<p>I know “extroverts” and “introverts” are huge generalizations, but I’m just wondering how you all feel. </p>
<p>Personally, I DO think extroverts have an advantage because they are generally more comfortable around strangers and can generally express themselves better around a new person, unless they become really talkative and annoying. But an introvert with a great personality and can open up to an interview will be impressive as well.</p>
<p>“But an introvert with a great personality and can open up to an interview will be impressive as well.”</p>
<p>What you’re saying is the introvert suppresses his/her introvert tendencies and has an extroverted interview… ummm OK. Good. But what does that say?</p>
<p>As an introvert, I realize I came across pretty awkward and shy in my college interviews. I was nervous and couldn’t get the right words out. By the end, at least, I mellowed out, opened up, and ended on good note, although I still cringe at some awkward stuff I said.
I believe extroverts have better interviews in general.</p>
<p>extroverts, in my opinion, are great speakers and are very confidents… but they must know their limits!</p>
<p>Introverts can be great speakers, but extroverts tend to be better at small talk.</p>
<p>Yes, I think introverts have more trouble with the college interview, especially at 18 yrs. old.</p>
<p>“But an introvert with a great personality and can open up to an interview will be impressive as well.”</p>
<p>That is a hard find, isn’t it ? You are not citing the typical case. I think if an introvert tries to open up and comes off as not herself and appears trying too hard, that will hurt too. My advise is to be yourself, opens up a little but don’t have to try too hard. Let your quiet strength shines through. </p>
<p>Do you know an introvert can become extrovert ? One doesn’t have to be borned that way. Lastly being an introvert is not a disease. I have a coworker who doesn’t talk much but his work speaks volume for him. We respect him a lot because of it.</p>
<p>I am typically an introvert, but I did very well in my interviews. Strangely, I opened up without any trouble and talked on and on. (I think it was my unconscious desire to tell people about myself.)</p>
<p>An advantage of being an introvert is that I rarely say the words “like” and “um” because I measure my words carefully and speak in more book-ish terms.</p>
<p>No I dont believe introverts are at a particular disadvantage.
However, extroverts may be at advantage if they can “steer” the interview and show their interviewer their confidence.</p>
<p>I don’t think classifying interviewees as introverts and extroverts really matters. interviewers want to see mature young adults who sound smart and can represent their alma mater well. I don’t think either class has an advantage. someone who is extremely extroverted might come off as a bit weird.</p>
<p>I think extroverts are at an advantage when it comes to interviews. However, maybe this is intentional. Maybe colleges would prefer the outgoing students who are more likely to take initiative and be active in campus life in a big way. Also, if a student is so shy that they can’t express themselves to an interviewer in the important situation of college applications, wouldn’t this same person struggle to connect with their professors or other “authority figures” on campus? Maybe this person would struggle with class participation even, because they are shy. I know people like this personally, and I could understand why a college might want the extroverts more.</p>
<p>Nothing against introverts, you’re all awesome and I understand it’s just a personality trait. But maybe evaluating the shyness of the applicant is one of the main points of the interview.</p>
<p>We all know that interviews don’t even really matter anyway though, so yeah…</p>
<p>I think it depends on the interviewer. If the interviewer wants you to talk the whole time, extroverts probably are more at ease. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if the interviewer loves to talk, then introverts can come across as really good listeners (and they are :P).</p>
<p>And imo this is a moot point to worry about</p>
<p>I think many introverts are just fine in one on one situations with a willing listener – this is different than in a class or group with many people.</p>
<p>Generally I’d consider myself more on the introverted side, but I do very well when it comes to interviews. I try to relax and remind myself to be personable so I don’t come off as nervous. I think I just feel comfortable talking about things I really love, like clubs I’m involved in and stuff like that. That’s why interviews aren’t horrible for me. During class and in other social situations, I’m definately pretty introverted.</p>
<p>Introverts aren’t necessarily anti-social, they just need to socialize less than extroverts. They gather energy from solitude, instead of energy from other people. While it’s not a one-or-the-other thing, that’s how it is for the most part. So just spend a whole lot of time talking to no one before it and unleash all that energy beforehand!!!</p>
<p>Unless you’re an awesome INFJ like me. We’re like the extroverts of introverts :)</p>
<p>This is worthy of its own topic, but I think having borned an extrovert gives you natural advantages. You can argument so and so overcame shyness and becomes a great speaker…such and such. Unless you are in special situation where solitude helps your life, being extroverted puts you on a better place to recieve attention,leadership sought…etc. By the way well put, Obstinate, I am also like the extrovert of the introverts. I am not shy about meeting and talking to people but it is not my first instinct to do so.</p>
<p>I think there is a lot of confusion over what being an introvert means.</p>
<p>It does not mean that someone would be shy in the classroom, that they would have a hard time connecting to professors and other students on campus, or that they would need to overcome something to be a great speaker. What it might mean is that they might have a hard time establishing a rapport through smalltalk with a complete stranger over the course of 30 minute time period. Introverts would be better to steer the interview toward a topic that they know about. (Yes, sometimes interviews do this, but sometimes they can be pretty random and essentially end up being just a bunch of smalltalk or mindless banter.) Modest people can have trouble too, as they sometimes don’t like to toot their own horn or talk about themselves. They need to find a way to think about it such that what they need to do in an interview doesn’t seem like it runs across the grain of their values.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, as evidenced by some of these posts, people do sometimes think that someone who is not good at smalltalk is also shy in the classroom and not a potential leader on campus, and in that case that might be held against you. Hopefully, adcoms will ignore the interview report if the recs report something drastically different. For introverts, I would suggest practicing the interview beforehand. Some people are naturals, but it is an aquired skill and you can be ok at it.</p>
<p>I agree with whoever said that it depends on the interviewer. Some extroverts are really annoying anyway - they love to hear the sound of their voices and tend to brag. Then again, you have the introverts who creep you out with their blank glares.</p>
<p>Balance. Breathe! :)</p>