Favorite Questions: What's your passion?

A number of you have asked about specific questions that I or other college interviewers use a lot, and how to answer them best. This is the first post in an occasional series I'll run profiling specific college admissions interview questions you should be ready for--and how to (and not to) answer them. --CJ

Question: What are you passionate about? (Alt: What are you particularly devoted to? What do you spend most of your time on? What makes you tick? Etc)

Background/why you're being asked:
Most interviewers meet with multiple--sometimes dozens--of students, all of whom tend to look pretty similar: Good grades, smattering of extra-curricular activities, etc. What they want to know is how you stand out. What makes you different from the pack--and thus worthy of admission? (and yes, they want to lump you into a category)

Some schools also pride themselves on having eclectic classes--the nation's foremost tuba player, the western-region champion fire juggler, etc. For these schools especially, it's critical that you have something that really sets you apart.

Finally, sometimes, your interviewer is also just fishing for a conversation topic. Maybe you and your interviewer share interests (probably not), but regardless, there's something you can talk about for a few minutes.

How NOT to respond
How do you screw this up? Easy--there are really two main flubs:

• First, don't have a response. High-caliber students tend to be more engaged in the world around them, and thus be passionate about something. You don't have to be the world's expert, but by the time you're 17, you should have some interest in something. No passion=not engaged=not high caliber=ding. You're being given a wide opening to distinguish yourself from the pack--you need to take that opportunity to talk about your core interests.
• Second, lie. If you claim to be passionate about literature--but then can't hold a conversation about any books you've read--you're going to come across as shallow at best, or insincere at worst. Expect your interviewer to follow up on whatever you claim to be into--and potentially to be an expert in your area.

Also, watch looking like a lightweight in your area of interest. If you're passionate about the flute, but are 5th chair in your high school band and have never distinguished yourself, you're going to come across as a lightweight (at best). Ditto the literature aficionado whose favorite book is Huck Finn. Every 9th grader in America reads Huck Finn. Pick something else.

How to nail it:
Easy:

• First, obviously, be ready for it. Since you've been reading my posts, you're already ready with an elevator pitch and the three things that set you apart. This is an easy window to launch into that (if you haven't already done so in your interview--and if you already have, you probably preempted this question already by talking about your specific passions and interests). Try to keep it simple too: "I'm passionate about helping others" or "I'm really interested in chemistry" or "I'm really devoted to playing guitar". You want your interviewer to think "guitarist -- got it" and ask "so what is it about playing guitar that you particularly enjoy?" Presto! You're distinguishing yourself as an applicant.
  
• Second, be ready with support. You're guaranteed to get a follow-up question (typically "why?" or "tell me more about that?")--be ready to talk about your interest, and demonstrate your commitment. Passionate about the guitar? Why? ("I love learning about different styles of music" or "I find it a great way to relax and collect my thoughts after a long day at school"). Then support it ("I play in my school's jazz band" or "I play a couple of nights a month at the local coffee shop"). And if you've got accolades, all the better ("And I won American Idol last season.")
• Third, be ready to be challenged. Particularly if your passion is academic, you might have an interviewer who majored in your area of interest! Be ready to talk in-depth about your interest (again, this is why it's critical not to lie--you might get your bluff called!)

Finally, what if you really just don't have a passion? I'd argue that you do, you just haven't thought about it yet. Passions don't have to be highbrow--I've had both jugglers and video-game addicts--surely there's something that makes you unique from the rest of your peers. Whatever that is, that's what you should talk about.

However... if there really isn't, fess up to it and spin it:

"Honestly, I still haven't found an overriding passion in my life yet. I have a lot of interests--soccer, French, oboe--but nothing yet that I'm really devoted to. One of the things I'm most excited about in attending your university is the chance to explore more areas and uncover what it is that will be my passion in life."

It's both an honest response and makes another case for your admissions to that school--and beats "I dunno, I don't have one" by a long shot. ---CJ