The Thread for College Interviews - Page 5

Joycelene · 10-21-2006, 12:48 AM

Oh, I'm interviewing with Reed tomorrow. First interview ahhh -- will try and remember to mention something afterwards. It's only 30 minutes. Have to make it good. Wish me luck ^^

tinas · 10-21-2006, 08:21 AM

I have an interview with Johns Hopkins on November 2nd at the campus. I'M SO NERVOUS! Any tips?

peindre? · 10-21-2006, 11:10 AM

My Reed interview was Thruday evening and it went AMAZINGLY. It was basically an hour long conversation - I mean, she did ask me questions, but probably only about 4 or 5 because we were talking so much. Very casual. Where do you live, Joycelene? Because I think the rep I met with went back home to Portland yesterday, but I get the impression that even though your interview will be shorter than mine most Reed interviews go like mine did. Just seem engaged and passionate; like for example I don't have a TON of ECs, but she could tell that I'm really into the ones I have. Don't talk like it's a job interview, just generally talk like how you normally do (though you probably shouldn't swear too much :-D) . And that's all I really know to tell you. Good luck!

I have my Carleton interview tomorrow! I'm not nervous though, she said in her email that it would be very casual and conversational, "no trick questions" :-D. She's the director of one of our (many) local Waldorf schools. That seems like something a graduate from a liberal arts school would do, come to a little suburban hippie town and run a Waldorf school. Anyway...I'll tell you guys how it went after it happens!

Joycelene · 10-21-2006, 04:42 PM

I'm from Libertyville, peindre, and I interviewed just an hour and a half ago in Evanston (where Northwestern is located, just a few minutes shy of Chicago). I was a bit late b/c we couldn't find it at first but Dan Hagan (assistant dean who visited) was really cool about it. It went okay, it could have been better... I was just so NERVOUS and now I have all those second thoughts of what I could hae said and what I forgot to say and eugh!!! I completely blanked out when I was in the hot seat, lol. I'm optimistic, though; I can and will make up for that in my "Why Reed?" essay. Because I know I personally am not the strongest applicant (well, 29 ACT -- unless I retake which I probably will lol, SAT 720 V, 630 W, and *wince* 550 M... XD Retaking that one, too hahaha), but I really do think I fit Reed personality-wise. I find it so refreshing to find a school that really believes that learning should be for learning's sake!! I just wish I could have conveyed that better but oh well :P

Word to the wise: practice, practice, practice! And try not to have your first interview with a college that's more of a reach (like Reed is for me XD). And don't despair if it doesn't go off swimmingly like mine's did or even if it went horribly; you can probably make up for that in your essays. Don't be disheartened is my best advice.

Good for you, peindre! I wish mine's had gone over better... I got so nervous I even forgot to give him my transcript and facilitate my "grades are so stupid, they try and quantify knowledge, and you lose sight of what's important when you just want to earn a stupid letter" spiel

Oh well lol. And good luck for your Carleton interview!

And I keep requesting an interview with Bryn Mawr (have for over a month, actually) and they still haven't contacted me. Any advice? I keep sending the form over and over... XD

peindre? · 10-22-2006, 09:34 AM

They wwanted your transcript? I didn't have mine and I don't think the interviewer wanted it. She just asked me what my class schedule was like this year and I rambled on for a while :-D. Your SAT looks fine, don't worry too much about the Writing score because my best friend who's the best writer I know got a 630. I think most colleges know it's bull**** and don't count it too much. Plus your ACT is really good and Reed really cares more about whether you're a personal fit way more than perfect grades and test scores, so I think if you write an excellent Why Reed essay and get great teacher recs you have a really good chance of getting in. Good luck!

Haha I sort of went on that same rant when I was talking about my schedule, I was explaining why I had no math or science this year :-D and I said that I could really concentrate on subjects that I like and care about instead of doing a half-assed (yep, that's how I phrased it, she didn't mind) job in, for example, English and French because I'd have to put all of my energy into AP Biology or Calculus AB to get a decent grade. I also said since my schedule's not overloaded I have the time to actually think about my assignments and what I'm being taught instead of just rushing through everything to complete 5 hours of homework on time. Yeah. It seemed to go over well with her :-D.

Be patient w/Bryn Mawr because Swarthmore and Barnard told me that they get hundreds of interview requests every year and they'd try to get back to me as soon as they possibly could. They probably have a lot of requests to match up right now. Don't worry, it's a small school, they'll get back to you.

