<ol>
<li><p>What do I wear? I'm assuming a formal button-down shirt and a pair of slacks with dress shoes.</p></li>
<li><p>Can I bring a brief portfolio of my work or a resume?</p></li>
<li><p>What type of questions do alumni typically ask? Will they stick with the conventional questions or stray into "gotcha" territory?</p></li>
<li><p>How early should I arrive? I was planning on 10 minutes before the appointment.</p></li>
<li><p>How do you explain a weakness of your candidacy without implicating yourself? For example, I want to tell them I took classes that genuinely interested me and also challenged me, even those classes didn't have an AP or honors label sometimes. Will those look bad for someone who is applying to a top-tier institution?</p></li>
<li><p>Any other advice for a fringe applicant?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I can just give you my views, both my husband and I do candidate meetings for “top-tier” schools.
Some interviewers care a lot about dress, others are fine with anything. I would suggest something nice but not overly formal. I think bringing a resume or portfolio is fine. Most of these interviews are more informal, and only help you and will not try to trip you up. It is a great time for you to elaborate about what makes you unique. I would relax, do your best to connect with the person, and be yourself.</p>
<p>Should I be addressing them as “Mrs.” or “Mr.”? I address all other adults I deal with in my internships and other activities by their first name.</p>
Get any book about interviewing for jobs, the questions are pretty much the same; open ended and general to see where you go with it. For example, “tell me about yourself”.
Don’t try. Few HS kids are able to pull this off without sounding (to another person) like they’re just making excuses. Let your record speak for itself to the adcoms. Most alum interviewers won’t have your app or any other record from the school; they only thing they typically know is that you’ve applied and live in their area.</p>
<p>One thing I can guarantee you’ll be asked; at some point they’ll ask if you have any questions for them. This isn’t a time-killer question; its probably one of the most important of the interview. Its a chance to show you’ve thought seriously about the school and what attending would be like, and to ask questions not answered on the website or in the viewbook. Ask stuff thats easily found, or even worse having no questions (about a place where you’re considering spending 4 years) leaves the impression you’re not really that serious.</p>
<p>Its a legitimate question, I suppose, but it shows a lack of awareness of the situation and a weakness in social skills. Which may be information the college would want to know about you. Alumni interviewers are not drafted; they volunteer for the job as a way of helping out their alma mater. Do you really think there are many out there who would tell you “No, I really think X or Y would be better choices if I was in your shoes”?</p>
<p>I am sure different schools use alumni interviewers differently, and as they are volunteers, you can’t be guaranteed a highly skilled interviewer. </p>
<p>My school instructs us to try to get beyond things that will be on the application, e.g., test scores or grades. I tend to ask pretty conventional questions like what classes you’ve enjoyed most and why, what books you’ve read that have been meaningful, or why X extra curricular. At least for my school, the “what interests you about the school” is important. A well thought out and enthusiastic answer for that last one goes a long way to help a fringe candidate. </p>
<p>You can certainly leave a resume with the interviewer, but I personally like to spend my time talking to the candidate, not reading about him.</p>
<p>I’d dress for the venue. If you are meeting at a coffee shop you don’t have to be as dressed up if your are meeting in an office building. Beyond that, clean and neat ought to do it.</p>
<p>1) What to wear? I agree with not over the top. You should look finished. At the last interview my daughter had (an Ivy), she and her male friend were both being interviewed. D had on dress slacks, heels, a tie front sweater with simple top underneath, and layering necklaces. Her friend was an argyle sweater, button down shirt, slacks and shoes. They were both accepted.</p>
<p>2) Both my kids carried a resume/portfolio with them to each interview. Some will absolutely not want it around. Other interviewers will find it beneficial. Bring it, offer it, but let then take decide if they want it. BUT no scores, grades, rank on it. There are interviewers that require that they have no knowledge of your academics. If that info is on your resume, it will not be accepted by those interviewers even if they normally would have like to use it.</p>
<p>3) every interviewer is different. D and I made flash cards from internet sights. It is amazing how much better you know yourself after working through those questions.</p>
<p>4) 5 - 10 minutes sounds fine. It probably depends on the setting. On campus, 10 is fine. Interviewers house - 10 minutes might be too much.</p>
<p>5) What I would say to this is when you are working through practice questions you should discover ways of bringing into the conversation other information like what you mentioned above. As you get familiar with the questions that could help you, you will be better prepared to work them in. Another option is to figure out a way to bring them up when you are at the “do you have any questions”.</p>
<p>6) really know the school for which you are interviewing. It makes a difference.</p>
<p>^ the problem with the question is that it is generic and can be asked of any college. If the applicant has enough time to cover questions that are specific to the school and has time left over for a question like that, then I have no problem. If its the only question, then it is not a good choice.</p>