<p>Currently working on an Early Decision application for SFS. I haven't received any confirmation about any interview. Is the interview process only initiated after all of the application supplements are complete? ED date is November 1st, but I feel like if I don't submit my completed application well before then, there won't be adequate time to schedule and conduct an interview. Can anyone confirm whether the process begins before or after the Application Supplement submission? </p>
<p>I'm also studying abroad in Spain right now, so that could complicate things. The website says it's impossible to interview some applicants due to geographic location. Though Georgetown's alumni network is quite extensive, I'm not sure if I would be included in this or not. </p>
<p>There is an Alumni Admissions Program committee in Spain. My guess would be that at least one interviewer can be found in all the big cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville). Make sure that you indicate - even if it requires sending an email - that you are currently studying abroad, so your interview would need to take place in Spain.</p>
<p>My ds’s interview was only two days before the deadline, so you still have plenty of time.</p>
<p>Also, I’ve seen two threads today that talk about Early Decision. At Gtown, there’s only Early Action. Big difference, and you should get it right in communications with the school or you won’t look like a very serious candidate.</p>
<p>My bad; Confused it with George Washington as far as ED/EA goes. </p>
<p>I’ve already submitted the first application form completely. I didn’t include anything about my current residence in that form, but I did file for a temporary school-year residence in the Application Supplement. I’m currently living in Vitoria-Gasteiz; the only major city within reasonable proximity is Bilbao, and it’s a predominantly industrial city of little importance outside the Basque Country. Getting to Madrid isn’t impossible, but it is about 5 hours by bus. I’ll definitely dig around for contact information to make sure they have my current residency information, because I don’t think my already-submitted forms contained it. </p>
<p>Do they initiate the interview scheduling process via phone, or email? I still have access to Internet here (obviously), but haven’t been able to get a functioning phone line, and my previous number won’t function either. It’s also possible they’ve attempted to reach me at my old number and no calls went through, though I hope in that scenario they’d resort to another method of contact. </p>
<p>Do you have any idea what language the interview will take place in? I’m just about fluent in Spanish, so it’s possible in either language, but obviously I’d prefer my native tongue. I could furnish a fairly well-worded reply to any questions they might have, but I definitely feel more articulate and expressive in English. I’d be able to do it in Spanish if necessary but I would prefer English if it’s at all possible. I’m hoping part of the alumni network here is comprised of American expatriates, because Spain is notoriously poor with English fluency compared to other European nations. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the info, it was super helpful. </p>
<p>Georgetown is one of the very few USA schools that requires a personal interview ( other schools are mostly optional or recommended). Pretty sure they have intervewers at most major cities anywhere .</p>
<p>I assume the interview will be in English, since the school expects applicants to be fluent in English. Try to learn more about the school before the interview takes place.</p>
<p>I’m curious to know if you are studying thru SYA? My daughter did that her junior year & it was wonderful! Don’t worry too much about alumni interview. They will be in touch with you once they receive initial application info. My daughter applied ED and her interview was sometime in November.</p>
<p>If there’s no one within relatively close proximity, the local AAP chair can make a judgment call that no interviewer is available. In that case, the interview requirement will be waived.</p>
<p>As people have said, the interview is supposed to be in English, although it’s certainly possible that there will be some small talk in the local language.</p>
<p>Nope. Through an organization called AFS. There’s a very generous scholarship specific to my area, meaning just about anyone who fills out a competent application and has the required documents can study abroad for free. I didn’t bother applying through other organizations for this reason. However, I’ve heard very good things about SYA. </p>
<p>dzleprechaun, the term “local language” can be a bit ambiguous here. I’m living in the Basque Country. Everyone here is bilingual in both Castellano (Spanish) and Euskara. Euskara pre-dates Latin, so if there is any side conversation I really hope it’s in Castellano because I don’t speak a word of Euskara! </p>
<p>Just got my interview initiation email today. Contact information of the alumni interviewer, as well as the head of the chapter. </p>
<p>Bad News:</p>
<p>It was assigned based on my previous residency information, using my U.S. address. I emailed the chapter director to see if I could be transferred to Spain’s alumni organization. Hopefully it’s possible!</p>
<p>My host family in Spain forced me to speak with their children in English. I told them I was uncomfortable with the level of English interaction…so they kicked me out. I’m now changing my address within Spain, so I’ll need to update my residency info for a third time. </p>
<p>I’m hoping I’ll be reassigned to a family before the Committee contacts me. But the hosting family director of AFS Spain wants me sent back to the U.S. which would complicate things a bit further. Not to mention returning to my local US Committee and asking to change associations yet again would look laughably unprofessional. </p>
<p>Eh… don’t worry about looking “unprofessional” (among other things, you’re not a professional… you’re in high school! You get some slack!). Just be communicative with whichever chair(s) you’re currently assigned to - and even your regional admissions officer, if necessary. The conscientiousness and responsibility required to manage a sticky, dynamic situation like this more than outweighs any negatives (and I don’t think there are any - shizz happens) from being in such a pickle. </p>
<p>WOAH I’m also applying EA to SFS and studying abroad my senior year! I’m in Macedonia through YES Abroad (also a full scholarship, anyone reading this should check it out), one of the four countries that YES sends to that <em>isn’t</em> through AFS.</p>
<p>I’m just hoping that I’ll be able to get an in-person interview - there might be one in Greece or Bulgaria offered, which I could go to, but it’s very probable that I’ll have to do it over Skype.</p>
<p>If an in-person interview isn’t available, I would definitely insist on a Skype interview if possible. The opportunity to articulate things you can’t express verbally in an essay or on a transcript is invaluable. </p>
<p>Just a quick update for those of you still interested. </p>
<p>Earlier this week, I was reassigned to an interviewer here in Spain. My original interviewer in Pennsylvania was immensely helpful. He submitted my request multiple times, and it ended going all the way up to an admissions officer. </p>
<p>Here in Spain, things have been…less efficient. My Spanish interviewer took three days to respond to my initial email. She lives in Madrid, which is roughly four hours travel time from Cataluña (this is the fastest travel time possible, assuming use of the AVE, meaning I’ll likely have to spend the night there). She is unable to travel to the Barcelona area, and requested that we do the interview some time this week to have the comments prepared before the December 15th deadline. At the end of the email, she said “A Skype interview would be perfectly acceptable”. </p>
<p>Obviously I’m still traveling to Madrid to make the best impression possible, but I really do not understand the Skype part. I had my interview delayed for over a month, and had all of my interview information changed from country to country, when I could’ve done a Skype interview with the original interviewer in the first place. I have no clue why they would go through the trouble to assign me to an interviewer here in Spain when we may not even meet face to face. </p>
<p>Just finished up my interview after being assigned to a new interviewer. </p>
<p>My interviewer graduated from Georgetown just six months ago. We talked about just about everything. She is American and lives in Spain, going to graduate school. She said a lot of my activities are “Very Georgetown”, which I suppose is a good sign. The interview ran roughly 90 minutes. Super nice and very driven; the opportunities she’s had in Spain due to her university have been incredible; I wish you all the same as well, best of luck on admission!</p>
</p>