The Thread for College Interviews - Page 4

celestial605 · 10-13-2006, 03:47 AM

I interviewed for Harvard 2 years ago.

I remember talking about my main EC (marching band - drum major) for a while. What tripped me up was being asked about my favorite author. I was embarassed because I love to read forensics mystery novels... so my favorite author was Patricia Cornwell, not someone more "classic" like Hemingway. I was asked why I like her writing... and I rambled about her attention to detail. I don't think my response was very good.

I did get in, most likely due to my excited responses in regards to music. If I had even considered preparing (which I should have), I would have looked up frequently asked questions and prepared (in general) my responses.

Northstarmom · 10-13-2006, 10:47 AM

"love to read forensics mystery novels... so my favorite author was Patricia Cornwell, not someone more "classic" like Hemingway."

There's nothing wrong with having someone like her as your favorite author. Heck, I inteview for Harvard and have loved most of her books. I love her plots and the fact that her main character is a pathologist. I also have enjoyed watching her main characters' personalities and motivations unfold over the course of her books.

What's important for students to realize is that an interview is a chance to be themselves, whoever they are. What caused you to stumble in the answer was your belief that the interviewer wanted you to say that some kind of classic author was your favorite. Instead, what the interviewer was interested in was you -- how you think, what you like, what your passions are.

From what you describe, I doubt that your interview tipped you in (which happens rarely as does the reverse). Your answers about music, however, may have verified what your recommendations and essay had indicated about your intellectual passions and ability to offer something to campus life.

DannyLS3 · 10-14-2006, 01:30 PM

I just read about the experiences missing your interviewer, and this happened to me for my interview. We were supposed to meet at the Coffee Shop in Union Square and so I waited for an hour outside thinking i'd see her(I hd come a little early too, and the place looked reservation-only). I finally left and emailed her asking what happened and she said that she was waiting inside!

I was quite embarrased, but I apologized and we rescheduled the interview 2 weeks later.

About Time · 10-14-2006, 03:15 PM

I interviewed though not everyone does. We met at Starbucks after school. My interviewer was a people person. He was out going and polite. He asked me about my school and he knew some of my teachers. We talked about my interests which included politics.

I don't know whether he was a Republican or Democrat and still don't, and for a second I wondered if I should just play it safe, for a second. Then I launched into my beliefs and passions and the reasons for them. I had some anecdotal stories but I knew all the issues, had worked on my party's platform, had campaigned for several candidates and knew exactly why I believed what I believed. It's my passion and I think/know it showed.

I guess what I'm saying, maybe in response to Patricia Cornwall, is that if you have a reason for what you love and can be articulate about it, do it.

After about ten minutes he was really smiling and suddenly I felt self conscious. I apologized for rambling and he said, no, that's just what Columbia wants, someone who knows what they believe and why they believe it.

Another point I want to make and it was unintentional == but by speaking on my passion there was not a lot of time for other questions after the general what do we have in common and why do you want to go there was out of the way. They give you about an hour and after the interviewer introduces themselves and you do the same and the small talk gets going then there is not a lot of time left.

That's my story anyway.

suman · 10-14-2006, 05:21 PM

ok...well one thing to avoid missing your interviewer that the upenn guy did was mention how he looks like...he was like i'm white, short, bald and i'm wearing so and so shirt or something...and i made sure i had their cell phone number just in case...

juniorinhs · 10-14-2006, 06:52 PM

I just had my first interview today, and I really am clueless as to interpreting whether it went well or not. My interviewer often laughed even when I wasn't being funny...which was a little awkward. But he was very responsive and encouraging.

dima1109 · 10-14-2006, 11:32 PM

are all interviewers nice to you? i'm having an interview with MIT alumnus in a week, i honestly don't know what to expect.
How would you guys compare it to a job interview? (for those who have done both)

jym626 · 10-14-2006, 11:35 PM

dima-
There is no reason an interviewer would be unkind to you that I can think of, unless you threaten them or something.

jrinhs-
why are you interviewing now? Are you really a jr in HS? Most schools are wanting to save their interview time for current srs, until admissions apps deadlines are met. then they typically interview the juniors. Hmmm.....

juniorinhs · 10-15-2006, 10:01 AM

lol, sorry. I'm actually a senior. I just never bothered to change my sn here, because I wanted to save all my "subscribed threads".

jym626 · 10-15-2006, 02:24 PM

ahhhh... makes sense now.....

worth2try · 10-15-2006, 08:15 PM

What kinds of questions should we ask the interviewers? Their personal opinions on the school life/academics/etc? Specific questions about the school?

verbalizing · 10-15-2006, 09:00 PM

I just had my UofC interview this morning. I asked her if she liked their Core and how her basic undergraduate experience was.

rennarj · 10-16-2006, 03:30 PM

i had an interview for middlebury lastyear. im pretty sure that this along with my essay is what got me in. my grades and sats were like likwer end of their average. but it all worked out. be yourself. my alum interviewer and i foudn liek a million things we had in common from like her knowing my grandma who owns a video store in town, to the fact that we both played the bassoon in middleschool lol. its quirky its fun but it makes theinterviewer have fun while talking to you.. its not as simple as asking som eboring question and them answering. ask questions as they com eintot eh conversation. ask open ended questions that will lead into conversation, not simple yes or no or a sentence answers haha. i asked questions like 'so hows the mountain on campus' which led to her asking me if i skiied and us talking about a local mountain whihch we both knew which led me saying how much i liked the chili in a breadbown they serve in the cafeteria there. hich led to hows the cafeteria food at middlebury.. you know? it can be fun. pretend like its your older wiser cousin or aunt or someone youre slightly familiar with but havent seen in a while so you make sure youre respectful etc.
im sure this made no sense, but im pretty sure it was the interview that got me in.

talkingtothewall · 10-17-2006, 03:11 PM

This post could be very long...so I will try to condense. D received grey card from G-town with alumnus name/#., instructions to phone within 5 days to set up interview. D tried twice, left 2 messages.After one week (if you are unable to contact interviewer please advise the chairman)D does procrastinate on some things so I said by all means call. Chairman of the local committee said so and so was busy traveling ...but she was sure she would get with her. Finally the date is set...The Wednesday before the interview, alumnus calls the house in a panic..she was not sure if she had missed the interview the previous Sunday. Being the Mom I'am thinking ..oh my gosh..but the tone of the lady let me know that she thoght she had missed it.Key word SHE. She races thru her email..tells me to have D confirm for the next Sunday. Needless to say..D tried to phone/email/left messages...Never could get ahold of interviewer D plans to go to alumnus house without ever being able to talk to her..D thought they had already iced up appointment. Of course you know the rest...alumnus was not prepared because D did not confirm...gave D condensed version because she had a dinner party to attend. D was dropped off thinking interview would be an hour...or at least 30 minutes.. she got 20 minutes. Alumnus told her it was just a numbers game to get in and.....is this normal for interviews or just arrogance? D was disheartened ..this was her first interview. Oh..and since D had to wait on her ride ..alumnus had to leave for dinner party but she told D she had Spanish speaking help working on her house..that D could kill time by practicing her Spanish on the guys working on her house!

xinlin · 10-18-2006, 03:08 PM

^^ yikees.. that's terrible!