<p>I got a call from a Duke alumni interviewer today, and I have a few questions.</p>
<p>I don't this she even told me her name! All she said was that she was a Duke alumni interviewer and asked when would be a good time to meet. I had to prompt her to give me her address and other pertinent info. Is there a way to look up local interviewers or should I just introduce myself when I get to her house and hope she does the same?</p>
<p>I am going to the interview directly from my school which she is aware of. She lives very close to my school and is probably aware of what our dress code is (uniform shirt and long pants). Should I wear my school outfit being sure to wear a nice, dressy pair of pants, or should I change into a dressier outfit before going to her house?</p>
<p>Are Duke interviews informational or evaluative? She made it seem more informational, but I want to be prepared for anything.</p>
<p>I don't think there's a way to look up info on interviewers but she should have introduced herself in the beginning. I wouldn't change into dressier clothing--usually they are not formal. Just be sure you look neat and clean, and you can mention you came straight from school so you're in uniform if that makes you feel better. Interviews are evaluative as well as informative. Be prepared to talk about yourself and your activities. Don't worry--they aren't meant to be stressful. Just be yourself.</p>
<p>My interviewer met met at a coffee shop too! It was near a shopping place called Beaudeaux, or something. He was really nice, although he was the one talking. I think drinking three cups of coffee prior to me (because he had to interview someone before me) didn't help much. Haha. </p>
<p>Still, he seemed really nice, and he 'sold' Duke as a really good place to go to school.</p>
<p>narcolepticSPOOF, so your interview was more informational than evaluative? I want to know about how many questions I should prepare to ask the interviewer.</p>
<p>At the interview you can ask if she has a business card or ask her to write down her name and e-mail address (have paper and pen for this purpose). This is pretty common and provides you a way to follow up with a "thank you," which you should do!</p>
<p>the interview is more for you than than the school itself. Many have come out of the interview liking duke even more. just chill and be yourself and you will be fine, they aren't going to really impact the admissions process, their goal is to impact you into wanting to go to duke as your number 1 choice.</p>
<p>Contrary to what nmehta4 says, the interview IS evaluative and CAN impact the admissions decision in certain situations. I've said this before and I'll say it again. Not to sound cynical, but I don't know how everyone gets the impression the interview is just a social event--it isn't. It serves as another letter of recommendation such as those you get from counselors, teachers, etc., so you want to make a good impression. Yes, the interview might serve to help you get to know Duke a little better--that is also one of the goals of the interview. However, please take it seriously but don't be nervous. It is not intended to be threatening or difficult. Just be yourself and come prepared to talk about yourself, your educational goals, life experiences, etc. Also, you might prepare some thoughtful questions about Duke that go beyond what you should have already read about on their website and literature. Questions like "how many students does it have?" and "do they have so-and-so major?" are questions you can and should have already found out on your own. Mafool has an excellent suggestion about a follow-up thank you, though do it right away as the reports may get written and submitted shortly after the interview. At the very least, make email contact after the interview to say "thanks for taking the time to talk to me."</p>
<p>sure you want to make a good impression, thats obvious and I never said that the interview doesn't matter. Unless you come across in a negative way, chances are you will get a positive reccomendation, it's pretty hard to mess that up, if you do, you probably don't belong at duke. but in essence it still is a social event for you to learn about someone else's experience. from what i have heard, students that come out of the duke interview are extremely pleased and almost feel enlightened. so sure you wanna give a good impression, thats a given, but you should be yourself and make it casual and have a good time to say the very least.</p>
<p>I would say there is a definite evaluative component in the interviews. My Duke representative called me the other day to schedule the interview, and said that through the applications Duke sees a more "black and white" image of the students. He added his purpose is to add "color" to this image.</p>
<p>Where do you think we should meet? It sounds like a lot of people decided that coffee shops are good places for an alumni interview? My interviewer is a lawyer who works downtown. Is it appropriate to tell him that I am only available next weekend and that he could decide where we meet?</p>
<p>I agree that interviews seem to be much more "evaluative" than "informational." I got asked questions from a list about myself, what I did in my spare time, the infamous "Why Duke?" and so forth. I was asked why I chose to participate in the activities I did, what my favorite class was and why, the last book I'd read, that sort of thing. I got the sense that my interviewer was really trying to get a feel for me as a person more than anything else. My advice would be to mull over the "why" of your life before going in--I'd thought a little about what my answers to the more usual questions would be, and I really didn't feel blindsided. </p>
<p>I met at a local Barnes and Noble, by the way, which was suggested by my interviewer. It's fine to say when you will be available--at least in my experience, you're not going to be asked to drop everything. In my case, the interviewer could only meet on Saturday, and suggested Saturday morning, which I couldn't do--so we met in the afternoon instead. Worked out fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the respond. I have replied the email. </p>
<p>Btw, do you think it's a good idea that I write down my answers for several possible questions that the interviewer might ask? I am even thinking about memorizing my answers because my communication skills are rather poor. I am just so nervous...</p>