Ah fall, can you feel it in the air? Sweaty palms, nervous ticks — it’s college interview season! To help with this stressful ordeal, I’m devoting a few blog posts to the topic. I’ve already discussed the questions you should be prepared to answer, in addition to 5 tips to keep in mind. Now, I’d love to share an exclusive interview with an Ivy League alumnus about interview mistakes to avoid.

Mistake #1: Not Knowing Where The School is Located

“One of my interview students asked me how often I went into the city, which to be fair is a question you would get a lot, even on tours on campus. Unfortunately, the college *was* in the city. This is a problem. If you are interviewing and you don't even know where the school is located, then you have a much bigger problem than telling me why the curriculum interests you. It's like you don't really know about the school at all.”

Mistake #2: And Then Arguing About It

“The girl who asked the city question didn’t believe me and kept repeating that it’s outside the city. So I turned over my page where I had been taking notes and I drew the campus in relation to the city and showed her where we were actually located. To show up that unprepared and then to argue? Whatever happens, if you make a mistake, you can't be frustrated. You have to say, ‘Oh, thank you so much for explaining.’”

Mistake #3: Not Researching Enough Beforehand

“I interviewed a couple of students who finished public high school graduation requirements early and then start taking classes toward college, but not every school accepts those community college credits. So I had some of those students ask about entering as a Junior and I had to explain how even APs don't get you out of required classes and that it’s still going to take you four years to graduate. A lot of people apply for the name and don’t do enough research about the individual school they’re interviewing for.”

Mistake #4: And Then Getting Frustrated

“The student got combative about his community college classes not counting towards requirements that would allow him to graduate early. He actually got frustrated, and said ‘I don't know why I'm interviewing.’ I don't know either. You signed up to be interviewed. You submitted your application. I don't know how you got this far down the line and didn't realize this wasn't going to pan out. But you can't be combative. Keep your game face, be respectful, and then you can go home and be combative to your mom when you're venting about it, but not during the interview.”

Mistake #5: Bringing Your Parent With You

“I had another student, when we finished the interview, he stood up and said, ‘Thank you for your time.’ And then the woman at the table right next to us stood up and said, ‘Thank you so much. How did he do?’ And I thought, ‘Oh my god. The whole time you were right at the table next to us.’ And now I don't know if anything he said was honest because he was probably so aware that you were there and trying to make sure he was saying the same answers he had been coached to say.’”