<p>just so everyone knows - the admissions office found out who this guy was, and he likely won't be doing any more interviews. so, they clearly value the quality level of the interview process.</p>
<p>Denzera, do you work in the admissions committee?</p>
<p>I have always been of the belief that the applicant controls the interview, and a well seasoned public speaker of any kind will dictate the pace.</p>
<p>But...a phone interview puts you at a disadvantage.</p>
<p>Very tough!</p>
<p>A big personal THANKYOU to Denzera.</p>
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Denzera, do you work in the admissions committee?
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no, i'm just a motivated alum, but I was contacted by the admissions office to help them settle this.</p>
<p>whoa that's cool (the catching the guy part)
yea i remember my interview with a Columbia alum wasn't the greatest experience. For the most part, she talked about herself and what she did (literally for like 30 minutes straight)</p>
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For the most part, she talked about herself and what she did (literally for like 30 minutes straight)
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</p>
<p>Welcome to life. Lots of interviews -- for jobs, schools, etc. -- are like that; interviewers often love to pontificate on their life story and how wonderful they are.</p>
<p>how would one dress for such an interview? does being good looking, fit (maybe theyd expect you to join sports teams or soemthing) and presentable (dressed nicely) help at all?</p>
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how would one dress for such an interview? does being good looking, fit (maybe theyd expect you to join sports teams or soemthing) and presentable (dressed nicely) help at all?
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</p>
<p>Dress for where you're meeting the interviewer. If you're meeting at someone's office, probably formal-ish dress. If you're meeting at Starbucks, casual is fine.</p>
<p>Being good-looking and presentable always helps, since everything is formed by first impressions.</p>
<p>where would my intervie most likey be for next year (live in NYC)?</p>
<p>I think you arrange your interview location with the interviewer.</p>
<p>Wherever your interviewer wants to do it. Common places are peoples' offices or Starbucks-type places.</p>
<p>Was the interviewer K. O. M. by any chance? that would be too funny.</p>
<p>When does Columbia contact recent graduates about doing interviews?</p>
<p>C2K2 is correct- interviewers will do that from time to time. The successful interviewee knows how to turn that situation to their advantage- probing the interviewer, and subtly leading the conversation back around to themselves from time to time, so that the interviewer has a positive impression- which is the primary goal of an interview.</p>
<p>Most ivy league schools use alumni interviews mostsly as a way to maintain close alumni relationships in communities and also to give applicants more information about the schools they are applying to. Most interviews do not carry much weight. In many cities for example, alumni interviews are even held in a group setting in which all the alumni interviewers get together and socialize and then divide up at that location with their prospective interviewees. An interview can only hurt if the interviewed applicant was not repsonsive and did not answer questions and the interviewer writes in a report that the interviewed applicant did not seem interested in the school. An interview can only help if it is so amazing and the interviewer writes that the appicant was one of the best they have ever interviewed, but only if the applicant was on the verge of being accepted and this was something that tipped the decision in their favor. Most of the time the alumni interview has little weight. The admissions offices know that alumni interviewers bring their own biases and are not really trained in the admission process even if they have some minimal interview training. They are not there to evaluate your chances or your SAT scores or your grades, but just to put a human touch to the process. Years ago prospective candidates visited colleges and met with the Dean of Admissions. With 20,000 applicants applying to each school this cannot be done anymore. The alumni interview is just a way to make the admissions process more personal.
As for turning down an alumni interview, this will not really hurt your chances. Admission offices understand that sometimes the alumni interviewer will drop the ball and not get around to calling the applicant they are assigned to and arrange and interview. They understand that in embarrasment the interviewer could even say he tried to reach his applicant and they were not available and did not return their telephone call. The admission office does not penalize someone who did not have an interview even if they think the opportunity might be available. It would be different if the applicant was supposed to show up to have an interview at a particular time and location and never arrived or notified the interviewer.
As for group interview settings, sometimes the applicant is not available on that particular date or is ill and another date cannot be rearranged. This will not hurt.
All ivy league schools specifically state that not having an interview will not affect the admission decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for the essay, but everything i've seen firsthand with regards to the columbia admissions process, and everything my friends who've worked in admissions have told me, indicates that the weight of an interview in an application is proportional to the quality of the writeup. It can definitely make more than a marginal impact.</p>
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Most ivy league schools use
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</p>
<p>Any first-hand knowledge of Columbia or its policies/practices? Any basis to suggest that your diatribe in any way applies to Columbia and/or that Columbia is within the ephemeral "most ivy league schools"?</p>
<p>You're dead wrong as to turning down an interview and way off as to the weight of the interview.</p>
<p>If you turn down an interview offered to you, that tells admissions that you're not very interested in the school.</p>
<p>It depends on whether you turned down the interview or if you could not make that date. If there is one date where the alumni club is arranging the interviews and you can't make it on that date, and you let them know and they cant arrange a personal interview for you on another date you will definiteily not be penalized and it will not reflect badly on you or indicate that you were not interested. It is different if you tell the interviewer that called you that you prefer not to have an interview.</p>
<p>OH, yes, you are very intelligent, what an intelligent response. Anyways, I was referring to the situation where you had ample time to reschedule an interview. I guess I should have said that.</p>