Hello all, I finally have my interview scheduled with Columbia to conclude my application. I've never completed an interview for any of my military applications yet so I am quite nervous. What should I expect from this interview? For anyone who has completed an interview what type of questions should I prepare for? I'm just a little nervous for this; I feel my application makes me a strong candidate but worried this interview will put me down since I don't have an idea of what to expect. Any help is very appreciated. Thanks all.
NROTC Interview
- Thread starter SynthChip
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This is the link I used to prep for my NROTC interview. I was asked a question or two from each page.
https://www.netc.navy.mil/Portals/4...TERVIEW_FORM.pdf?ver=uE3hhjMrr78nFBGRXdtP-g==
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Scour the NROTC and school unit websites, so you don’t ask questions whose answers are readily found.
There are many threads each year here on SAF about nom interviews, SA interviews, ROTC interviews. Go find them.
Have some questions ready to go.
Focus on listening to the entire question and don’t let your brain already be thinking about the answer. Listen to understand first, then to respond. This is invaluable when it’s a two-part question, as in “Tell me why the Navy option is what you are interested in, and then your top 3 Navy warfare communities that would interest you.” You answer the first quickly, because your brain went into “respond” mode, and you completely forget the second half. Or you realize there was something else and have to ask for it to be repeated.
Be prepared to discuss your motivation, interest areas, academic and personal strength areas. “Balancing NROTC requirements and college requirements can be challenging. Are you prepared for that?” “Yes, I am prepared, because I focus on time management and prioritization. I currently juggle 2 AP courses, a varsity sport, volunteer STEM tutor hours, President of the Math Club and work two days a week at Chick Fil A. I know it will be a challenge and hope to learn from more senior midshipmen what has worked for them.”
You can google college interview skills, and wait for helpful posters here.
Think through what you are wearing, so you are confident, and there is nothing to fuss with. Well-groomed and professional. No heavy body fragrance or distracting jewelry.
You can smile! Don’t forget to thank people, including any administrative people with whom you engaged with on your way into the interview.
Practice your handshake. Firm (but not bone-crushing) and professional, same pressure for men and women. If you learned that special handshake for women where it is the light hold of the fingertips, save it for the elder ladies in your family who might have arthritis in their hands.
And - keep n mind ROTC/college is a 4-year waystation to the Real Thing - some years of obligated service as a commissioned officer. Do your legwork on What Comes After.
There are many threads each year here on SAF about nom interviews, SA interviews, ROTC interviews. Go find them.
Have some questions ready to go.
Focus on listening to the entire question and don’t let your brain already be thinking about the answer. Listen to understand first, then to respond. This is invaluable when it’s a two-part question, as in “Tell me why the Navy option is what you are interested in, and then your top 3 Navy warfare communities that would interest you.” You answer the first quickly, because your brain went into “respond” mode, and you completely forget the second half. Or you realize there was something else and have to ask for it to be repeated.
Be prepared to discuss your motivation, interest areas, academic and personal strength areas. “Balancing NROTC requirements and college requirements can be challenging. Are you prepared for that?” “Yes, I am prepared, because I focus on time management and prioritization. I currently juggle 2 AP courses, a varsity sport, volunteer STEM tutor hours, President of the Math Club and work two days a week at Chick Fil A. I know it will be a challenge and hope to learn from more senior midshipmen what has worked for them.”
You can google college interview skills, and wait for helpful posters here.
Think through what you are wearing, so you are confident, and there is nothing to fuss with. Well-groomed and professional. No heavy body fragrance or distracting jewelry.
You can smile! Don’t forget to thank people, including any administrative people with whom you engaged with on your way into the interview.
Practice your handshake. Firm (but not bone-crushing) and professional, same pressure for men and women. If you learned that special handshake for women where it is the light hold of the fingertips, save it for the elder ladies in your family who might have arthritis in their hands.
And - keep n mind ROTC/college is a 4-year waystation to the Real Thing - some years of obligated service as a commissioned officer. Do your legwork on What Comes After.
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Ihavenoidea
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All good advice so far. Be ready for typical interview questions ( Why do you want to join the Navy? Why do you want to be a officer? Give a hardship in your life, and how did you succeed in it?). Try to answer questions in specific ways. Stay away from "because I love my country, want to serve, etc) Those statements are likely true and good, but they are broad and told by ever applicant that officer speaks too. Have some specific answers/stories for these questions. It doesn't have to be a novel in length. Just be honest, sincere, and concise. If you do, then it will come across and the Officer will take notice.
Definitely do your homework and know some of the "basic" questions about NROTC and the college (anything you can easily find on a website) and don't ask those questions. This is your chance to find more specific information about NROTC. For example, instead of asking "what is a Naval Science lab like?". Ask something like "I am interested in the SWO community, how often do outside SWO Officers come to speak with the unit about SWO? What base do they come from?"...stuff like that. It is also a great opportunity to learn about the Navy from the interviewer. Ask them questions about them, there community, why that community, duty before NROTC, etc.
Definitely do your homework and know some of the "basic" questions about NROTC and the college (anything you can easily find on a website) and don't ask those questions. This is your chance to find more specific information about NROTC. For example, instead of asking "what is a Naval Science lab like?". Ask something like "I am interested in the SWO community, how often do outside SWO Officers come to speak with the unit about SWO? What base do they come from?"...stuff like that. It is also a great opportunity to learn about the Navy from the interviewer. Ask them questions about them, there community, why that community, duty before NROTC, etc.
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Is your interview in person or a virtual medium?
FastFood44
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this is a PERFECT resource. Study and have an answer ready for all these questions. Practice making it sound natural and not forced.
That really really helpful thank you. I'll be reviewing these over the new few days for sure. Thanks!
Thank you for the tips. My interview will be virtual but everything else with the questions I'll definitely make sure to properly prepare for.
It will be virtual.
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You are welcome.
Since it’s video, go research the internet for info like this:
4 Tips for Nailing Your Virtual College Interview
College planners and education consultants in Austin, Texas offer help with finding a college, writing college essays, and college planning.
When I do extended online things, such as sit as a panel member in a virtual seminar, where I need to look at and respond to the interviewer, and online attendees, keep an eye on questions coming up in the chat, and present a pleasant face-to-face experience, I place my laptop on top of a cookie sheet on an upended 6-8 qt cooking pot on my desk. I can sit up straight and look straight into my laptop camera. Anything that gives you a stable platform to put you in a good spot relative to the camera’s perspective. Oddly, that particular combo works the best for me. There are plenty of ways to achieve that, or you may have an exterior webcam already set up on a larger monitor with a good viewing setup. I take my laptop to our joint work desk downstairs, not my usual place where I work (in front of a big window looking out at the forest with way too much light and opportunity for visits from the dogs). No street or doorbell noise, dogs can be kept out, the lighting is perfect, and I have a professional background, which I like better than a computer-generated background or blur. Pay attention and test-drive those things. Dress appropriately, at least from the waist up!
Hi, this link doesn't seem to be working. Is this link working for anyone else currently?
UPDATED: Here's an updated link:
NSTC 1533-157 (10-23) OFFICER INTERVIEW FORM
Practice, practice, practice! Your school counselor - or a teacher- would probably be happy to help you do some practice interviews! My DD did not do this and wished she would have!
I can attest to this. I printed out the OI form, gave it to my counselor, and we spent over an hour running through the questions at random - productive use of a free period. It was EXTREMELY helpful.
Appreciate it, I think you revived a ghost chat though. This was last year 2023 lol