about his/her education.
• Do not give mediocre answers: Students get to choose if the interview is going to be interesting or boring. Make sue yuor answers illicit an interest from the interviewer and you don't give one word answers. 
• Get in touch with current students: Students are great help as they have already gone through the same procedure in the college. They will be able to give you practical tips to crack interviews. Beside this, they will also be able to give insights about the college activities and culture.
• Remember to be courteous: Remember to say thank you and sorry. You should switch off your cell phone or put it on silent mode. Do not attend calls during interview. Never lie or make excuses, sound superior or aggressive during the interview. 
• Active listening: Pay attention to the interviewer before reaching to a conclusion and answering. Sometimes, due to nervousness or stress aspirants start answering the questions even before listening to the complete question. It is extremely important that you maintain a calm tone. So don't sound defensive or raise your tone. 
• Be simple and stick to the point: You must not beat around the bush and should stick to the point. They should maintain a polite tone while answering the questions and emphasize on fostering a friendly conversation with the interviewer. During the conversation, it is better not to bring up irrelevant topics unless one has thorough knowledge on the subject and can strike a relevant conversation on the same.

Basic interview questions asked:

• Why do want to study at this college?
• Why this particular course?
• Tell us something about yourself
• What other colleges have you applied to?
• How can you add value to this course and class?
• Your strengths/weaknesses?
• Where do you see yourself 5/10/15 years from now?
• Your interests/hobbies/ achievements?
• Do you have any questions for us?

Also check:

• Types of Education Institutions in New Zealand
• List of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) in New Zealand
• List of Private Training Establishments (PTEs) in New Zealand
• 6 Reasons to Study in New Zealand
• Introduction to Education System in New Zealand