college interview using skype

ChiSquare · 10-31-2008, 11:28 AM

One college D is applying to is far away, and the admissions person will not be coming to our state. They would like to use Skype to interview my D. We downloaded it & bought a cheap webcam, and hope to try it out next week. D is nervous about this, saying she will feel awkward.

Has anyone else used Skype in the college admissions process? If so, how did it go?

Zetesis · 10-31-2008, 12:00 PM

We use Skype a lot -- but I have never done a formal interview with it. I strongly recommend you find a friend or someone who has Skype, both to test out your connection, and give your daughter a feel for what it's like. Just remember that they can see you and everything in the camera's range ...

Last evening I talked to my husband who is in Europe on business, and the connection was as clear as can be. But there are other times when it breaks up, like on a bad cell phone connection. In our experience, the web cam sometimes causes that (if we shut the web cam down, the voice connection is better.)

I don't know how "cheap" your web cam is, but my husband has a cheap one, and I have a somewhat better one; it makes a lot of difference in the quality of the connection we get.

I think she'll feel a lot less awkward if she tries it out a bit. Good luck to you.

ChiSquare · 10-31-2008, 12:29 PM

Thanks, Zetesis. I do have a friend who uses it, and will arrange a practice session before the scheduled interview. Who would have envisioned this back when we were applying to college!

Greta · 10-31-2008, 01:28 PM

Webcams vary in their ability to focus....and some more than others can give a 'fishbowl' effect, warping the image. You will want to consider the camera position and the camera's focus during your practice session. Your friend can help you achieve the optimum for both.

Karen Colleges · 10-31-2008, 01:37 PM

Can we start a list of schools using Skype for admission interviews? We are a long way from anywhere, and will need some time to get used to the idea of interviews online.

Greta · 10-31-2008, 01:44 PM

FWIW, if anyone is considering purchasing a webcam, I think it is worth it to spend the extra $ for autofocus. Only the cheapest still have manual focus, I think, but I am no expert.

ChiSquare · 10-31-2008, 01:57 PM

Karen, I don't know about a list of schools - this may be a unique situation. But the school I am talking about is St Mary's College of Maryland. It would only be of interest to you if your offspring is looking for a small LAC and would be happy with a fairly remote location. Both are true of my D, but that may not be what the typical HS senior is looking for.

Little Mother · 10-31-2008, 02:02 PM

For those who use a Mac, you won't have to worry as much, but it's a good idea to determine the best location to sit so you look your best. And for those applicants with siblings and pets, remember to keep them in tow! Plus, remember to turn off the telephone, if there's one in the room.

ChiSquare · 10-31-2008, 02:07 PM

I don't know, I was thinking that the antics of our 2 furkids might add some levity to the otherwise stressful situation. I thought I might smear some peanut butter on new webcam. What would be better than a giant dachshund head licking the lens during the interview?

scualum · 10-31-2008, 04:13 PM

Also remember to turn off chat and email - you don't want any distracting windows popping up during the conversation. The only thing running should be Skype - also, if you are on a shared cable modem or DSL line, make sure no one else decides to down load a movie during the call - the bandwidth demands can degrade the phone call.

HarrietMWelsch · 10-31-2008, 04:31 PM

Good luck with this, ChiSquare. You've gotten lots of good hints already. The only other thing I'd suggest is that after the practice session, when you all figure out where the best place for her to look/focus is, tape a photo of a person there - either fun or reassuring, whatever - so that your D is looking at the camera, and making "eye contact."

Even people who videochat and skype a lot can get distracted by the image of themselves, or the other chatter, and focus on that instead of the camera. But we've found this works wonders w our six-year-old, when he skypes with his sister. We just stick her photo up above the camera "eye," and he actually looks in the right direction.
(Not suggesting your D behaves like a six-year-old!

Just that if she hasn't done this much, it may help.)

jmmom · 10-31-2008, 08:01 PM

Have never used it for an interview, but I definitely agree there is a need for dry run/practice.

Previous to buying my new Mac, I only used Skype voice - didn't have a webcam, didn't feel the want or need for one.

My Mac has built-in cam, so suddenly I was seeing myself while on Skype. Very disconcerting! She would want to practice, so that she is not distracted by her own image. Others have spoken about the angle and placement of where you sit. I usually have my laptop on my lap (hello!!!) and that actually puts the camera at an angle that gives a very unattractive image. Try it, and you'll see.

I have also seen friend's Skype webcam and the image is disconcerting in a different way - like a montage of interrupted still images, very choppy and jerky. Nothing she can do about it if the image of her interviewer comes across this way; but it will help if she's experienced it before the interview so that she won't be distracted by it as much.

So have her practice.

And... is a key element of the Skype interview having the webcam? They don't want to just use the voice aspect? There are pros and cons to each, of course.