What are decisions based on?

blossom
Wed, 14 Sep 2022 23:42:17 +0000

Former interviewer here (but not for Wes).

In most cases, the interview is a “nice to have” on both sides. Makes the kid feel some sense of connection to the college besides just the application (a human face, so to speak), and is a nice outreach initiative on the part of the college. (Hey kid, we see you!).

In a VERY small minority of cases, a kid with an “easy to miss” application turns out to be a dynamo/diamond in the rough/“you must accept this student” at the interview. I had exactly one of these in all the years I interviewed. An exceptional human being, self-taught intellect (I’ve posted about this kid before…and his amazing intellectual gifts, coming out of a rural HS which typically sends zero kids to a four year college since most go military or to a certificate/apprenticeship type program at the local CC).

And in a somewhat larger but still small set of cases, a kid whose application is picture perfect turns out to be… an arrogant and rude teenager? An entitled and obnoxious bro? Or a kid who basically sits down and says “I’ve only applied to make my grandpa, class of a long time ago, happy”.

So the vast majority are just a check mark- yes, kid showed up. Asked questions. We had a fine time together.