<p>I didn’t mean to diss the GC. The GC’s at my oldest son’s public high school were so overwhelmed, they didn’t do very much college counseling outside of some presentations to students about the community college/Cal State/UC options. My next two kids went to private college prep schools where the counseling role is more focused on college admissions and guiding kids to colleges that may suit them (including schools other than the state schools), so that experience has been different. They would check in with the students through out the process, so followed the process more closely.</p>
<p>It seems to me, though, that in an AVID program, which focuses on getting kids ready for a four year college, they should cover all the bases, at least let the kids know that there are options that include schools other than the state schools, and be aware of how the admissions process may differ from admission to the state schools, in order to be helpful and supportive in those cases where a kid would is interested in applying to some of the private colleges or universities.</p>
<p>College admission counselors often visit high schools and conduct both information sessions and interviews on campus. This was very rare at my son’s high school but quite common at my daughter’s, where the g.c. sent out a weekly email that listed the various college reps scheduled. My d. did not actually do any interviews that way, because she chose to visit colleges and interview on campus instead – but it certainly is a way that many interviews take place. I remember feeling quite frustrated when we learned with my son that the rep from his #1 choice school was visiting many local high schools but not his, and there was no way for him to arrange an interview during the time she was in town.</p>
<p>Historymom, my guess is that your GC does not or has not arranged for admission reps to come to the high school to do this - or perhaps because of the school’s location or other factors they are not willing to do it in any case. So the GC does not see interviews because they don’t take place on campus. Students who want interviews probably arrange for alumni interviews on their own, or schedule them when they visit various campuses. </p>
<p>I believe that my son interviewed for 5 of the 6 private LAC’s he applied to; the 6th didn’t take place because of difficulty reaching the alumni interviewer assigned to him. Most of the others were with admission reps who traveled to the SF bay area to conduct interviews – they typically took place in hotel rooms. My daughter did fewer interviews – she interviewed at 4 campuses where she visited, but ended up applying to only one of those colleges – and many of her applications were to very large schools (like NYU) that do not offer interviews. I would say that in general, the interview is more important for smaller colleges and LAC’s. </p>
<p>If it makes you feel better, though… neither of my kids had any sort of interview prep, beyond the maternal reminder to son to shower & put on clean shirt. I did not attend any interviews, but I know from my kids reporting back that each was very different in terms of the overall style and questions asked, so I am not sure that there would be all that much value in a mock interview unless the student is unusually shy or uncomfortable in such situations.</p>
<p>historymom, that describes the rural h.s. our older 2 attended, spot-on.</p>
<p>Of course those GC’s knew in extreme detail every move to deal with parole officers, social workers and CPS all weekend on behalf of many other students. They could bail a kid out of jail easier than get one into college, and given the pressures their attention was on the former.</p>
<p>So I don’t fault them; they just were overworked in a different direction than college applications for private schools. I would touch base with them or let them know what we were up to, but basically we handled things ourselves. In that situation,
I’d research interview skills on the 'net or try a book about it, rather than expect the GC to start up with mock interviews. </p>
<p>OTOH, it’s not impossible to find a great teacher who might be willing to do this function after school one time.</p>
<p>If you mock interview your own kid, at least be a sport and let him turn the tables on you and interview you. When they see you squirm or fumble an answer, then recover, they will learn from that as well.</p>
<p>But actually we never did mock interview at home. We talked about interviews and we’d brainstorm how a typical question might be answered several different ways. We talked more “about” interviews but didn’t actually practice interviewing. Northstarmom has a point. YMMV.</p>
<p>Some kids take readily to being interviewed, with charming personalities, ready patter, an in-the-moment ability to interact with adults. Others have trouble looking an adult in the eye, stammer when they are asked simple questions and so on. I think there are many reasons to consider practicing interviews for some kids. Even the charmers may need advice to focus their answer or at least listen to the question asked!</p>
<p>Historymom, our S never did any interview prep that I know of, and he apparently did fine. This is not to say that such prep would not be valuable, just that it is not essential.</p>
<p>One thing that could help: ask the student to reflect on answers to classic questions such as:
tell me about yourself
why are you applying to school x
what do you hope to accomplish
tell me about a time you encountered a challenge
why do you want to study _____
what do you like to do in your spare time
what is the last book you read
what is your favorite book and why
etc.</p>
<p>and make sure the student knows how to properly shake hands</p>
<p>Mathson only had 2 interviews out of 8. Our GC doesn’t do practice interviews either - she’s way too busy just keeping track of the paperwork, suggesting colleges and all the other stuff she does. They might have talked about interviews at one of the group sessions they do with the kids.</p>
<p>We didn’t rehearse interviews either. It would have made him very uncomfortable, but we did talk about what questions might be asked, and reminded him to shake hands, look the interviewer in the eye, and to thank him afterwards.</p>
