Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” in a College Interview (With Examples)

The “tell me about yourself” college interview question is one of the most common (and mishandled) questions in college interviews. Most students default to reciting their resume or summarizing their application, which not only wastes this crucial time but also fails to signal genuine interest. Done well, this answer sets up a positive tone for everything that follows. Done poorly, it makes the rest of the conversation feel forced.

Why does the “tell me about yourself” question matter so much?

College interviews are one of the last checkpoints in the college admissions process. It’s a valuable chance for students to reaffirm their interest in a college, and for colleges to solidify what they already suspect about a student from their college application.

There are roughly 15 common college interview questions a student may be asked, but “tell me about yourself” is almost always the first question an interviewer asks.

“Most applicants flub this question. They nervously recite biographical and resume info until it ultimately trails off, with nowhere for the interviewer to go from there. So instead, think of this question as: ‘I just met you, and I have no idea where to start. Help me out. What are 3-4 interesting things about you that could lead to a conversation you’d be comfortable having? Just a few topics to get us started. And please mix it up - don’t make them all about your resume.’”

Kevin McMullin, Collegewise Founder and Chief Education Officer

How to answer “tell me about yourself”: a step-by-step approach

1. Follow the present, past, future formula

Start with who you are today, trace it back to what shaped you, and then connect it to where you want to be and how this college fits into that future. This approach gives your answer structure and a natural endpoint, so it doesn’t trail off.

2. Pick 1-2 meaningful experiences to reference

College admissions officers reviewed your application before scheduling the interview. This isn’t the moment to recap it. Pick one or two meaningful experiences that have shaped your intellectual curiosity, character, and growth throughout high school. Not only will this help interviewers recognize what’s most important to you, but it will also guide any potential follow-up questions.

3. Connect your story to college

Close your answer with a brief, specific comment about why you applied to that college. Most interviewers will likely ask “Why us?” at some point in the interview. Be proactive and attempt to address that question in your opening answer. Then, the interviewer can ask follow-up questions.

4. Keep a notepad, but don’t memorize a script

Jot down a few high-level prompts before the interview. This gives you the chance to answer questions honestly and without worrying about stumbling over your words. If you draw a blank during your answer, take a quick glance at your notes.

Sample “tell me about yourself” answers

Sample #1: The conversationalist

“My dad is a chemist, and my mom teaches high school English, so we’ve really got the academic spectrum covered in our house. I grew up in South Carolina and moved to Brooklyn at the start of my freshman year of high school. That was a pretty tough adjustment, but I’m enjoying my life here now. Last summer, I taught myself how to play guitar using YouTube videos, and while I’m nowhere near a guitar virtuoso, I am improving enough to play some of my favorite songs. And last year, I auditioned for my first school musical, and I made it. Granted, it was for the smallest part in the production, but I just loved it. That’s when I started thinking more about what I wanted to do in college and where I wanted to study…”

Why it works:

This response gives the interviewer four distinct conversation threads to pull on: life, family, a hobby, and an activity. Many of these are not addressed in the student’s college application, but all of them are genuine. Any one of them is a good conversation starter and clearly very important to the student’s journey thus far. The student also closes out their response by anchoring it back to the reason they’re having the interview in the first place.

Sample #2: The unexpected journey

“I’m fascinated by engineering. When I was younger, I was convinced that I wanted to be a pilot. I read countless books about aviation and admired some of the world’s greatest aviators. The summer before freshman year, I finally convinced my parents to send me to aviation camp. While other students couldn’t wait to experience the simulators, I was surprised to learn that I was more fascinated by the aircraft themselves than soaring through the skies. The nuts, bolts, and mechanics behind flight sparked a deeper curiosity that I needed to explore more deeply.

The camp changed my trajectory. I realized I wanted to pursue aerospace engineering and made sure to reshape my coursework and extracurriculars in high school to explore the field further. My proudest accomplishment was designing and 3-D printing a scale model aircraft for my town’s national science competition. The project earned me the first-place prize, but also solidified my passion for creating things that move the world forward.

But I didn’t want to stop there. I began researching colleges that push the boundaries in aerospace innovation, and Purdue stood out to me more than any college I came across. The hands-on research and design opportunities align perfectly with the kind of engineer I hope to be.”

Why it works:

This response opens with a hook (using the present-past-future formula) and uses that to share more insight into their unexpected journey toward their chosen major. It hits all three parts of the present-past-future formula and closes by naming Purdue University specifically.

What mistakes should I avoid when answering “tell me about yourself”?

1. Reciting your application

The interviewer already has your application. Go beyond the basics and share something that isn’t in your college application, but complements it.

2. Running too long

A response over three minutes starts to feel like a running monologue. Without proper pacing, students run the risk of getting lost in what they’re saying, stumbling over words, or offering irrelevant information. Practice pacing and do mock interviews in advance.

3. Forgetting to connect to the college

College interviews are one of the many ways colleges assess a student’s demonstrated interest.

Do some research on the college in advance. Make notes of the things you find most exciting and why you applied in the first place.

4. Sounding overly rehearsed

College interviews are a two-way street. They should feel natural and conversational. Memorizing answers word-for-word can backfire and lead students to sound flat, robotic, and disingenuous. The goal is to know your story well enough to tell it naturally, not perform it.

Frequently asked questions

“Tell me about yourself” isn’t a trick question. Students should treat it as an invitation to share more insight into who they are and how they’d be a great fit for that specific college. And while they are important, they’re also just one piece of the larger college application puzzle. So don’t overthink it.

Collegewise counselors have helped over 35,000 students through every stage of the college admissions process, including interview preparation. Our 1:1 counseling includes mock interviews and guidance on interview preparation for every student. To learn more about how Collegewise can support you:

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