Cornell Alumni Interview...at McDonald's??

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
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<p>Perhaps you should focus on reality more than stigma?</p>

<p>Wasn’t there some sort of blind taste test that showed that a majority of coffee-philes preferred McDonald’s coffee to Starbucks? Perhaps your alum just likes the taste of McDonald’s coffee:</p>

<p>[Coffee</a> taste test: McDonalds, Starbucks, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts](<a href=“http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/beverages/coffee-tea/coffee-taste-test-3-07/overview/0307_coffee_ov_1.htm]Coffee”>http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/beverages/coffee-tea/coffee-taste-test-3-07/overview/0307_coffee_ov_1.htm)</p>

<p>A lot of us could probably come to a similar conclusion about the “stigma” of Cornell versus the education received at other schools. You yourself have hinted at this, which is why I wonder why you have even bothered to apply to Cornell. But there is no way in which the educational quality of Cornell is inferior to the other schools to which you are applying.</p>

<p>It’s interesting – my beef against McDonald’s is that it is unhealthy and contributes to lots of problems in our global ecosystem. But I do know it has taken some steps to become a better global citizen. </p>

<p>But I could care less whether or not it is perceived as “cheap” or not. And aside from your personal safety, I could care less about the location of a friendly, informal session where an alum is offering to tell you a little bit about his experiences at his college and field any questions you may have.</p>

<p>Please do try to get some sleep.</p>

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<p>Nobody is labeling you as elitist or attacking you for finding a McDonalds college interview strange. Honestly, all the responses but one have been relatively benign in nature.</p>

<p>And yes, many people do view Cornell as a match school, as Cayuga mentioned. This is not the first time somebody has acknowledged it. But you must agree that it is only natural to receive remarks similar to the one you did, especially in the Cornell section of CC.</p>

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<p>Mcdonalds would not be among my top location preferences, personally.</p>

<p>But so what. </p>

<p>You’re there to accomplish the objectives of the interview. One can be reasonably certain that is not Cornell official policy to hold all alumni interviews at MCDonald’s, so clearly it is this specific person’s choice. He may have various motives which have been advanced. Perhaps you choose to dismiss all of these but your preconceived opinion that he is personally a classless individual. And maybe you’re right, that’s certainly one possibility.</p>

<p>So what.</p>

<p>You are not interviewing him, he is interviewing you.</p>

<p>If you don’t like him personally, that doesn’'t really matter. There are what, 13,000 undergraduates at Cornell, I guarantee there will be some among them you will not like.
The odds are extremely high that this individual need not identically represent the crowd you will gravitate to if you attend.</p>

<p>All that is of any importance at all is that you accomplish the objectives of the interview.
Whatever you feel these objectives are, I’m pretty sure they should not include selecting colleges based on where an alumni interviewer meets with you. He will not be there when you show up on campus, in any event.</p>

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<p>If anyone wanted to prove the point that the entire college admissions process has become truly insane, this thread would be a very effective piece of evidence.</p>

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<p>I never interviewed for Cornell, but I had other college interviews at Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, a casual cafe…I wore business casual to all of them just to be safe and it was totally fine. Unless your interviewer specifically tells you to be casual, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.</p>

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<p>I don’t think there would be anything wrong or offensive if you suggested interviewing somewhere else if mcdonalds bothers you.</p>

<p>In response to the “cornell is a match” statement, I personally always felt confident as well but when I look at the results for all the students in my high school who applied, I find the admissions are a little too unpredictable (which is why it isn’t safe). I don’t want to get into an argument about “matches” or “chances” and how we define them, I’m just stating why some people may not find “match” an appropriate label.</p>

<p>My interview was at a Borders cafe. I spent significantly more time asking questions than answering. I dressed only a little more formally than casual. The conversation was pleasant and easy. That was my experience.</p>

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<p>What stigma of Cornell? I don’t know what I was trying to hint at. My indifference with applying to Cornell isn’t from any kind of dislike, I simply don’t know enough about the school to make that judgment (in fact, the only thing I remember when I was there was the suicide bridge that the tour guide told us about – although an interesting piece of ‘insider’ info, does not lead me to any substantial opinion about the school itself.)</p>

