by Heather Tomasello

Created on: February 01, 2009

The college interview process may intimidates even the highest-caliber student. After all, you're expected to impress a stranger with your personality and accolades in a few short minutes. Entrance to your first-choice university may hang in the balance! As a former college advisor in a university honors college and a professional college essay editor, allow me to dispel a myth about the college acceptance interview. I'll also provide insider's tips for how to prepare for and ace your college acceptance interview.

*First, the myth: This interview decides whether you are accepted to that Ivy league university or not. In reality, the college acceptance interview is only one piece of the picture as admissions counselors weigh your application. A prospective college also considers your high school transcript, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, admissions essay, and other parts of your application in order to make admissions decisions. How they weigh each component varies from university to university. However, the interview is only one piece of the puzzle.

What if you are nervous, arrive late, spill your water all over the lap of the interviewer, etc? Rest assured, a bad interview will not ruin your chance of gaining admission, when the other pieces of your application reflect a strong candidacy. However, a good interview can help tip the balance in your favor. It offers a university the opportunity to get to know you in a personal way and sheds light on areas that standardized tests cannot.

How can you prepare to wow your interviewer, whether an alumni member in your area, or admissions counselor at your top-choice university? Here are several proven tips for a dynamite college acceptance interview.

*Dress for success. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be amazed by how many students neglect this area. Toss out the adage, "You can't judge a book by its cover" because how you dress for this interview creates an indelible first impression. Dress conservatively, professionally. Don't wear jewelry or accessories that may distract (including my personal suggestion that you remove noticeable body piercings.) For young ladies, a nice skirt or pants suit is very appropriate. For young men, business casual attire works well, such as a dress shirt and khaki pants. Also please DON'T chew gum! A nice outfit helps you feel more confident and also conveys the message, "I care about this interview and planned and prepared for it."

When you first meet the

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