<p>nemo, wish you good luck!</p>
<p>bubbles, I am happy for you.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Every person truly does have a story to tell.</p>
<p>bubbles, what happens in a Kairos retreat? Do you have to be a Christian (Catholic) to participate in this type of retreat?</p>
<p>That sounds awesome, Bubbles. :)</p>
<p>What’s up everyone? </p>
<p>I can’t fall asleep… :(</p>
<p>Haha I am sooo passionate about Kairos retreats! It is an amazing experience. I really want to be senior leader next year to help the juniors going on it next year.</p>
<p>Anyway - see, Idk if you’ll ever go on it in the future so I don’t wanna ruin it for you…
But I don’t think you will! So I don’t think it’ll be a problem if I say anything…</p>
<p>Oh, and no - being Catholic is not a requirement. During the masses, it’s nice hearing what the priests had to say. Parables overlap from religion to religion anyway, IMO. And even when the students went up for confession and received a blessing…I went up too for the blessing haha. Being Hindu (or as I call myself, “modified Hindu”) really didn’t matter.</p>
<p>The events that occur in this retreat remain a secret until one goes on it. Ever since frosh year, I’d see the juniors coming back bawling. And I’d always wonder what went on. </p>
<p>They really don’t want the upperclassmen who’ve gone to say anything because it would really ruin the experience. And I never understood why they abided to it so much until, of course, I went. Teachers gave talks, students gave talks, we were split into groups, different activities to help the grade bond were planned, and we sat in the chapel for masses occasionally.</p>
<p>The teacher & student talks were really inspiring and touching - I bawled during all of them. They kind of included hardships in their life and how they kind overcame it with God’s love. Not all mentioned God though.</p>
<p>Groups with a senior leader - I wasn’t so fond of my group at first because it included really quiet people. But at the end, everyone really opened up about something personal. Like I didn’t plan on opening up about personal stuff, but Idk when you see others cry and how they have similar stories, you just can’t help it. Everyone truly, truly does have a story to tell. You really can’t prejudge someone and shut them off just because they might seem quiet and reserved at first. There’s a reason they are that way. Oh yeah, and I cried every time someone shared their story haha.</p>
<p>Then the different group activities. There were several and I think they might vary, but the most meaningful was this rose giving activity. Three roses were placed in the middle (“I’m sorry” (white), “I love you” (red), “Thank you” (yellow)).
I was freaking bawling with the “ILY/THANK YOU/I’M SORRY” rose giving ceremony. Basically all the students sat in a circle with teachers sitting outside the circle. Each time, a student had to go up and give a rose to somebody you love and say why, a thank you rose to someone you’re thankful to for random acts of kindness or anything really, and an “I’m sorry” rose to someone who you’ve hurt in the past or to break the ice with people. There were lots and lots and lots of tears. Holy s hit, I was bawlingggggggggggggg. Seeing others cry just made me cry even more. Everyone really is a beautiful person in their own way.
It was also so nice seeing other people make up.</p>
<p>There is just so much more I can say about this wonderful experience. The impact this retreat had on my life can’t be expressed in words.</p>
<p>Things happen for a reason. What’s in the cards is in the cards. What’s meant to happen will happen. And never be quick to judge. Everyone has their own story. Get to know it before you make assumptions.</p>
<p>I love the _________ class of 2012. <3</p>
<p>PrincetonDreams: Thanks!! And why can’t you fall asleep?</p>
<p>The Kairos retreat is similar to Eton’s tradition of the scraw or library initiation that goes on for 10 days where you all share your life stories. Cept you all didn’t cry. Oh, Boys.</p>
<p>Interview tips please.</p>
<p>Bubbles, your Kairos retreat sounds a lot like Project Compassion! Although ours was primarily a service trip, at the end of each day we’d gather for Club where we had loads of games and fun and we had a speaker who’d talk to us about God and Spirituality, in a way that was totally respectful and non-imposing on those of us who were Atheists or Agnostics (me included). Also, before going to bed we’d assemble with our small groups and our group leader and we’d talk about what we liked and disliked about our day and what we got out of it. The trip was an amazing experience in so many ways, and I cried on my last day (I was so surprised). It was emotional, it was poignant, it was revelatory. I’m glad I wrote my CA essay on that.
I second Ani’s post. Interview tips? I got my time-it’s this Friday o_o</p>
<p>^For which university?</p>
<p>Why don’t I get to go on such “life-changing” and “enlightening” trips man :(</p>
<p>Anyway, debarghya, you know which university I’m interviewing for but how does it matter anyway?</p>
<p>Interview ke liye tips dijiye! :)</p>
<p>Should I be casual or formal?
Shud I suit up or go in casual formals ?
Do I need to bring along my resume?
What kind of questions do they ask?
Are they nice people? Are they goblins that eat you up if you pronounce a word wrong or if you aren’t sitting in a proper posture?</p>
<p>Lol.</p>
<p>:P</p>
<p>Anyway, bring out the answers, princeton, tippu, pixie and all those who have been interviewed by someone already!!!</p>
<p>And nima, you’re such a good writer.</p>
<p>Aniruddh, this article helped quite a bit, I think you should take a look-
[College</a> Interview Questions - Be Prepared For These Common College Interview Questions](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theartofgettingaccepted/tp/college-interview-questions.htm]College”>College Interview Questions You Should Master)
Also, I think dress should be Business Casual; kind of a balance between respect for the occasion and the fact that you’re a 17 year old (Basically, lay off the three piece suits :p).
