RD Applicants: Interview Advice - Page 13

amb3r · 12-24-2007, 08:41 AM

Although this is the Yale interview thread, it's really active, so I hoped to get advice about my MIT interview here.

My interviewer was your typical late 50s, white haired, soft spoken and timid researcher guy. Very pleasant, but also quiet. I, who can sometimes be very talkative, especially if I want to be, came at my interview "full on." Now I'm worried that I was too aggressive and effusive during my interview. So eager was I to cover all my "base points" that it took my half an hour to answer my interviewer's first question - and for half the time, I'm pretty sure I wasn't even answering his question, but just rambling enthusiastically about my life so far. After that humongous answer, during which my interviewer interjected a few times with additional questions, he chuckled at me softly and said something to the effect of "well, it seems that you've already answered most of the other questions I was going to ask..." I got the sense that he was a bit flummoxed by me through the whole thing, even though he kept a pleasant face on. It didn't help that I come from a competitive school, and he's not familiar with the majority of contests I've participated in, so I had to explain the background behind *everything* which just increased the length of my discursive answers...

My friends reassured me afterwards, as I whinged and worried, saying that an interview in which I talk a lot and sound really excited and rant-ey is better than one in which I'm nervous and shy. I agree with that, but I'm still afraid that I essentially "scared off" my interviewer, because interviews are supposed to be two way conversations, but I definitely dominated the conversation with this one. Has anyone else given an "over-the-top", aggressive interview and then worried about it later?

intellectuarts · 12-24-2007, 11:06 AM

All posters, but AA in particular - Thank you! This thread has been so helpful to me!

I haven't yet submitted my Yale app (I plan on clicking the button the day after Christmas). Are my chances of getting an interview still good? Or does applying so near the deadline harm me?

Also - I'm not sure if my school is "linked." Most of our graduates go into conservatories, so it seems unlikely. However, the school I attended from 9th to 11th grade is linked. Could I contact the ASC for my area and request an interview through my former high school (it's in the same city as my current school)?

AdmissionsAddict · 12-24-2007, 04:18 PM

amb3r--I don't know anything about MIT interviews--how much they are weighted, how interviews are "scored", etc. I have had overeager applicants who appear to have come to the interview with a specific marketing plan. I have noted in my interview report that these people seemed more interests in hitting their talking points than actually talking with me, but I doubt such comments would keep anyone out.

intellectuarts--In a lot of areas, there is no such thing as a linked school. I'd never heard about it until I read about in on CC. The ASC territories that I'm familiar with don't link. Are you sure your ASC works on the linking system? Or do you just know that peole from your old HS got interviews?

If your current school is linked or if your ASC doesn't run on the linking system, you should still have a good shot at getting an interview. Your plan to submit your app on the 26th should help you. I assume the majority of RD applications will be submitted later, so your name should get processed earlier to the ASC director of your area.

intellectuarts · 12-24-2007, 04:22 PM

I know that a couple of Yale applicants from my old HS got interviews last year, but I just assumed linking. It might not function that way - and the only accepted students from my area this year so far have been non-interview and legacy, so I don't have a current reference point.

Good! I hope the interview works out - something I've been looking forward to as an interesting, personal part of this whole hectic and computerized process.

blessingsgurl88 · 01-05-2008, 12:13 AM

i'm meeting my interviewer at starbucks. if i get there before him, should I buy him coffee?

AdmissionsAddict · 01-05-2008, 12:32 AM

No--who knows what kind of coffee he'll want. If you want to offer to buy him a coffee, that's nice and he will likely refuse.

ceebee63 · 01-05-2008, 10:45 AM

I'm sort of uncomfortable with giving my list of schools (I'm applying to 9 others, and it's sort of awkward to just rattle off the whole list), so what should I do if my interviewer asks where else I'm applying? Just hedge a little and be like "oh some other schools in the Northeast"? Or will that just come off as "I'm applying to the other Ivies and just don't want to tell you"? Also, I LOVE Yale but it's not actually my first choice... that's one reason why I hate to answer the question about where else I'm applying.

blessingsgurl88 · 01-05-2008, 01:20 PM

is it a good sign when people get asked for an interview just a few days after they turn in their application?

ceebee63 · 01-05-2008, 03:43 PM

Yes. It's a sign that the Alum Interview Coordinator in your area is very efficient.

AdmissionsAddict · 01-05-2008, 09:03 PM

ceebee--Yale interviewers are told not to ask what other schools you're applying to. I'm not saying some don't ask it anyway, but they're not supposed to. If you do get asked, no need to rattle off the whole list. Your "some other schools in the NE" is probably fine.

blessingsgurl--It doesn't mean anything about your app, only about your ASC director as ceebee pointed out.

BandTenHut · 01-05-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Yale interviewers are told not to ask what other schools you're applying to. I'm not saying some don't ask it anyway, but they're not supposed to. If you do get asked, no need to rattle off the whole list. Your "some other schools in the NE" is probably fine.

Thank goodness. I have always been asked this question in interviews and it makes me very uncomfortable- I've always lied to make it seem like I was interviewing for the best school I'm applying to. I certainly did not tell my USC interviewer that I was applying to UCLA. Eeesh.

T26E4 · 01-05-2008, 10:03 PM

blessingsgurl: no need to offer a coffee. A social construct that will take place is that he/she will be your senior and will be the one to offer to buy for you. You being the junior, can obviously decline, but feel 100% free to accept graciously.

I always make a point to say:"I'm ordering something. Would you like something too?" It puts the student at ease and let's him/her know that I'm buying. Some have even pulled out money as we depart but I always politely decline the nice gesture.

I know it's kinda strange -- but it's very commonplace in the "real" world.

g00gle · 01-05-2008, 10:32 PM

I'm sorry if this has already been answered a bunch of times, but...

I submitted my app on Dec 27th and have not yet been contacted for an interview. (I live in San Diego, so I know I should be having an alumni interview)...so is this normal? Should I give it a few weeks?

AdmissionsAddict · 01-06-2008, 01:24 AM

Give it a few weeks. Do you know how many applications they just got and have to process to the ASC directors? Also, your ASC director is a volunteer and emailing or calling you may not be his/her top priority during this hectic time of year.

mywayalie · 01-06-2008, 04:51 AM

I just got an email from my regional ASC director.

He says the interview is optional. But I'm a great speaker. And I'm not sure if I can make positive impression. Should I not do the interview?