School & debate · Interview Prep
College interview practice: chat with a friendly alum
Alumni interviews are usually relaxed conversations: expect “Why this college?”, “What do you do outside class?”, “Tell me about a challenge,” and “What questions do you have for me?” Give reasons tied to specific programs or people rather than rankings, tell short stories instead of listing activities, and bring two real questions. Practice with Gordon Pratt, a friendly alum who meets you at a coffee shop and follows up on what you say.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- High school juniors starting to think about college interviews in the fall.
- Seniors with an alumni interview coming up in October through February.
- Parents who want to help their teen prepare without hovering.
- College counselors coaching students on specific reasons and real stories.
What happens
How a session goes
- Mr. Gordon Pratt speaks first: So tell me, why are you interested in this college?
- He asks the questions a real alumni interviewer would ask, one at a time, and follows up on what you said.
- You answer out loud, or type instead at any time.
Real lines from a test session
What Mr. Gordon Pratt said in a test session
“What do you do when you're not in class?”
“That's nice, really. So tell me about a time you had to learn something quickly for a class or a project, something you knew nothing about going in. How did you tackle it?”
“That's a good approach, really breaking things down to basics. I appreciate you sharing that.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for College Alumni Interviews
“I think it went okay in the end.”
You gave no outcome, no data on what you achieved or learned, making the story forgettable.
Try instead: “I ended up identifying how three posters used color to shift public opinion, and my professor said my analysis was one of the most original in the class.”
What went well: You kept answers brief and did not ramble, which shows you can be concise.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- You give specific reasons for this college, like programs or people, not rankings.
- You tell stories instead of listing activities. Evidence scores higher than a resume recital.
- You stay clear and relevant: answer the question he actually asked, then stop.
- You show curiosity and end with a thoughtful question for the interviewer.
Scored on:
- Clarity
- Relevance
- Evidence
- Structure
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “It's a really good school and I've always wanted to go there.”
Better: “I want to study biology with Professor Lin, whose lab works on local wetlands, which is what I do in my science club.”
Specific programs and people show real interest; a good school label says nothing.
Weak: “I'm involved in a lot of clubs and I play two sports.”
Better: “When our robotics team lost its lead builder, I taught myself CAD over a weekend so we could finish the arm.”
A story shows who you are; a list of activities is just a resume.
Weak: “I want to go here because it has a great reputation.”
Better: “I sat in on a seminar when I visited, and the students argued about a poem for an hour, which is exactly what I want.”
A moment you noticed beats a ranking you read.
Weak: “No, I don't have any questions. You answered everything.”
Better: “What do students here do on a free afternoon that surprised you when you were a student?”
A thoughtful question shows curiosity and keeps the conversation going.
College Alumni Interview: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
Try it free, no signupMake this useful for your next conversation
Your interview prep practice plan
- Connect your experience to the role
- Explain your own action and result
- Handle a follow-up with specific evidence
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
Need repeated practice? $4.99 once buys 100 rounds across every mode and full coaching on every report. Rounds never expire; no subscription is required.
FAQ
Questions about College Alumni Interviews
Who is the interviewer and what is he like?
Mr. Gordon Pratt is a friendly alumni interviewer, about 60, who meets you at a coffee shop. He speaks first and asks why you are interested in this college. He follows up on what you actually said, so the conversation goes where your answers take it. Try it free →
What does the scorer reward in this college interview?
Specific reasons for this college, like programs and people rather than rankings. Stories over lists. Curiosity. A thoughtful question for the interviewer at the end. It penalizes answers like it's a good school and reciting your resume without a story. Try it free →
Do alumni interviews matter for college admissions?
It depends on the school. At many colleges the interview is one small part of the application and is used mostly to learn more about you; at others it is optional or informational. Either way, a thoughtful conversation can add detail your essays don’t show, so prepare as if it counts. Try it free →
What should I wear to a college interview?
Neat, comfortable clothes one step above what you wear to school, such as a collared shirt or a simple sweater. You don’t need a suit for an alumni coffee. Aim to look like you took it seriously without feeling stiff. Try it free →
Try College Alumni Interview free
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