Questions to Ask a College Student

Questions to Ask a College Student

Thoughtful questions to help you connect with college students, learn about their experiences, and understand their perspective on education and life.

1

What are you studying and what drew you to that field?

Understanding their academic interests helps you learn about their passions and what motivates them in their studies.

2

What's been your favorite class so far and why?

Learning about their favorite class helps you understand what they find engaging and what learning experiences they value most.

3

How do you balance your academic work with your social life?

Understanding their balance helps you see how they manage priorities and what they value in their college experience.

4

What's been the most challenging aspect of college so far?

Learning about their challenges helps you understand what they're navigating and what support they might need.

5

What are your career goals and how do you plan to achieve them?

Understanding their goals helps you see their vision for the future and what they're working toward.

6

What extracurricular activities are you involved in and why?

Learning about their activities helps you understand their interests outside of academics and what they value in their college experience.

7

How do you handle stress and pressure during exam periods?

Understanding their stress management helps you see how they cope with academic pressure and what strategies they use.

8

What's your relationship like with your professors and how do you build those connections?

Learning about their professor relationships helps you understand how they network and what mentorship they're seeking.

9

What's been the most rewarding experience in college so far?

Understanding their rewards helps you see what makes their college experience fulfilling and what they value most.

10

How do you approach studying and what techniques work best for you?

Learning about their study approach helps you understand their learning style and what methods they find effective.

11

What are your thoughts on the current state of higher education?

Understanding their perspective on education helps you see how they view the system and what changes they think are needed.

12

How do you handle making friends and building relationships in college?

Learning about their social approach helps you understand how they connect with others and what relationships they value.

13

What are your thoughts on student debt and how do you manage your finances?

Understanding their financial perspective helps you see how they're handling the cost of education and what concerns they have.

14

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

Learning about their motivation helps you understand what drives them and how they maintain their commitment to their studies.

15

What advice would you give to someone starting college?

Understanding their advice helps you learn from their experience and see what they wish they had known earlier.

16

How do you handle disagreements with roommates or peers?

Learning about their conflict resolution helps you understand how they navigate relationships and what communication skills they have.

17

What are your thoughts on the job market and your future employment prospects?

Understanding their job market perspective helps you see their concerns about employment and what they're doing to prepare.

18

How do you approach networking and building professional connections?

Learning about their networking approach helps you understand how they're building their professional network and what strategies they use.

19

What are your thoughts on the role of technology in education?

Understanding their tech perspective helps you see how they view digital learning and what tools they find most useful.

20

What are your hopes and dreams for your future?

Learning about their dreams helps you understand their aspirations and what they want to achieve in their life.

Want to learn more?

Connecting with College Students

Having Meaningful Conversations

Show Genuine Interest

Demonstrate authentic curiosity about their experiences and be respectful of their perspective and journey.

Ask Follow-up Questions

When they share something interesting, ask follow-up questions to show engagement and learn more about their experiences.

Share Your Own Experiences

When appropriate, share your own college experiences to create mutual understanding and connection.

Key Discussion Areas

Academic interests and studies
Favorite classes and learning experiences
Work-life balance and priorities
Challenges and obstacles
Career goals and aspirations
Extracurricular activities and interests
Stress management and coping
Professor relationships and mentorship
Rewarding experiences and achievements
Study techniques and learning styles
Perspectives on higher education
Social connections and friendships
Financial management and debt
Motivation and goal-setting
Advice for new students
Conflict resolution and communication
Job market and employment
Networking and professional development
Technology in education
Future hopes and dreams