About Alison:

I attended Bucknell University — I went far enough away from home that my family wouldn’t visit without calling first, but stayed close enough to go home for the weekend, if I wanted to. I believe in the liberal arts and chose a major I loved, without knowing where it would take me after college. 

I worked in selective college admissions for fifteen years and have also worked one-on-one with lots of students during their college searches. Interviews are my favorite part of the college application, but they can be such a missed opportunity when students arrive nervous or unprepared. I am excited to help students make a strong impression in their interviews by preparing thoughtfully and approaching each interview with a plan. 

When I’m not working, I am usually reading novels, trying out new recipes, or playing with my favorite niece.

About Interview Prep:

My mom can outpace almost anyone she walks with. Not intentionally, but she really only has one speed, and it’s not leisurely. If she’s walking with a goal or destination in mind, like when she’s at the airport, her loved ones have learned that we had better keep up!

Mom calls her tendency towards speed, “Walking with purpose”. She doesn’t dilly-dally. Maybe this has to do with growing up in a big family surrounded by siblings; Now that I think about it, her sisters never have any trouble keeping up with her on walks. 

In my own way, I do it too. My friends used to laugh at me as I walked directly from Point A to Point B on my college campus, ignoring the paved walkways unless they were going exactly where I was headed. 

Doing something with purpose really resonates with me. I want to help students approach their interviews in that way - knowing what is important to share about themselves and which questions to ask about a school - before the interview even starts. Working in admissions, I was always impressed by students who could direct the conversation a bit, rather than just responding to a series of questions from me. 

Fundamentally, admissions interviews are about the whys in a student’s life - the purpose behind your decisions and aspirations. You can do more to prep for interviews than just review common questions you might encounter. Self-reflection about your motivations and your goals will help any student arrive at your interviews feeling more prepared and intentional. Approaching an interview articulate and confident will leave a strong impression on the interviewer. 

Students tend to approach college visits as a chance to learn about the school, and interviews as a chance to answer questions about themselves. They are! But, remember that while you’re trying to find the right school, colleges are trying to find great students to join their communities. Making yourself memorable in your interview will make it easier for your interviewer to advocate on your behalf in the admissions process, and it’s more likely that you will become one of the students they feel they can’t miss out on.