<p>The reality of McDonald’s is that its a fast food restaurant. Putting its philantrophic aims aside, the environment of people running in and out with their burgers and fries just doesn’t match the sit-down, relaxing environment of an interview. The stigma sticks in my head because I’m very ideological i guess. </p>

<p>Have I been implying that I don’t like McDonalds? I like it just as much as any junk food I eat (i eat a lot of junk food). I like the chicken sandwiches and the chicken nuggets specifically. I just didn’t see it as a go-to interview location. </p>

<p>Objective-- why do you say the college admission process is insane? I don’t have absolute faith in its ability to pick good candidates, but I don’t know how that’s related to this thread. </p>

<p>I know that I’m calling judgment way too liberally on this interviewer. I’m not saying tha I don’t like the dude, I don’t know him. Just by what I know so far, I can’t say anything. Going to McDonald’s is worrisome because already, I don’t seem to agree with the interviewer’s choices. If we’re incompatible, that affects the substance of the interview itself. </p>

<p>Of course, I’m not generalizing Cornell by this one dude. I know many people from my school who went to Cornell and they are all great, intellectual students. </p>

<p>Kei - I’m entering engineering. although I am interested in business and any other discipline that involves debate with other people…if you can’t tell already, I’m very easily provoked. </p>

<p>Cayuga - Our school’s justification for assigning so much homework is that any college we attend, from community college to ivy league, will be easy compared to our school. This week has been pure hell in terms of large assignments due.</p>

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<p>What about this process is not insane? A discussion thread regarding the suitability of a location for an alumni interview? Perhaps we can make draw some conclusions based on whether the interviewer ordered coffee or diet coke? If coffee, premium mocha or regular? That could provide a significant insight into the Cornell process and certainly determine the suitability of the school for a prospective student. I doubt that an alumni interview carries any weight whatsoever…it is simply a method the schools use to make the alumni feel important and continuing to contribute. What if the interviewer ordered a happy meal? What would that mean?</p>

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<p>If the only thing you remember from visiting is some comment about a bridge, then frankly I don’t know why you are applying there. Also, you must have been sleepwalking. I would expect someone would be applying there because they affirmatively wanted to attend, and usually that inclination was bolstered in part by a positive, deeper and more lasting impression of the school from their campus visit. </p>

<p>However, since you did apply, I suggest you do some reading up and thinking about the university and how closely its offerings and environment match your interests. Preferably before your Big Mac. Then you can ask some more meaningful questions from the interviewer, and maybe learn a little more that might help you with your choice.</p>

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<p>But people running in and out with their frappucinos or donuts somehow creates a relaxing environment? I once tried to meet a student at a “relaxing, chill” coffee house only to find they had a three piece band with drums playing that night. That really worked well.</p>

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<p>Well, some of the Ivy League institutions will be easy compared to your school. Probably not my alma mater though.</p>

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<p>Agreed. Do yourself a favor and learn a little bit more about Cornell before the alumni contact session, because if you don’t have a good answer as to why you would like to study there (and, no, it being prestigious does not count), your alum is likely not going to be terribly impressed.</p>

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<p>OP, I just don’t get your “discomfort” about interviewing at a McDonald’s. OK, it’s not the place you would have picked, but it is the place the interviewer picked. I can think of any number of reasons why he/she might have picked McDonalds:</p>

<p>– It’s a very public place that usually has dozens of people in it, making it a “safe” place for a high school student to meet a stranger.</p>

<p>– As others have noted, McDonalds are on main streets, easy to get to, easy to find (even when you’re in an unfamiliar area), and usually have plenty of off-street parking.</p>

<p>– You are probably not the only student being interviewed; maybe McDonalds was the most centrally located place they could think of.</p>

<p>– or maybe it was just the most convenient place for them to meet you on their way home from work or on their way to another meeting.</p>

