02-02-2008, 08:06 PM
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#27 |
| Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 286
| Quote:
I'm nervous that he is going to ask things like, "Which novel do you find most intellectually stimulating and why? What is the philosophical reasoning behind your decision to apply to Brown?" etc...
Do I HAVE to have the interview now that I've been contacted?!?!
| Of all the interviews I've had so far, NONE of them asked questions like that. Most of these interviews are conducted by alumni in a casual atmosphere like a coffee shop, library, or someone's house. In fact, in the Brown Interviewer's guide it says NOT to pressure or "drill" the applicant.
Here's what the Brown Alumni Interview handbook says in case you're still iffy about the interview (which IMO you shouldn't, it's not that bad at all  ): BASC Handbook excerpt Quote:
The Interview
Use the interview as an opportunity for relationship building
Personal attention is BASC’s chief contribution to Brown’s overall student recruitment efforts. Your role is to be the face of the University, providing a personal touch for what may seem to the applicants to be a large institution.
Make the interview as comfortable and convenient for the applicant as possible. Many applicants are understandably nervous about the interview. Start out the interview with easy questions about their high school and their extracurricular activities. Do not ask them about their class rank, SAT scores, or GPAs, as these questions often make the students uneasy and give the wrong impression about Brown. Also, do not discuss the candidate’s chances of admission or criticize other colleges.
Explain to the applicants that the interview is not a deciding factor in their application; there is very little they might do or say that would guarantee a denial. Instead, this is a chance for them to find out more about Brown University. Choosing the right college is an enormous decision, and this interview should help students feel more confident about making choices.
"Do’s and Don’ts”
Don't feel you have to give every student a "Brown wants you" message; given the 15% admission rate, this may unfairly raise expectations.
Do convey respect for each student, along with the message that Brown is a great place with a lot to offer. This applies even to students who may not particularly impress you, as sometimes the talents or qualities for which the Admission Office may admit a student may not be evident during the interview.
Do have a wide-ranging and thoughtful discussion. Always remember that we, as alumni, represent the Brown community and our views can be misinterpreted as those of the university. The interview should not be used to test, challenge, persuade, dissuade, debate, confront, corner, or show up the applicant. This obviously applies to sensitive topics such as race, sexuality, religion, and politics, which people often take very personally.
Don’t spend the entire interview reminiscing about your time at Brown, but feel free to briefly share your experiences and discuss facets of the Brown experience which may be especially well suited to the student.
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