@JohnJamesSmith0: thanks for the link, I got some good info from that thread, but it’s a little different for the Hotel Admin. school because the interview is required and is a big admissions factor.
and of course you’ll have little in common with your interviewer..You’re completely different people! The key is to prepare conversation questions about the school that any staff/alumni can answer. Even if you don’t care about what they have to say, just learn to make conversation and act personable!
Both of my parents are alumni interviewers for Georgetown. My dad holds them at his law office (because he went to the college, he interviews applicants to the college) and my mom holds them in our house (she interviews applicants to the school of nursing and health sciences). They generally ask about specific extracurricular activities, why the student is unique, why the student wants to go to the school, what other schools the student is applying to, and what is the student’s top choice. They tell the applicant about their experiences at the college and ask if there are any questions. Many times, they say they can tell if the applicant is enthusiastic about Georgetown if he or she has questions prepared and by their mannerisms and such. The scale is from 0-10, and there is space available on the form for the interviewer to write notes, and say whether they recommend the student or not. The interview can have a decent amount of weight, especially if you are a borderline student, but if you have good enough grades, SAT scores, and were committed to extracurriculars in high school, you should be fine (unless you are extremely disrespectful, uncharismatic, or just plain rude).
For undergraduate interviews, girls should dress casually - it is not a corporate job interview - you should be neat and clean - you can wear jeans and neat top, a dress if that is what you are comfortable in. You are expected to look like a high school student but not someone who is roadie for a metal band. Be the best version of yourself - be relaxed - it should just be conversation - about your interests and activities and your questions about the school.
What if I AM a roadie for a metal band? Hah, just kidding, that would be awesome though. But I am a bassist in a metal band. Yet I can discern what’s appropriate to wear for an interview and what isn’t, to some degree. I read in other posts about wearing slacks, and I was curious if that’s really the norm, because I honestly don’t own a pair
I had an interview for Swarthmore recently on campus, in the Admissions Dept at Parrish Hall. My interviewer was a senior named Adriana, who was super nice but not very conversational. I was super nervous and tired from a late night flight, so I drank some caffeine. Big mistake, I felt really on edge and rambled a bit. Haha.
Now for stuff you guys actually care about: They had you fill in an interview info form beforehand that lists you senior classes and most meaningful activities. The interviewer asks you to elaborate on the activities you listed. She also asked me how I approached learning and academics, which people can answer differently depending how you interpret the question. Overall it was a nice, non-intimidating interview, and it lasted about 20 minutes. I found out later talking to an admissions dean that they assign you an interview score from 1-10, and it can play a big part in deciding whether your personality was a good fit for a quirky place like Swattie.
I just had my interview for MIT. It was pretty casual, in a diner near my house. I just wore leggings and like a tunic/dress. It was about 45 minutes long.
She started off by explaining what the interview was for - I think MIT told her to. These are the questions she asked:
Why MIT?
What do you want to do in the future?
Tell me a little bit about yourself. What makes you excited?
Do you do activities in school? Explain . . .
What makes you different from other applicants/Why should MIT accept you?
Describe a challenge you overcame (school example is fine)
Describe a time you worked in a group. What problems did you have and how did you solve it?
Do you have any questions? (A good one to ask is always "What were your favorite/least favorite parts?)
She took notes, and said she would use them later when writing the report. She also said she would call me if she thought of any more questions to ask me (Is that a good thing?)
I think I did well. We got along pretty well and had a couple things in common. She talked about MIT and her experience there, which was nice. I don’t have her address, so I emailed her a “thank you”.
One piece of advice for interviews, particularly if its in a restaurant or cafe or something, is to have an ice breaker. The weather, the local football team, if you like a particular drink at that cafe,fall sports. Something so you can start the conversation without feeling awkward.
Posting about my son’s recent on campus interview at Oberlin. His first college interview, and my attempts to get him to think about the process in advance was as unproductive as most of my college app meddling. Trying to get him to remember a book he has read recently was useless (“mom, its fall sports, I don’t have any time to read outside of class, what do you expect?”). Similar exasperation when I suggested that he would have to say more than his name and his high school when asked “tell me about yourself.”
As he described it, it was a regular conversation, went smoothly. He took some pleasure in the fact that, as he had done an overnight the night before and then gone to class, he was dressed for a regular day – cargo shorts and a hip t shirt. He smiled a bit at the ever-so-uncomfortable young men in khaki pants and dress shirts, waiting for their interviews. If he had an alumni interview in an office setting, or had not gone to admissions from overnight and classes, I would have insisted on something more formal.
I just had my interview with MHC a few hours ago. It lasted a little over an hour I think. I went to the hotel she was staying at, and we talked in the business lounge over coffee. I think it went very well, considering it was my first interview ever. I talked a lot, because I was kinda nervous. But I think I made sense haha.
She asked me how I came across the college and how I feel about the all women’s deal. And also about my highschool and what other things I do that I would like her to know. Then I asked her a few questions and I guess that was it.
Bottom line, if you have an MHC interview, relax, they’re really really nice people
Hi! I had my Harvard interview today. It was in the interviewer’s house, which my mom found a little odd. She seemed really nice. I had sent her my resume beforehand, and gave her a research abstract and some creative stuff I had worked on to look at when I met. She didn’t really have a lot of specific questions, but kinda looked at my resume and asked me what I wanted to talk about. She then asked me Why Harvard, but kinda casually, and I explained it to her in general terms. She then asked me if I had any questions, and we talked about her time at Harvard and what I liked, etc . . That was good. At the end she asked me if I had anything else to say. I was trying to explain that I taught myself how to read and write a language I speak, but she misunderstood it I taught myself to speak that language, which was a little awkward. I hope she didn’t think I was lying/exaggerating. Any comments?
Anyways, I think I brought it around by talking about how much I love different languages. She did say I was a go-getter, and nice, so I guess that’s good. The interview lasted about 1 hour, like she said it would, and was actually more casual/conversational than the MIT one. She didn’t take notes, but had some sort of sheet from Harvard to fill out. Never underestimate the value of a good icebreaker in an interview.
@acarnegie - My interviewer said to dress casual too. I wore black jeans and a nice top. You need to dress well (no jeans) to show that you care, and that your are more adult than child child. Don’t wear what you would wear to school every day. Wear what you would wear to your grandmothers casual birthday party. So nice, but not a suit and not jeans.
My son interviewed at Stevens Institute of Technology. Luckily the college rep was at his HS for a college meeting the week before and told him the interview would be low key but definitely come with something in hand to discuss. Either a resume or something else you could show them about yourself.
My son said the interview went well. Lasted 30 min and the admissions rep asked him questions about himself and discussed what she thought Stevens had to offer him based on his interests.
The interview is mandatory at Stevens to be admitted. And, my son wore a suit and tie which he had observed another student was wearing when he and my husband did the school tour so they do like you to dress.