<p>I know of college interviews that have been held at McDonalds, a public library, and the interviewer’s place of business. My son had one at Starbucks – which created some confusion when he went, as directed, to “the one on Central Street” that turned out to be 1/2 mile north of the Starbucks where the interviewer was at!</p>

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<p>“Starbucks … are much more business and academically oriented.”
Oh, please, I can’t stop laughing. This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read. Starbucks = Academic. Really, you’re cracking me up here.
Also, being honest doesn’t prohibit one from being arrogant as well.<br>
But in any event, don’t worry about the McD thing, research Cornell CoE a bit more, and good luck!</p>

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<p>Objective - ok, this thread is insane. I didn’t expect it to explode like it did, although it was my reponses that made people flare up. I didn’t write the thread with the intention of overanalyzing the process, I just sort of commented on how I thought it was unusual and asked for other people’s input/experiences. What I expected was a couple of “I went to Starbucks” or “that’s interesting” and then for the topic to fade.</p>

<p>monydad - you’re starting to sound like me: jumping to premature conclusions. For the record, I have an excellent memory. The time I visited Cornell was when I was dragged along 4 years ago when my older sibling was visiting colleges – I did no visits myself this time around. I’ll ignore the implication that I’m some sort of idiotic, vegetative lump. But at least I remembered something about Cornell. When we visited Carnegie Mellon, the only thing I remember is that both my mom and I fell asleep at the information session. and guess what? I’m applying to Carnegie too! and its one of my top choices. I don’t know about you, but when I was 13, colleges weren’t exactly a huge thing on my mind. </p>

<p>Cayuga - the band is an unusual circumstance. McDonald’s is marketed as a family place. I don’t picture as many screaming toddlers at Starbucks as I do at McD. Our public magnet school is uber hard. There are many kids that go to all the Ivy Leagues, and we haven’t had anyone come back that said that college was harder. But its completely futile to argue which one’s harder unless we switch lives.</p>

<p>Why does everyone imply that I would go to interviews confidently clueless? I’m pretty well aware that in order to have a paint a good pic of yourself, you need to demonstrate interest in teh college. And in order to demonstrate interest, you have to do your hw. Pretty self-explanatory. </p>

<p>worried_mom: all the reasons you’ve brought up could be easily applied to any other chain business. Its a stretch to generalize all McDonald’s as on main streets. Your son’s experience getting lost on the way to Starbucks doesn’t mean that Starbucks harder to get to than McD, it was just the interviewer’s lack of specific info. On the same road within a 1-mile radius of the McD where we’re meeting, there are 2 strip malls w/ a public library, 2 starbucks’, a dunkin donuts, and a bunch of other large, chain restaurants. </p>

<p>woody: glad you found my comment amusing. Starbucks is academic in the sense that drinking coffee is associated with intellectual activities, thus Starbucks attempts to accomodate those who might want to do work in the place, like…i don’t know…bring laptops to work from? Do you see as many people reading a book or working off their laptops with their big macs? Did you think I meant that you can learn more from an iced coffee than from a textbook?</p>

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<p>"I don’t know about you, but when I was 13, colleges weren’t exactly a huge thing on my mind. "</p>

<p>I don’t know about you- other than what you’ve stated here- but D1 and D2 visited all the colleges they applied to- within two years of their application- and had a well-formed reason for each application.</p>

<p>To each their own. I guess.</p>

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<p>I don’t understand the offhand swipe at me. what’s D1/D2? You’re so smart, I need simpler explanations. r u just saying like other hypothetical applicant #1 and #2? </p>

<p>Yes, campus visits are great, but I’ve found in the couple that I have visited (i take back what i said about not visiting any, I have been to 2 but i forgot) that they fill you up with a whole bunch of catch phrases easily found from online resources. WHen you r there, obviously they paint a great picture of the school and Ive found them not helpful in choosing between schools, as they all sound utopian. Doing interactive things like sitting in classes is definitely a disappointing experience --only sitting in on one or two classes doesn’t give any perspective as to the general classroom experience.</p>