I mostly want to hear about people’s personal tips, and those who might have had BAD interviews. My friend and I googled the guy interviewing us, and he’s not very old so hopefully that should work in our favor. I’m just scared of seriously offending him with one of my opinions.</p>
<p>Aniruddh-You don’t have to go on life-changing trips! For a lot of people that trip wasn’t life-changing. You can have your own revelations even in smaller situations-it varies from person to person. People have had incredibly inspirational thoughts in the most mundane tasks. It sounds so grand because of the way me and Bubbles described it-because our respective trips meant that much. For all we know, you could’ve had an epiphany in the bathroom and described it to us, and I’d be just as impressed (And I’ll never look at going to the washroom the same way again :p).</p>
<p>Luci: I’m so sorry for not replying earlier, you must think me so rude! My exams start in two days so I’ve been busy preparing for them. That’s interesting. So was it raining there or what? Oooh, that must have been so muddy. I can just imagine you trudging about ankle deep in mud, with twigs in your hair. (sorry for being overly dramatic, but that’s the picture that springs to mind :p)</p>
<p>Arunemo, aniruddh- Best of luck for your interviews!</p>
<p>It really depends on interview. If it’s informative, then you can wear denims if you want. Informal interviews generally take place in cafes or even…while walking through gardens. 
Formal.
Casual formals should do. (I wore a grey formal coat over black velvet and black leggings for my first formal interview if anyone needs examples. Others wear a suit.)
Questions differ from interviewer to interviewer. Know the basics atleast (why this school, ec activities, etc).
They want you to talk, so they’ll be welcoming, but then maybe I’ve just been particularly fortunate.</p>
<p>Haha, my Dartmouth interview experience.
I reach the house, and find out they have four doorbells. So I ring the first two, no response. I ring the third… and then the fourth too for good luck. Apparently all the doorbells belonged to them and it just took time to come to open the door.They must have thought I was just having a gala time pressing buttons. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>It was pretty good, supposed to be formal, but ended up being quite conversational.
Here are a few of the goofy moments:
There was this one question about table tennis.
the lady: So (perfectpixie), how did you get interested in TT?
Me: Well, I come from a school famous for its sports. In sixth standard, half the grade tried out for sports, all my friends did, so I did too. I tried out for all, and was rejected by all. 
So after a year, I took up table tennis, because that seemed to have the least people trying out.
(okay, serious stuff followed after this too, but I’m not boring you guys with that)</p>
<p>Later,
the guy: I play a bit of TT too, but you’d beat me hollow.
Me: <em>wicked smile</em> Weellll, this is a special case. Since you’re my interviewer, you might be quite surprised with the outcome.</p>
<p>(this has nothing to do with interviews) In case any of you haven’t read this, here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/470497-clam-fart-oh-my-god-what-did-i-do.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/470497-clam-fart-oh-my-god-what-did-i-do.html</a></p>
<p>Bestest thread on CC. I was supposed to be sleeping when I read this, so I was basically crying with trying to suppress my laughter. It’s amazing. Just amazing.</p>
<p>^OMG. That just made my day. I laughed like a maniac. My dad thought I’d finally cracked. That is amazing, absolutely amazing.
Out of all of the things she could’ve typed in, it had to be Clam Farts. Oh my lord, this is hilarious
I actually googled it and it’s famous! First thing that comes up!
Here’s the UD entry for it-
[Urban</a> Dictionary: Clam Fart](<a href=“http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clam%20Fart]Urban”>Urban Dictionary: Clam Fart)
“Free ticket to Yale”. Megalolz :p</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips, pix! Really appreciated.
And LOL at the link ahahhaahhahaaha</p>
<p>@Neem: I haven’t experienced anything life-changing or whatever. If I did, I would have had a much more compelling Commonapp essay to write about! :P</p>
<p>Ahhh Arunemo - that’s really nice!</p>
<p>One of the teachers that went & organized is actually from Belgium! She went to Katholieke Universiteit - Leuven, Belgium. And she talked about her experiences there and what an impact the teachers had on her life. It was touching. She was a classics major and did her Master’s thesis on agape.</p>
<p>@Ani - you can always try a service trip! And I think the tutoring you do in the slums is also a really nice thing.</p>
<p>“Charity starts at home.” - TippuSultan </p>
<p>Interview advice? I can offer a few tips since I had to do so many for the private schools I applied to. </p>
<p>Also, there are threads by Brown, Duke, MIT, etc. interviewers on CC. I can dig 'em up for you if you’d like.</p>
<p>Just be yourself. I’d dress formally, but that’s just me. You can bring the resume if you want - but be prepared for them to grill you regarding your time commitments to them.
Most are generally nice people - yes. They really just want to get to know you.</p>
<p>Oh & Arunemo - agreed. Most people do service trips just for college anyway…</p>
<p>Just help others. It can be anyone. Just help them in some way.
=)</p>
<p>On another note, I’m thinking about getting a combined degree in M.D./M.P.H.</p>
<p>Guys!!! I just found out I’m related to Chandrika Saha!! I had nooo idea!</p>
<p>bubbles, thanks for sharing your experiences. I badly need many bunches of white roses for my sins and equal number of yellows for forgiveness. I am not kidding. bye</p>