CRbomber650 · 10-22-2006, 10:33 AM

I have my Rice interview at 3:00 this afternoon. Does anyone know if the interviewer expects me to ask questions? I talked with him on the phone and he told me that it would be "informal" and that it is a chance to talk to a "real human being" during the application process" Im a little nervous, but I havent really stressed over it much.

vossron · 10-22-2006, 11:04 AM

"Reed really cares more about whether you're a personal fit way more than perfect grades and test scores"

That's true to some extent, but you are in competition with applicants who are a good personal fit and who *also* have high grades and test scores. Use the Common Data Set to get a rough idea if a school is a reach/match/safety for you.

Robotab · 10-22-2006, 11:51 AM

You guys keep saying how you're expected to ask questions during the interview. I have done my research big time- student's review, princeton review, fisk guide to colleges, and student's guide to colleges. Seriously, what more can ask them? Everything seems to have been addressed in one or more of these books, so why should I fake stupidity?

I have an interview for URochester on the 4th of November because somehow the wires got crossed when I visited for my overnight and they were then unable to schedule me...

I still don't get how that happened.

bumblebee07 · 10-22-2006, 07:42 PM

I had an interview for Wellesley today. It was very down-to-business; she kept throwing question after question at me about myself and my good and bad experiences. At the end, she talked to me for about fifteen minutes just on her experience and what she liked. It lasted 45 minutes. I smell like coffee now.

SparkShooter · 10-22-2006, 08:49 PM

I had my Reed interview this morning in Minneapolis.

Not much to say really. I believe it went very well---we basically just sat there and talked for half an hour about any and everything. We ended up having alot in common, especially art and theater, which made our conversation quite interesting. She even introduced me to a new artist (after I expressed my love of Klimt).

Although my first interview, I have no worries about how it went. Carleton and Macalester next week. Yeah!

peindre? · 10-23-2006, 10:23 AM

My Carleton interview went about the same as the Reed one.
:-D

In 2 weeks: Wesleyan!

Robotab · 10-23-2006, 02:38 PM

what questions did you ask ?! Sorry, but I don't like being ignored, not even on a message board.

The original message-
You guys keep saying how you're expected to ask questions during the interview. I have done my research big time- student's review, princeton review, fisk guide to colleges, and student's guide to colleges. Seriously, what more can ask them? Everything seems to have been addressed in one or more of these books, so why should I fake stupidity?

I have an interview for URochester on the 4th of November because somehow the wires got crossed when I visited for my overnight and they were then unable to schedule me...

I still don't get how that happened.

vossron · 10-23-2006, 03:19 PM

"why should I fake stupidity?

You shouldn't. It shows them a high level of interest that you have done so much homework, so let them know. But, go over everything again, and see if you don't find yourself asking some questions. "Do you have the results of any surveys which show students' attitudes about life at the school?" "What criteria are used to assign dorm roommates?" "Is there an active Parent Council?"

Northstarmom · 10-24-2006, 10:58 AM

"I have done my research big time- student's review, princeton review, fisk guide to colleges, and student's guide to colleges. Seriously, what more can ask them? Everything seems to have been addressed in one or more of these books, so why should I fake stupidity?
"

If you've found "everything" about a college in those guides (which it is great that you've read!), then try being even more curious. Just look at some of the situations that students post on CC about their college experiences. Think about some of the things that you will encounter for the first time in college. Then, think about questions that are related to those things.

The more you've researched a college, the better quality your questions should be about the college.

worriedDad · 11-02-2006, 10:29 AM

I have conducted these alumni interviews for 25 years for my alma mater, Brown. They are not inquisitions, just conversations. You should view this as an opportunity to present things about you that just didn't fit into the application. Another dimension about you. And also for you to learn a bit more about the school, who has gone there, what THEIR experiences were, and what they (the interviewer) were able to do with their education. How did Brown (or other school) influence their life? Ask questions and be an advocate for yourself, but diplomatically. Like any other meeting for the first time, it is also important to be interested in the person who is talking to you, too. Just make sure you know why you might want to go to that school: do your homework on that.
As to the importance of these interviews, I feel they serve primarily as public relations for the school with the prospective students, not for admissions decisions. Oh, when you are on the edge of admission or not, they might take a glance at them to see if there's anything in there to help them learn a bit more about the candidate. As I said, another dimension not on the application. Overall, I've never seen any direct relation between these interviews and admission. Admissions reality is NOTHING like portrayed in the movie RISKY BUSINESS! Other stuff is more far more important. So relax, and try to enjoy the process of having a school make a fuss over you!