面试的技巧

       首先，必须明确一点，面试成功与否不完全取决于你的英文水平，而是和你整个人的综合素质和临场应变能力有关，良好的英文水平只是确保你面试有良好表现的基础。

       不管哪一种形式的面试，都要做好充分准备。比方说，你申请哈佛，常规问题：“为什么你申请上这所学校？”你绝对不能只是人云亦云地说：因为这学校有名，因为这学校给的助学金比其它学校多……你得先上对方学校的官方网站，了解人家学校的具体情况及办学理念等以及你所选的专业情况，然后，你才能真正告诉别人你为什么要上这所学校：从学校的人文环境，学校的办学理念，具体program对你的吸引力，以及学校对你未来career的可能有的影响等来谈。这样，人家才了解你申请这所学校不是盲目的，不是赶潮流，而是有你自己明确的目标和想法。如果是研究生面试，申请人一定要了解所申请program的课程设置特点，专业特色甚至是面试官（通常是教授）的研究方向等信息，并且结合自己的申请材料（简历、个人陈述等）进行回答，这样才能在面试中有的放矢，投其所好，让对方觉得你就是他们需要的学生。同时，为了争取奖学金、助研、助教等机会，申请人必须在面试中适时地突出强调自己的实验或研究项目经历，动手能力、英语口语能力等方面的优势，希望对方考虑。

       其次，面试的关键是自信。面试一般无论长短，都会问你至少4个左右或以上的问题。在有限的时间里，如果申请人遇到一些事先没有思想准备的问题，也不必慌张急于应答，要尽量避免一直发出“嗯…啊…噢…”等语气词，可以思考片刻，然后自信回答。

       最后，要注意谈话技巧，不要心里想什么，就马上一股脑儿倒出来。举例来说，有个面试官问申请人：“你怎么看待同性恋这个问题？”申请人很正直，马上不假思索地说了一串表达对同性恋问题道德上的反对和谴责。等他说完，那个面试他的人平静地告诉他：“对不起，我就是一个同性恋者。”其结果，可想而知。所以，接到一个问题，先要在心里搭一个答题的框架，有条理、有顺序地谈出你的观点和看法，做到有重点、有内容、尽量体现出自己的个性。

       所有的申请大学的面试，原则上高中生们都应该在其谈话深度上进行充分准备，主要要反映出他们的interests, experiences, and goals.

举三个申请美国大学本科常见面试问题的例子来说明如何准备面试。

问题一： Why do you choose to apply for our college/university?

       这个问题的重点是要显示出被面试的申请人已经对该大学做了很深入的研究，和他/她对于学校而言是一个strong match。

       如果该申请人给出一个适合于任何学校的宽泛答案的话，就不成其为一个好的答案。比如，人家问你：Why Columbia? 你的回答如果是：“Columbia has strong academics and is in the middle of New York City”，就太泛泛而论了。

       比较好的回答是，申请人给出一个答案，显示出他对这所大学颇为了解，这所大学和他的专业如何适合他。就好象这样的回答：“Columbia has very strong science programs and I want to study biology. I could also participate in lab work. There is also so much for students to do because of the many on-campus clubs and organizations.”

       我认为，理想的答案是去表明申请人极强的对学校的热情，并且举一些例子说明学校将提供些什么可以与申请人兴趣直接相关的资源或有利条件。以上问题，如果这样回答，你觉得如何？“I love Columbia for so many reasons but the top three are: Access to Research, the Core Curriculum, and an Active Student Body. I hope to pursue my passion for science by working with Dr. Smith, who is working on Sleep Deprivation in Kids. Columbia’s unique core curriculum also really stands out to me. While I want to study in the sciences, literature is my second passion. I want to study Socrates, Emerson and Bronte with the best. And finally, I want to surround myself with an intellectually invigorating student body. As an active member of my school community, I want to get involved in college. At Columbia, the NY Outreach Program will allow me to continue my love of working with young disadvantaged kids.”

问题二： Why do you choose this major?

       美国大学一般都很清楚地知道，大多数高中生进入大学后，很可能会转换专业，但是，他们仍希望通过这个问题能看出申请人已经有一些未来学习的方向。换言之，申请人可以说他还没有确定专业，但是如果能说出某个专业哪里吸引他就更好了。如果申请人仅仅只是说他想去学什么专业就像“I think I want to major in Chemistry”之类的，显然这种答案是不能令人满意的。

       较好的答案是，申请人说出一个他还没有真正了解的专业，在举出一些他平时参加的相关活动来支持他的选择。如申请人这样回答：“I want to major in something science oriented. Currently, I am considering Chemistry because it is a good combination of my passion for science and math.”

       优秀的答案，其标准应该是，申请人应该通过其对这个专业的知识了解，其在该领域的一些相关的追求活动来证明自己非常适合去这个学校学习这个专业。比方说，或许这样回答关于major的问题较好：“Chemistry is most likely what I will major in. I have taken two Chemistry courses at my school and scored a 5 on the AP test. I love Chemistry because it is the basis of almost everything that we use. This summer I worked with the Earth Science Department at Stanford where I helped a graduate student study the formation of ice on Antarctica. I had to use many of the chemical principles I learned, such as the difference between Oxygen 7 and Oxygen 8, to help date the dirt samples. I also realized that I love working in a lab, even though it can be tedious at times. MIT also has one of the best Chemistry Labs and the new Calorimeter is supposed to be the best in the world for dating samples. I want to be in that environment and learn from the best.”

问题三：What are your favorite activities?

       这是大学给申请人一个机会来说明1至3个活动以及它们的重要性。

       如果申请人仅仅列举出这些活动而不稍加详细地描述它们的意义所在以及对自己的重要影响的话，就算不上是一个好的回答。

       真正好的回答标准是，申请人列举三项左右的活动，解释一下为什么它们很有意义，以及他们怎样使申请人与所申请学校非常符合。比如这个回答：“Throughout high school, I have tried to get involved in several activities so that I could find my passions. Early on, I realized that swimming was something that I love to do. I have been on the team for all 4 years of high school. I just absolutely love being in the water and what is unique about swimming is that it is both an individual sport and a team sport. I get to challenge myself to be the best and still also contribute to a team goal. I have also been taking guitar lessons for 2 years now and am starting a band. I am not very good yet, but it is just a really great way to relax and I love music. Finally, I have been working on an independent research project where I am trying to determine how light gets filtered through the optic nerve. One day, I hope to become an ophthalmologist and I have been working with a professor at Stanford in his lab. We came up with the project together and I will be entering it into the Siemens Competition.”

       通过以上问题的分析并解答，希望参加面试的申请人可以获得一些启示，领会到面试的诀窍所在。