<p>I’m applying to WashU’s Olin ED.
I didn’t request an interview because I thought it was optional. However, I got an E-mail from an Olin alum today, and the alum said that he’s been asked to conduct my interview as a part of the application process.</p>
<p>I’m really bad at interviews, and that’s why I didn’t request one on purpose. How can I not do the interview? How will it affect my chances of getting in if I don’t do it?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Like Nike says: Just do it. It will look worse to have refused an explicit attempt to interview you than it would to do even mediocre on the interview.</p>
<p>Dauntlessthedrab is right. Refusing the interview will lead them to suspect that there is something unusual or “off” about you and that that is why you don’t want to interview. Particularly because you have applied ED, and they know that you really want to go there. Alumni interviews usually play a minimal role in the application process, so don’t sweat it. Try to relax and talk about the things that you are passionate about. Perhaps your school college counselor can do a practice interview with you.</p>
<p>Most of those “How to Get into College” books have a chapter on interviews, containing samples of questions. Read through them to get an idea what to expect. Jot some down and have a parent or good friend sit down with you and practice your response to some common questions. Please remember, this is NOT a job interview, it’s not a make-or-break test, and the interviewer is not out to pick you apart and find reasons to torpedo your application. </p>
<p>At most, the role of the interviewer is to indicate whether you have the rudimentary social skills to hold a conversation with another human being and if you can express clearly why you want to attend WU. That’s it. You should regard this as a piece of cake, not an ordeal. </p>
<p>Have a few points that you want to get across — what you like about WU, the campus, the Olin programs, what you particularly want to study and why, what you might want to do after you get out of college — and give good answers to questions that touch on these points or steer the conversation yourself to these points so you can talk comfortably and confidently. If you have a message (info about yourself and your goals) prepared and deliver it in the conversation, you make the interviewer’s role easy and that’s a plus for you.</p>
<p>Have questions ready, have an idea of what you would do at WashU (academics, clubs etc.), and it will go fine.
I recommend NOT doing a practice interview, personally. The bigger a deal you make of it, the more nervous you will be. Remember, its really NOT a huge deal. Once you have thought about those few things I mentioned, dont think about it until you are sitting down with the interviewer. They will probably appreciate candid responses.</p>
<p>I agree, you should definately do the interview. My parents kept asking my practice questions to the point where I felt like I ws memorizing answers. I ended up saying the first things on the top of my head. I agree that you need to have questions or else the interviewer may not think that you’ve “done your homework.” Just be who you are with your friends, not the person you think the interviewer wants to see.</p>