<p>Hi parents,
Now that my s is getting interviews from the colleges, I am getting mixed mesgs. Some are asking him to meet the alumni at their home. So far some are asking to to meet them at their workplaces. Of course I don't want them to meet at my house. then my son wont feel comfortable - I know. But why should my 17 yr old should go to a stranger's workplace or home? Why cant they meet in a public place such as McDonald's, public library etc. How should we handle this situation? I'm sure other parents are going thru it too. Any advise? Pls enlighten my day. Thanks</p>
<p>I am an alum interviewer who has found Starbucks (or a public coffee shop-type atmosphere) to be a perfect place for a stress-free interview. As a parent that will go through this in a year, I will prefer a public place or my own home than an interviewer's home for my D's interview - workplace would be OK, I assume they would use the alum's office or a conference room. </p>
<p>From what you are saying, I get the impression that the interviewers have a preference based on their convenience, where it really should be the convenience of the student, but that is just my personal opinion. I am afraid however that some alumni would no longer volunteer to interview applicants if they had to take the extra time to go to a student's home or a neutral site (particularly those in high-level careers) , so I see that side as well.</p>
<p>D had one at a Starbuck's type place, one at a workplace, and one at the alum's house. She found the starbuck's environment to be the most comfortable for her. The one at the alum's house was necessary because of the woman's workload, and the number of interviews she had to do in our area. It was the most inconvenient, but was also for the most competitive of her schools, so it seemed worth it at the time. (she wasn't accepted, but I think that it was more that she hadn't figured out a cure for cancer than the interview that did her in!!) :)</p>
<p>"rom what you are saying, I get the impression that the interviewers have a preference based on their convenience, where it really should be the convenience of the student, but that is just my personal opinion."</p>
<p>The alum interviewers are VOLUNTEERS who are doing favors for their university and for their alma maters. Many of the interviewers have to fit in the interviews while working, raising kids, taking care of extended family, coping with their own health and transportation problems, etc. (For instance, the oldest alum inteviewer in my area was a very sharp 92 when she finally stopped interviewing due to getting cancer that killed her a few months later).</p>
<p>Typically, it takes an interviewer at least 2 hours for the interview -- including the interview time and time for the write-up. It seems reasonable to me for the interviewers to select places that are convenient for themselves.</p>
<p>Also, most students wouldn't be as comfortable if an interviewer were to come to their home. I've seen people post on CC about that situation, and it seemed very stressful to the families because the families feared that their homes would be judged, and the students were concerned about family members overhearing their interview.</p>
<p>After having a student who was deferred show up unannounced on my doorstep to leave a bribe, er present for me, and having another overstay his interview by a half hour (I ended the interview, and then the student said he had to call his mom to pick him up), I started interviewing at local coffeehouses.</p>
<p>I would not have a problem with a son's meeting an interviewer at the interviewer's home (I have sons). I would not feel comfortable having a daughter meet a man at his home, and I also think it would be a mistake for a male interviewer to put himself in a position where he may be accused of doing something wrong when he actually acted appropriately. If I had a daughter who was asked to interview at a man's home, I would have her explain that her parents won't let her do that, and then she should offer to meet him at a place like her school or a coffee shop. If the man didn't go along, I'd have my D call the college's admission office, which I am sure would understand and wouldn't hold the man's decision against her.</p>
<p>I used to interview at home, because it was in an easy-to-get-to location and I was a woman, the same age as the applicants' mothers. Threads like this one, however, convinced me that the coffeehouse location was better for the students, so I have made the switch.</p>
<p>But I must echo Northstarmom's comments about the alumni VOLUNTEERS. Many of them are juggling work, family, and other parts of their lives. For a lot of schools and geographic areas, there aren't enough volunteers and students don't get interviews. There'd be even fewer volunteers if there the times and places had to be set up to maximize the convenience of the students.</p>
<p>That being said, I recognize the stresses that students are under for the application process and find them truly excessive. If anyone has a solution, I'd love to hear it.</p>