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<p>Daughter1 and Daughter2 ^</p>

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<p>Mdeziz, you’re refreshingly self-aware that you don’t have great social skills, and many of us can already see a glimpse of that fact from your posts. The good news is that social skills don’t matter anywhere near as much for engineers. Here is a quick “survival guide” for you. Don’t stress out too much about this. And don’t listen too much to what others are posting in this thread.</p>

<p>Survival tip #1 - Know how and when to keep quiet. If you talk too much, or at the wrong times, or about the wrong things, it can kill you in any social situation. Never interrupt your interviewer. Never ramble. Never think out loud. Never talk too much about yourself. Never talk too much about things your interviewer doesn’t understand or doesn’t feel comfortable with.</p>

<p>Survival tip #2 - Always keep your emotions positive and under control. If things go badly, quickly change the subject to something positive. If your interviewer does something that rubs you the wrong way, spin around and look on the bright side. Chances are, choosing a lame fast food restaurant isn’t the worst thing he’ll do. He may unintentionally stare at your breasts for a few seconds too long. He may unintentionally make a comment that insults your entire family. You need to take every turn for the worse and find a way to quickly make it into a turn for the better.</p>

<p>Survival tip #3 - Focus, focus, focus on your interviewer, not yourself. Shift the tables to him. Everything you say should be for him, catered to him, packaged for him, and delivered to him. Even when it’s supposed to be about you. If there’s something he likes to hear about, stay on that topic as long as humanly possible. Everything you say needs to be phrased in ways that he understands. Watch him closely the entire time. Read him like a book. Try to make him feel relaxed at all times. Smile a lot. Let him do lots of talking. Laugh at all his jokes. Remember everything he ever says. Try to read between the lines of what he says. Say things that subtly make him feel better about himself, even if you don’t totally agree with them, or wouldn’t normally say them.</p>

<p>Survival tip #4 - Have the character to know your limitations and to deal with them gracefully and optimistically. Nobody likes to be weak. But if you cannot trust other people, and cannot let people ever see you be in a position of weakness, then you’re going to struggle. Come to the interview with honest questions and an open mind. When the conversation shifts to topics that aren’t your strengths, don’t clench up or become defensive or dismissive or brittle.</p>

<p>Survival tip #5 - If you’re not willing to make the emotional investment in this particular random stranger, then Cornell won’t figure that you’re that serious about Cornell. A lot of people carefully guard their emotions. Now is the time to open your heart a little bit. He will probably be a bad interviewer, a boring person, a poor reflection of Cornell, and may not even reciprocate with much emotional investment in you. But, right now, he holds one of the few keys to the castle. And, more than anything else, your positive emotional investment in him will ensure that the interview goes as smoothly as possible. They say “it’s not always what you know, it’s who you know”. It’s AS important that you connect with this guy emotionally as it is that he sees your strengths, your passion for Cornell, and your “fit” with Cornell.</p>

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<p>“I should have no problem making it into Cornell”</p>

<p>I hope you don’t get in.
:)</p>

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<p>bioblade - thanks. That makes sense. </p>

<p>ffhrea - the thing about me (at least from my perspective) is that I can be social if I want to be. I’m naturally very introverted, but if i’m put into a situation where it would behoove me to be more chatty/smiley/etc. then I can be. Its just that it requires extra effort on my part to do so and I avoid it as much as possible. </p>

<p>I really appreciate your ‘short’ survival guide =). I’m sure my interview skills need honing, but I think I’ve got the basics down ok. I never thought about steering the conversation to the interviewer though. I guess since I’m not that articulate, I just ramble on and on about myself. =/ I’ll definitely be more conscious of that for my next interview today (not for cornell)</p>

<p>Hiyo_bye - I’ll keep you updated… when the decision comes out, I’ll make sure I send you a message first off, even if I do get sorely rejected. If I don’t get in, then at least I can tell you and someone will be happy, right? Its a win-win!</p>

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<p>that’s the spirit!</p>

<p>but seriously, just don’t bank on getting in… it’s not as easy as you might think…</p>