Presenting Yourself 101
For many high school students, writing a college essay and sitting for an interview feel like daunting tasks. It’s not easy to talk about yourself, let alone make a lasting impression. I’ve found that during the pandemic, many students lost the opportunity to hone those social skills and practice speaking professionally to others. And it always feels a little awkward to talk and write about ourselves. However, the key to success in both is the same: authenticity and preparation. Here are a few tips to help you feel more comfortable and confident when sharing your story.
Tell Your Story with Confidence
Admissions officers and interviewers want to understand who you are beyond grades and test scores. Your personal story—what you value, how you’ve grown, and what excites you—makes you unique. This will come up in your college essay as well as in any interviews you do with college admissions officers.
Tips for Your Essay:
Start with a brainstorming session. Write down meaningful experiences, challenges you’ve overcome, or passions that define you. Think about the things you value in life, who you are now, and who you might want to become. I’m a big fan of the College Essay Guy’s values exercise to help get you going.
Show, don’t just tell. Instead of saying, “I am a hard worker,” share a story that illustrates your determination. Provide specific examples and really reflect on your experiences.
Be yourself. Avoid writing what you think admissions officers want to hear. Your genuine voice is more compelling than a perfect-sounding but impersonal essay. There is no right or wrong answer to the essay prompts!
Be okay with writing multiple drafts. Nobody writes anything perfectly the first time. Be patient with yourself as you draft and refine your ideas. Look at your college essay as an opportunity for growth, just like anything else in life.
You do NOT have to write about a traumatic experience. I was actually surprised to find that many students feel like they don’t have anything to write about because they haven’t experienced anything traumatic or they don’t have a tear-jerker story. And, for those students that have lived through something traumatic, they feel like they HAVE to write about it. The college essay is a great place to showcase some vulnerability and growth, but if you are uncomfortable sharing a part of your life with admissions officers, especially if it’s painful, then don’t. I promise, there are plenty of other things you can write expressively about. Johns Hopkins University posts “essays that worked” every year that are great examples of how you can show off who you are without necessarily relying on a painful subject.
More Resources:
College Essay Guy’s Free Resources – Great brainstorming exercises and essay-writing tips.
The New York Times: 10 Standout College Essays – Real student essays that made an impact.
Know Your Strengths (and Weaknesses)
When writing or speaking about yourself, focus on what makes you unique. But don’t shy away from challenges or failures—colleges (and jobs!) appreciate self-awareness and growth. Really reflect on this with a friend, teacher, or parent and jot down a few of your strengths and weaknesses. Brainstorm how you might address each of these points in an interview.
Essay Example: If you struggled in a class but worked hard to improve, write about what that experience taught you. Be specific with what steps you took to improve, who you leaned on for help, and what you learned from the process.
Interview Example: If asked about weaknesses, be honest but show how you’re working on them. (“I used to procrastinate, but I’ve learned to manage my time better through structured planning.”)
More Resources:
Big Interview – An interactive tool for practicing interview questions. The blog entries are free and cover a variety of interviewing-related topics!
The S.T.A.R.T. Interview Method
Oftentimes in college or job interviews, the person interviewing you will ask you questions that require you to describe a scenario you faced and how you managed that scenario.
Common questions might include:
Describe a time when you had a conflict with a classmate or coworker. How did you resolve the conflict?
Give an example of a time when you had to balance multiple priorities, such as schoolwork, extracurriculars, and personal commitments. How did you manage it?
Describe a time when you worked effectively as part of a team. What was your role, and what was the outcome?
Describe a situation where you stepped outside of your comfort zone. How did it impact your personal growth?
Tell me about a time when you faced failure or a setback. How did you respond, and what did you learn?
In these kinds of questions, the interviewer is trying to get a sense of your experience in teamwork, leadership, communication, conflict resolution, time management, organization, resilience, personal growth, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The best part of these questions is that you can practice ahead of time using the S.T.A.R.T. method.
S: Situation - Provide some context about the scenario you’re describing. Set the scene.
T: Task - What was the goal that you needed to meet in this scenario?
A: Action - What steps or actions did you take?
R: Result - What were the results of your actions?
T: Takeaways - Upon reflection, what did you learn from this scenario, and how might you approach it differently next time?
By thinking about your experiences up to this point and jotting down a few ideas of how you might answer common interview questions ahead of time, you’ll feel more confident in your actual interview.
Practice Speaking About Yourself
Talking about yourself doesn’t have to feel awkward. Just like anything in life, the more you practice, the easier it gets.
How to Prepare:
Record yourself answering common questions (e.g., “Tell me about yourself,” “Why do you want to attend this college?”). Play it back and adjust your tone and clarity.
Practice often with a friend, teacher, parent, or mentor. The more feedback you get, the more comfortable you’ll feel.
Use body language. Sit up straight, maintain eye contact, and smile—it makes a difference in how you’re perceived. Avoid slouching in your chair, crossing your arms, playing with your hair, or fidgeting too much. A firm handshake is always welcome!
Do your research ahead of time. It shows initiative and that you’re actually interested in the college/university/job if you know a little about it before the interview.
Always have a few questions prepared for the interviewer! Remember, in any interview, you get the opportunity to learn more about the college/job and if it’s a good fit for you. When they ask you, “do you have any questions for me?”, be ready with a list!
More Resources:
TED’s Public Speaking Tips – Insights from great speakers on how to present confidently.
Final Thought: You belong in the conversation, and you have more power than you think!
Remember, colleges want to hear your story. There’s no “right” way to present yourself, but there is an authentic way—your way. Whether you’re writing an essay or speaking in an interview, embrace who you are, prepare thoughtfully, and trust that your story matters.
Finally, remember that this is a two-way conversation. You get the chance to see what this college or job is all about and if you think it’s a good fit for YOU. Sometimes, it can be helpful to switch roles while practicing for an interview where you interview a friend, parent, or mentor–to get a feel of how someone else might answer common interview questions and what kinds of follow up questions you might ask.
You’ve got this my friends!!
Stressed by your college search? Not working with me yet? Let’s chat.