this interview business

ChiSquare · 02-26-2008, 08:10 AM

I'm new at this college search stuff! We'll be heading out to the NW to visit 4 schools over spring break, and I have 2 questions:

- should we be scheduling interviews if our D is just a junior? The schools we're visiting are far from home, and this will probably be our only visit to the campus prior to application. I know some colleges will do interviews here (Minnesota) rather than on campus, but I don't know if that is true across the board for small schools.

- is the fact that we arranged a visit through their website enough to register with them that we are serious about their school, we've been there, etc - or should we be seeking personal contact with the admissions counselor assigned to our state at this point?

Thanks for your input!

Northstarmom · 02-26-2008, 09:24 AM

Yes, if you can get an interview on campus, do so. It's best to start at a college that could be a safety so your D gets some practice before interviewing at the more competitive schools.

What colleges will she be visiting?

Practice interviewing beforehand with your D and read over some of the threads here that are on interviewing.

MD_Mom · 02-26-2008, 09:29 AM

Good advice from Northstarmom.
This link might be helpful.
Will Colleges Interview High School Juniors? - Ask The Dean
And this link is hilarious.
Favourite Awkward Interview Moments

ChiSquare · 02-26-2008, 09:45 AM

Northstar - we're going to Puget Sound, Lewis&Clark, Whitman, & Willamette. As judged from afar, Whitman & Willamette are our favorites, so maybe Puget Sound (the first one we visit) can be the practice round? Two of these schools will be on their spring break, and the other two will be in session - I don't know if that makes a difference.

MD_Mom - thanks for both the links! I'll peruse when I get a chance.

Northstarmom · 02-26-2008, 10:09 AM

Yes, spring break will make a difference: The campuses are likely to be empty of college students, which means you and your D won't have a chance to interact with college students except for the tour guides. You'll miss out on more candid comments that you get from students who aren't paid or asked to be guides due to their sunny perspectives about the college.

You also won't be able to sit in on classes or talk with professors, something that you should try to do at the other colleges that you'll visit.

When you're on campuses, do get copies of the campus newspapers, which will help you find out more about the colleges from a student perspective.

bethievt · 02-26-2008, 12:37 PM

Preparing for and doing interviews increased my son's awareness of what he was really looking for in a school. In addition to asking him some of the questions I thought might be asked, I suggested he do some research on each school before the interview and come up with a question or two to ask.

My son felt he learned enough from summer visits to decide whether or not to apply. We re-visited during senior year to help him decide where he wanted to go.

historymom · 02-26-2008, 01:33 PM

Chi-square I have compiled a list of practice interview questions and dos and don'ts that I got from this and other sources, PM me if you would like me to email it to you.

Did you get my post re Willamette on the CC secret handshake thread??

'rentof2 · 02-26-2008, 02:02 PM

I don't know anything about Puget Sound, but I think you will enjoy your visits to the other three very much. We visited schools when they were in session, out of session, mid-week and weekends. I think it's all valuable, and you'll still get a feel for the place and learn a lot. Enjoy your trip!

bethievt · 02-26-2008, 05:02 PM

We LOVED Lewis & Clark. I'd be interested to hear your report.

PRJ · 02-26-2008, 08:26 PM

Is there a down side to interviewing as a junior? We are visiting a couple of schools over spring break, but I don't think my D is ready to interview - we are just starting the process. When I made a trip like this with my Dad oh so many years ago, I visited my 1st choice school first and "blew" the interview because I was nervous and didn't know what to expect. I don't want to push my D into a similar situation, especially at a school that might turn out to be a favorite.

dragonmom · 02-26-2008, 09:03 PM

ChiSquare, we toured the same colleges during my D's junior year spring break. Lewis and Clark had group info session after the tour. UPS was interviewing some students but since we thought they wouldn't want to talk to a Junior she didn't make an appointment. After seeing UPS, my D called Willamette and was able to set up a quick chat with an admissions officer for our visit the next day. Whitman wasn't in session but it was a front-runner so she returned in the fall for an overnight and they set her up with a second interview (new admissions person for our area).
If you have time to add any schools - U of Portland has much to offer and has a different vibe than L&C. We also visited Linfield, which was her "merit-scholarship-safety" - they're very generous and it's a pretty, very friendly, down-to-earth school.

csleslie51 · 02-26-2008, 09:16 PM

A couple of summers ago did the northwest route. L&C had kids on campus, Willamette had only kids from Girls State plus the tour guides, U of O was in full summer session swing. Also stopped by Reed but D wasn't even interested in getting out of the car. Willamette, despite the lack of students, was a top choice, even though she didn't care for her interviewer. Something on the campus just spoke to her. Had a better interview at L&C but didn't like the campus. As far as I am concerned, it is a very individual thing. Who knows what grabs them. A friend toured the same group and ended up at Whitman (loving it).

BunsenBurner · 02-27-2008, 01:06 AM

ChiSquare, you asked me what I thought about Whitman on another thread, but now I can not find that thread, so I'll answer here.

D absolutely loved her visit to Whitman during their preview for juniors day last April. The campus was very pretty and some trees were already in bloom. There is a small meandering creek in the middle of the campus with lush green lawns and flowers around it (we were told the creek was man-made). The buildings were spotless despite the huge number of visitors roaming around. D liked the new rec. athletic center with a nice 25-yd pool which is also the home pool for the Whitman swim team. The new art center with individual studio spaces for art majors was under construction when we visited, and I assume it will be finished soon. The food at Whitman was good; we were told the catering company, Bon Appetit, used a lot of local produce (Bon Appetit provides food services at Lewis and Clark, too). D got to sit on an itro class and liked it, too.

What surprised me the most was how lively the campus looked on a Friday afternoon: evryone piled out of the buildings and was engaged in some "outdoorsy" activity: friesbee, tennis, soccer or even rock-climbing (yes, thre is a rock-climbing wall on the side of the athletics building). The students were very friendly and down-to-earth.

Walla Walla is a small, charming town. When D spotted a Starbucks and a Macy's, she declared the town "livable" (we live in a rural area and D is easily amused

)

ChiSquare · 02-27-2008, 08:05 AM

Thank you all very much for your comments! I realize in looking through my materials for the visits I arranged via the school's websites that, to my embarrassment, I'm not even sure if interviews are included! 2 of the 4 don't give much information, and say we are to pick up materials when we get there. It looks like Willamette included an interview without that specific request on my part.