What Can You Contribute to Our University?

At nearly any college, the interviewer is trying to assess what you'll add to the campus community. Some will try to get at this information indirectly, while others will ask you bluntly, "What will you contribute to our university?" Below you'll find tips for students answering this question.

Numerical Measures Aren't a Contribution

This university interview question asks for some vital information. The admissions folks will admit you if they think you can handle the work and if they think you will enrich the college campus community. As an applicant, you may be focused largely on numerical measures; good SAT scores, a strong academic record, AP scores, and so on. Grades and test scores are important, but they aren't what this question is about.

Interviewers want you to address how you will make the university a better place. As you think about the question, picture yourself living in the residence halls, participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering your services, and interacting with the students, staff, and faculty who make up your community. How do you fit in, and how will you make the campus a better place for everyone?

Again, think about the question carefully. A 3.89 GPA and a 1480 SAT score don't contribute to a college. Your passion for science fiction, your baking skills, and your ability to fix bicycles can make the university a better place for everyone.

Weak Interview Question Answers

As you think about how to answer this question of what you'll contribute to the university as a student, consider how others will respond. If your answer is the same as most other applicants, it won't set you apart from others. Consider these responses:

• "I'm hard-working."
• "I like to be challenged."
• "I'm a perfectionist."
• "I'm good at managing my time."

While these answers suggest you have positive personal qualities that might lead to college success, they don't answer the question. They don't explain how your presence will enrich the campus community. Also, your high school record provides evidence of these qualities; you don't need to state them.

Good Interview Question Answers

The question asks about the community, so your answer should be community-oriented. Think in terms of your hobbies and passions. What are you likely to be doing outside the classroom when you are in college? Are you likely to be serenading your classmates as a member of the a cappella group? Are you hoping to start a D-League intramural hockey team for students who have never skated? Are you the student who will bake brownies in the dorm kitchen at 2 a.m.? Do you have ideas for a new recycling program to benefit the university? Are you bringing your camping gear to college and looking forward to organizing outings with classmates?

There are dozens of possible ways to answer the question of what can you contribute to the university as a student. In ​general, a strong answer will have the following qualities:

• Focus on an interest or passion that can make the campus community better.
• Your response focuses on something that makes sense at the school you are interviewing. For example, you wouldn't discuss your tuba-playing skills if the college has no music ensembles.
• Your response doesn't apply to 90% of applicants. You don't need to be unique, but you want to focus on something that isn't generic.
• Explain why your particular talent or interest will make the campus community a better place.

In short, think about how you see yourself interacting with your classmates and other community members. The admissions officers have your grades and test scores, so they know you are a good student.

This question about your contributions is an opportunity to show you can think outside of yourself. A good answer illustrates ways you will enhance the college experience of those around you. It's tempting to highlight your accomplishments when speaking with college admissions personnel. Let the application do that. When interviewing, it is more effective to demonstrate you are a generous person who thinks about the broader college community.

A Final Word on Your College Interview

One way or another, your interviewer will try to figure out what you will contribute to the university, so make sure you enter the interview room with a sense of how you'll fit into the campus. That is just one piece of your interview. Think through your responses to other common interview questions, and work to avoid interview mistakes that can jeopardize your application. Dress appropriately for your interview to make a good impression.