If there are any Harvard interviewees out there- Speak your passions, let the interviewer know you’re not just some smart kid from a private school. You need to voice and more importantly show your passion for Harvard and its educational value. As opposed to other Ivy Leagues, Harvard’s interview is MUCH more greatly waited. Quite honestly, I believe it is how I got in.
I just saw a great article on this and there’s a video that goes along with it. I showed it to my D and her friends and they were all hysterical!
[The</a> Alumni Interview - What Applicants Should NOT Do | Recent The Ivy Coach Newsletters](<a href=“http://www.theivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-newsletter-about-college-admissions/the-alumni-interview-what-applicants-should-not-do.html]The”>http://www.theivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-newsletter-about-college-admissions/the-alumni-interview-what-applicants-should-not-do.html)
Hey swimfin thanks for sharing that link. That video was too funny! I couldn’t stop laughing. I think this is a free site. There’s too much info. on it not to be. Have you seen the blogs?
WPI: This was my first interview, I did it while I was at a camp there during the summer before senior year. I was really nervous, but I thought that it went very well. My interviewer didn’t ask really hard questions, she just wanted to know about myself, what I like to do, etc. It was pretty straightforward and enjoyable. I was accepted to WPI.
Bowdoin: This one was my favorite. The man who interviewed me was hilarious, and we had a great time talking. He asked random questions, but not so random that the conversation didn’t flow. I told him that I play tennis, and he asked me “shorts or skirt?” He said he’d always wanted to ask a tennis player that. The interview went by fast, even though afterwards my mom said I had been in there for 45 minutes, 15 minutes longer than I was supposed to be! I ended up not applying to Bowdoin. I’m going to college for engineering, and while at the interview I was told that not many people stick with the 3+2 Engineering program.. If I wasn’t going to be majoring in engineering I definitely would have applied to Bowdoin.
RPI: I did this interview while on campus for a program for underrepresented students in STEM subjects (Science, Tech., Eng., and Math). I don’t think they normally conduct interviews, but they made an exception for all of us. I ended up interviewing with the Assistant, and I didn’t think it went to well. The conversation didn’t flow too well, he asked questions that didn’t allow for a further discussion, or he wasn’t interested in that. It was very short, and I felt like he was rushing for me to get out of the office. I thought that it was going to hurt my chances of being accepted, and I was already thinking that being accepted to that school would be a stretch. But, luckily enough I was accepted to RPI, and I have decided to attend!! 
Syracuse: I did my interview in Boston. My interviewer was really nice, and not at all intimidating. I was in a conference room where several other interview were going on at the same time, I couldn’t hear what was going on around me, which was great. Overall I think that the interview went well. The only issue I had was that she asked questions off the college’s supplement to the Common App. I didn’t have much trouble answering these as I had started the supplement several days before the interview. Piece of advice-- look over the supplement before the interview and come up with some answers. – I was accepted to Syracuse.
My biggest problem is bragging about myself, I hate having to talk about myself, it’s so awkward for me. At an interview you have to overcome that uncomfortableness and just sell yourself. It’s a good idea to come up with some things you want them to know about you, something that may or may not appear on your transcript or application. You should also bring your resume with you, I did this and for most of the interviews they asked me questions about what’s on there. This is great in case you run out of things to talk about they can always ask about something on the resume. Also, prepare some questions to ask the interviewer about the school.
Has anyone on this thread interviewed at Cornell? If so, pls share your experience-- thanks!
My interview at Prestige Institute of Engineering and Science(http ://<a href=“http://www.pies.ac”>www.pies.ac</a>. in) was kinda simple. they did not fire questions that were difficult. most of the questions were related to the stream that i was opting for.
how formal/informal (clothing-wise) should i be for an interview?
Shtraceur, where is the interview and how old is the interviewer?
Was surprised, but excited to see that Syracuse allows interviews. I’ve been wanting to go to syracuse for some time , and hopefully I can show them the personal side of me and the interest of the school.
An interview for Cornell is usually just informational. Pretty relaxed and chill, with an alum.
@MiselisM Syracuse is beautiful! The buildings are like castles, but the dorms are totally opposite. 
But I heard they’re building a new building for freshmen dorms so I hope it’s better.
What questions should we ask the interviewers?
Hey everyone,
I’m new to the forum and trying to get a little head start on my college applications. I have an interview with U Chicago on campus in a few weeks. Does anyone have any advice on what I need to bring? (for example, resume?)
As well, what are some areas that should be researched ahead of time? There is so much about a college that I don’t know where to start reading to make myself seem more knowledgeable about it.
Thanks!
Hey guys, any tips for a Mount Holyoke interview? I’m planning on going to one in october with Darcy Thoma, and I’d like some tips
Hello!
I have a question about student interviews: How much do they matter? I had an interview at Trinity College in Hartford and ended up with a personally addressed postcard from my interviewer telling me how inspiring I was to her and how much she would like me to come to Trinity… any thoughts?
I think you should pack your bags for Trinity if it’s a top choice haha.
Colleges always say that they’re not advantageous, but if they weren’t, why offer them.
I’m sort of confused as what to wear for an interview. Can someone who has applied to each (or at least one) of these schools tell me what I should wear?
Claremont McKenna
Pomona
UChicago
WUSTL
Tulane
Emory
Rice
NYU (do they have interviews?)
USC
UNC-Chapel Hill
UMiami
Stanford
Alisyn: colleges have interviews to sell themselves to the student sometimes as much to evaluate the student. The Trinity interviewer wants to push their own college to the top of the list. It’s a two way courtship ritual.
Steve: you wear nice casual unless it’s in a professional setting such as a law office. Nice casual = slacks and collared shirt. Tie nor jacket are necessities but not over the top. I’d say NO to a full suit unless it’s the Law Office or Court bldg of an alumni interviewer.
I can only speak to UChicago, I just attended an on-campus interview for them 2 days ago. The on campus interview is really casual, but I don’t suggest t-shirt and jeans. A collared shirt is probably the best way to go, tie and jacket are definitely unnecessary.
What about as a girl?
I have an interview with Cornell (School of Hotel Administration) and I’m interviewing with an alumni who now owns a restaurant managing business. I’m going to his office in NYC, and was wondering what to wear.
Is a blazer, dress shirt and dress pants sufficient, or do I need a tie? I don’t want to go in like a full-out suit, then find him wearing khakis and a polo.
Any help?
@pch340: Have you seen <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/291358-should-dress-formally-informally-cornell-interview.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/291358-should-dress-formally-informally-cornell-interview.html</a> ?
Just had my MIT interview. We had basically zilch in common, and I couldn’t relate to his experiences and he couldn’t relate to mine… so it only lasted 30 minutes, and I spent most of the time asking dumb questions like, after he talked about fraternities and sororities, “What do you call a Greek organization that is co-ed?” How bad is this?