<p>on the other side of the desk - horrendously hard to inteview and most of us are not trained in it. I have often said the only thing you learn from the interview is how well the person interviews…</p>
<p>Missypie, very true. At one of D’s interviews, the Adcom asked where she was from and, Holy Cow! Turns out that’s where he’s from, too!</p>
<p>OK, that would’ve been interesting to talk about for maybe 3 minutes, but she said he went on and on about the area for most of their time together. When I was invited in for the last few minutes, guess what he wanted to talk about. Yup. Least productive interview she’s had. I must say, though, that all the other interviewers have been excellent. We’ve been impressed. (Just lucky?) What are the rest of you finding?</p>
<p>A tip I want to add about interviewing: when I had my son practicing w/ us I told him to carefully review his extracurricular activities sheet and the order he listed his ECs on his CA. Choose the five most important activities and when he interviews, try to cover some of these activities in a way that isn’t represented on the resume.</p>
<p>even last week when he had the horrible alumni interviewer, I asked him if he was worried about how it went. His response: “no, because I made sure she knew what I wanted her to know about me.” he followed up w/ a charming thank you. </p>
<p>in each of his interview t.y. notes, he always mentions one point of the discussion that he found compelling.</p>
<p>Things I’ve told my sons before interviews: </p>
<p>Pause. You do not have to rush in to answer. It’s okay to take a minute to think. </p>
<p>Make eye contact. It seems simple, and understood, but I’ve interviewed potential employees who do not make eye contact and it doesn’t make a good impression.</p>
<p>Go to the interview with at least two questions prepared to ask the interviewer. </p>
<p>Always, always, always say “thank you”. Again, simple and assumed, but when you fail to do it, an interviewer will remember!</p>
<p>My d has really enjoyed all her interviews. They have all been very informal, a mix of them giving her info on the school and D being her charming self letting them know info about her. Haha! I laugh because this is a side od D I rarely see myself, though I am told by teachers and others that it exists!</p>
<p>D1 really enjoyed reading this CC thread before she went off to her first interview. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/424935-favourite-awkward-interview-moments.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/424935-favourite-awkward-interview-moments.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks to all for the good advice. I tried the role-playing interviews before. Unfortunately, S doesnt take it seriously. But, I think he got the idea about what questions can be asked from them.</p>
<p>His first interview was with a current student in a school that evaluates interviews. Son and his interviewer were talking while walking around the campus. The interviewer spent most of the time talking about herself and didnt take any notes. The school was dropped from his list later, but I wander what would she write about my S.</p>
<p>Such great advice here re: interviewing. We should write a book. The Practical Guide to Applying to College. My two cents on the topic. We practiced shaking hands and I had someone else do the role-play with my son since he was reluctant to do it with me. Oh - don’t forget follow-up thank-you note.</p>
<p>Big welcome to Ohiomom.</p>
<p>I used to do alumni interviews from my alma mater, we had no training per se and were just given people’s names and where they went to HS, nothing else. I had one goth witch (honestly, that is what she said, not my judgement call) who spent the time telling how I had sold out to the “man” and that she would never loose her art…blablabla. That was special! Unfortunately, my scathing review of her didn’t sway admissions, and she got accepted and went there.</p>
<p>Alumni interviews for my school were informal, ways to see if we could personalize the college’s interest in the applicant…weren’t exactly evaluative. My advice is to dress nice enough, know that college and why you want to go there and then just BE NICE! If you don’t know the answer to something, it is better to be honest and not just try to bs your way through, especially with alumni who are volunteers.</p>
<p>Like missypie, I had many interviews for legal jobs, and the interviewers for some took a lot of time talking about themselves or the firm–but it didn’t bother me at all. I could demonstrate that I could adapt to any situation and could listen well and act fascinated! If my interviewer’s goal was to impress me rather than be impressed by me, I could be impressed! I might have been impressed by the size of his ego, or in awe of his ability to puff himself up, but I was impressed. Those were the easy interviews.</p>
<p>Any one interested in CMU? There is a free Math Jam at the Art of Problem Solving web site [Math</a> Jams](<a href=“http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/mathjams.php]Math”>http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/mathjams.php). They have one on Duke coming up and they have one on MIT & Stanford in their transcripts. I generally read the transcripts since I just want to listen not ask questions. Reading takes a lot less time than listening altho you and your child might want to have some bonding time listening together.</p>
<p>Has anyone else been able to read the teachers’ or school’s recommendations for their son or daughter? Today, our son came home with an envelope from the principal. It contained her recommendation and that of two teachers for his extreme reach school. She wanted me to see them before she sends them off. </p>
<p>I cannot begin to tell you how supportive the administration and faculty have been of this application process that is pretty much foreign to them. No one from our high school has applied to this school in the last 40 years. Our school sends maybe 2 or 3 students per year (out of 400) to the places that CC considers to be Tier 1. 75% of the kids go to college and most stay within two hours of home.</p>
<p>I am in tears as I type this because she and the two teachers have done such an incredible job of capturing our son and his love for learning. Every parent should have the opportunity to hear or read what other adults have to say about their child. </p>
<p>I have no clue if he will be admitted or not–or how we will afford it if he does. He will be perfectly content attending the Honors College of our state flagship if he doesn’t. But everyone at our school has bent over backwards to give it OUR best shot.</p>
<p>Olderwisemom- how wonderful to be so supported by the school! D’s teacher sent the recommendation home. It wonderfully captured d’s strengths! We were pleased.</p>
<p>weren’t most of your kids advised to sign the waiver? we never get to see recommendations here…have been advised by many not to…</p>
<p>We did sign the waiver! I was shocked that the teacher sent it home anyway!</p>
<p>Our school absolutely does not allow the recs to be read by students or parents…
GC/teacher recs are sent directly to the school.</p>
<p>Hope everyone is well. All is good in our part of the planet 
</p>
<p>Hey guess what–you know that fin aid thread I posted–more than 5200+ views and still squabbling about stuff–Guess these things can go “viral” and gain a life of their own.
AND…some lunatic-stalker type PMd someone here on CC that they “know me” and ranted about their finances etc…? hahahahahahhaha
What is funnier–is they have the wrong person!</p>
<p>So for happy hour–I am buying!
Here’s the first round and a toast to apps, essays, fin-aid and the journey, even with the crackpots! hahahahahahaha</p>
<p>OWM - what a wonderful compliment to your child. I have not seen any of the college LORs, but we did see an LOR written for a summer program. Made very nice reading and definitely captured our S’s personality.</p>
<p>I just think the school sees this is a once-in-a-generation chance to have a graduate attend this school. Ironically, the last to do so is now the vice chancellor of research at our state flagship. He has written our son a letter about the pros and cons of the reach school vs. the state flagship.</p>
<p>And yes, they both have nuclear reactors on campus!</p>
<p>^ OWM
It is so very cool to hear how well it is all going…!
Having a reactor on campus is by far the most interesting pre-req I have read here on CC!</p>
<p>OWM Its wonderful news! LORs that describe a student as once in a generation can be a significant tip in the admission decision. </p>
<p>When you sign a waiver, it means you wont ask to see your LOR. Teachers can show their LORs to students if they choose so.</p>