<p>At the end of most interviews, the most common question is, “Do you have any questions?” I think these are worth preparing mentally beforehand, but shouldn’t be asking “duh” stuff available from the website. Asking a question gives the interviewer more feedback about the kid. Someone who asks, “can I schedule all my classes after 11 a.m.?” presents differently than the one who asks, “how long do I have before I must declare a major?” yet both are very honest questions by students who aren’t so sure of themselves in a college environment.</p>
<p>Those are good basic questions, mafool. Another one my son said he got a lot at small LAC’s was “Describe your high school.” And we didn’t do “mock interviews” either; I just laid a few questions on him that I thought might come up and gave him space to think about that.</p>
<p>It’s been some years now, but as I remember, my daughter applied to 9 schools–all private, except for one. All were highly ranked and selective schools. She had only 2 interviews, though, both required. She was accepted to all the schools, except one (one of the two where she had an interview). That was also the most selective school of the bunch, so it’s hard to tell if the interview carried any weight or not. Interestingly, she found the interviewer such a turn-off, that she had no interest in the school after that. It was his first year interviewing, or so he told her.</p>
<p>She had other interviews, later, for scholarships, and her high school did do mock interviews for those. She received some good advice, and they were useful. I do think, though, that too much interviewing practice can diminish a student’s spontaneity and freshness. It’s useful to have someone go over your “resume,” though, and just point out contradictions, weaknesses, as well as strengths, so the student will be able to speak in an articulate way about them.</p>
<p>historymom, I am not surprised that the AVID is focused on CSUs. A couple of quick thoughts: is there any adult your child is reasonably familiar with who would be willing to conduct a “mock interview”? Someone in your community or church?<br>
The reality of the CSUs is that they are affordable. I recently helped a child with college admissions and we focused on CSUs because I did not want to see her graduate with a lot of debt as an undergrad. She is attending CSU Chico on a full ride. I wasn’t optimistic that others schools would be as generous in meeting in her need.<br>
Good for you for telling your child to keep options open at this point. Don’t just go with what the GC tells you. There are lots of great schools out there.</p>
<p>hijacking my own thread here but ebeeee…how are the CSUs w/ merit money? my two are looking at Cal Poly, and CSUMB. My impression…again from the GC is that unless you are getting Cal grants or Federal $$ that many privates are as, if not more, affordable if the student qualifies for merit money</p>
<p>Chico is lovely but it is one of the schools “everyone” here goes to and DDs are looking to blaze their own path. How nice that you were able to devote the time to this girl and that the result is so wonderful!!!</p>
<p>It is probably a good idea to conduct some sort of an interview with an adult, but you might also suggest that your daughter bring in a packet of questions (from a book or online) and practice answering the questions with a friend or another student from AVID. While you won’t have the same adult perspective, it is good to get used to thinking on your feet and that person could probably tell you if your personality came through during the interview. (It could also help if your daughter ends up getting a student interviewer at an on-campus interview.) My friend and I did this during lunch and we both found it helpful.</p>
<p>Historymom, I don’t think the CSU’s directly offer merit money, but I know that their student or alumni associations raise funds for private awards. My son is at a CSU where he transferred as a junior; he did not have money his first year, but he applied for (and received) a scholarship for the 2nd year based at least in part on community service. He also got a grant from the CSU for need-based aid, in addition to the Pell grant he qualifies for. (He is self-supporting - so he spent down all his savings the first year, and therefore qualified for more aid the 2nd year). So unless a student has a full ride or a very substantial scholarship at a private school, I don’t see how private schools would end up more affordable than a CSU. </p>
<p>That being said, there are more budget cuts on the horizon for CSU’s and you get what you pay for. My son is happy at his school and has had some fantastic opportunities… but part of the reason it works for him is that he is adding the greater maturity of a somewhat older student and several years of work experience to the educational mix.</p>
<p>There are is some merit money out there for some of the CSU’s. I remember S#2 getting mailings from some of the CSU’s. Cal State Fresno and I think Long Beach, and Hayward too (now known as CSU East Bay) offered some $$ for those who qualified for their honors programs.</p>
<p>Sorry all but I don’t know about merit and the CSUs. The student I assisted was a “O” EFC and Chico met full need. I did not feel with her stats that other schools would offer merit and I wasn’t sure they would meet full need. </p>
<p>As calmom points out, the CSUs do offer a different student body mix which I actually see as an advantage but not everyone might. </p>
<p>To the OP, I have one in private school on the East Coast and two I helped along (not mine) with the CSU process, if I can answer anything for you, PM me.</p>
<p>I now recall that my son had an offer for a full ride + perks like free parking at CSU Long Beach when he was coming out of high school as NMF – but that was in 2001 & I don’t know whether budget cuts would impact the availability of such things. Back in those days, the state of Calif. actually gave high school students monetary prizes based on their test scores – my son also received $1000 from the state as well. Now its a very different story.</p>
How nice that you were able to devote the time to this girl and that the result is so wonderful!!!</p>