Interviews for High School Seniors

Interviews are a great way to show off your personality and connect with current students. They are completely optional with only 20% of applicants taking part. If you don’t do an interview, don’t worry! This will not hinder your application.

Interview Tips

Keep your answers conversational. The interviews are conducted by current W&M seniors. They were in your shoes, so just talk with them.
Be prepared to talk about yourself (this is about you).
Look sharp! (We recommend not wearing sweats or pajamas.)
Arrive early. It’s always better to be early than late.

Sample Questions

What extracurricular activities have you been involved with?
About which are you most passionate? (If you’re not asked why, the “why” is implied)
Talk about your high school.
How would you describe yourself as a student? In what kind of academic setting do you thrive? (The “why” is implied)
If you could take a class in any subject that’s not offered at your high school, what subject would you take a class in? (What’s the “why”? Oh yes, it’s implied)
Talk about a challenge you’ve faced and how you worked through it.
What is the accomplishment about which you are the most proud? (Do we even have to mention the “why” again?)
If there was a newspaper article published about you in the past year, what would the headline be?
How would your friends describe you? (Don’t forget the “why”)
Why are you interested in William & Mary? (Yes, elaborate with the “why”)
If you were given a plane ticket and you could fill in the destination, where would you go?
If you were to have a personal mascot, what it be?

A More Personal Side of W&M

"I believe this opportunity allowed me to articulate qualities about myself that a paper application just cannot convey. This experience really allowed me to add something substantive to my application and allowed me to get a more intimate feel for the university. The interviewer answered all of my questions and really allowed me to see a more personal side of William & Mary!" – W&M summer interviewee