Why do we get nervous?

There are many reasons why we may get nervous about a university interview, and often these are for similar reasons that you may get nervous when attending a job interview.

It’s important first to point out that the vast majority of people will get nervous or deal with some kind of anxiety at some point – you certainly won’t be the only one! We’ve listed here some of the most common reasons for interview nerves and anxiety with the hope that you will identify with at least one. By understanding what exactly you are nervous about, it is much easier to think about ways to control it

Reasons for being nervous in university interviews

• The situation takes you out of your comfort zone
• You will be in an unfamiliar place talking to people who you do not know
• It is something that means a lot to you and you want to get it right and gain the end goal (achieving a place on the course)
• You don’t know exactly what you will be asked in advance so may feel unprepared
• It is an uncomfortable feeling to know that you are being judged on your answers and/or being the complete focus of someone’s attention
• You may worry you’ll do something wrong or feel silly

There are however things that you can do to control your nerves and anxiety! In the next step, we will explore hints, tips and share tricks you can try…

Are there any other things that make you nervous about a university interview other than the ones listed? Share them with the community in the discussion below