Five Common Mistakes That Can Lower College Interview Scores

The 2027 college admissions interview season has officially begun. Interviews serve as the final opportunity for students to demonstrate their abilities, but the intense pressure can lead to common mistakes. Kim Byeong-jin, head of the Education Evaluation Research Institute at Etoos, outlined five common errors that can negatively impact interview scores and provided tips for overcoming them on the 23rd.

Five Common Mistakes That Lower Interview Scores

1. Long Introductions and Delayed Conclusions
In an effort to stand out in a short time, candidates often provide lengthy background explanations. Kim advised, "If the introduction is too long, the main point can become unclear, and candidates may miss the chance to answer other questions prepared by the interviewer." He emphasized the importance of training to present key conclusions in the first sentence, aiming for responses to be within one minute during the approximately ten-minute interview.

2. Reciting Prepared Scripts Irrelevant to the Question
Forcing in a prepared 'killer episode' can lead to off-topic answers, which may give the impression of poor communication skills. To avoid this, candidates should structure their responses logically using the four-step framework: WHAT (what), WHY (why), HOW (how), and SO WHAT (how they grew from it).

3. Pretending to Know or Exaggerating Experiences
Exaggerating information from application materials or fabricating knowledge about unfamiliar concepts can be detrimental. Interviewers may quickly uncover falsehoods through follow-up questions, leading to a significant drop in credibility and scores. Candidates should honestly acknowledge their shortcomings and focus on their actual roles and growth.

4. Memorizing Responses and Using Vague Language
Memorizing entire answers can cause candidates to freeze when faced with unexpected questions. Additionally, vague phrases like "I think" can signal a lack of confidence. Candidates should structure their answers around key points and develop the habit of using clear endings like "I did".

5. Avoiding Eye Contact and Defensive Body Language
Avoiding eye contact or displaying excessive gestures can lead to score deductions. Candidates should not become flustered or defensive in response to challenging questions or critiques. Kim advised, "It’s important to maintain eye contact with the interviewer and respond flexibly and politely, saying, 'Thank you for the constructive feedback. I will work on it.'"

Interview and Essay Schedules Surrounding the 2027 College Entrance Exam

The major universities' entrance exams (interviews and essays) for the 2027 academic year will be divided around the college entrance exam date of November 19.

Before the exam, some universities, including Yonsei University (essays and some interviews) and Korea University (special admission interviews), will hold their exams from October to early to mid-November.

In contrast, the first weekend after the exam (November 21-22) and the second weekend (November 28-29) will see a concentration of interviews and essay exams at most major universities, including Seoul National University, Korea University, Sogang University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Hanyang University.

During this period, overlapping schedules for multiple universities can create what is known as 'admissions chaos,' so candidates must carefully coordinate their travel and schedules for the universities they are applying to.

Kim emphasized, "Interviews are not tests of memorization but conversations with the interviewer," adding that it is crucial for candidates to check the exact schedules and formats for interviews and essays on the admissions offices' websites of the universities they are applying to.

* This article has been translated by AI.