<p>My h is a teacher, and he is never alone in a room with a female student. I would think a male interviewer would want to avoid that at all costs. A coffeehouse seems more comfortable and neutral anyway.</p>
<p>I don't think even a female interviewer should be alone with a student. There's too much potential for accusations of improper behavior (from either party regarding the other).</p>
<p>I used to have young kids and was assigned a lot of alum interviews because I was available after school and did them in my house. I wouldn't have taken the interviews if I had to get a babysitter. I do understand the kids not wanting to go to a stranger's house though. I have a male friend who interviews who always goes to Starbucks and my college in fact suggests any at home interviews be done when someone else is home (I have teenage kids so there are usually lots of people in the house). Right now most of the kids I interview are local and know I have kids at the local high school.... doesn't prove I'm not a serial killer though! If any kid showed reluctance to come over I would meet them somewhere else.</p>
<p>The library would be great but ours has limited hours. And Starbucks is full of people who know me and the kid, so it's a little weird. I've gone to kids' houses which isn't bad as long as the parents give us space; I actually like that because I don't have to clean up my living room!</p>
<p>I found interviewing at the student's school to be the easiest solution. The college counselling office usually is happy to arrange a room. I have interviewed at my home occasionally, but worried that the student would not feel comfortable. When I did this I always invited the parents to stick around, in an adjacent room, during the interview, offered them coffee, etc, so they knew they were welcome. Not all took me up, but there was not much close by for them to go to before coming back. Does not help with students who have cars and drive themselves.</p>
<p>I understand that these alums are doing a volunteer service by interviewing the students, but given the world we live in today, one should be careful and keep his/her eyes open.
Now I know that I wasnt alone when thinking about my kid's safety first.
In talking to my neighbor, I learned that her son was interviewed by an 79/80 yrs old alum last month for EA application. It was encouraging at the beginning, but during the interview it turned out that the gentleman wasn't aware of some of the most prestigious awards that the candidate received. The alum and kid both felt little embarrassed. Things are changing so fast, the admission process has changed dramatically in last 10/15 years. As much as I respect these alums' willingness to help the community kids, we are taking a chnace when someone is not in close touch with the admission process. It could be an isolated case. I always look for a better world.</p>
<p>snowman2007 - every college is different, but mine does not want me to know SAT scores or grades when interviewing so I don't have any prior assumptions. I know a few facts, like what ECs/sports they do and their intended major. So it might be in your neighbor's case that the college was looking for the alum to report that the applicant has social skills. Or the college just wants to give the applicant a chance to talk about anything that might not be emphasized on a paper application. </p>
<p>As far as safety, the student can always call the college to verify that the alum has been interviewing applicants for X number of years. And the parent can usually wait in another room of the house or outside in the car if they are still concerned (personally, I am fine meeting elsewhere if the applicant didn't want to come to my house but most do). In life, there will be many occasions where one ends up in a room alone with another person. There has to be some level of reasonable trust.</p>
<p>DD has done one at school, one at starbuck's and one at interviwer's office at work. Never had any problem. </p>
<p>If I may, I do any a different question about these interviews. What does an interview contribute to the admission process? Is a pleasant conversation for 30 minutes count as a "good" interview which could add positive points?</p>
<p>For an adcom, he/she will have GPA, standard test score, recommendation letter, essay, etc. Where does a "good" interview rank among these factors?</p>
<p>Dad II -depends on the school. I imagine the schools that require a personal interview at the admissions office see it as more important; their questions would be somewhat standardized as opposed to schools that only rely on alums; one alum could be asking hard questions, while one alum is asking if they've seen any good movies lately. But some colleges will weigh an alumni interview heavily.</p>
<p>Each college's website or literature probably addresses the weight of the personal interview in the admissions process.</p>
<p>At least one of my son's interviewers asked for SAT scores and to bring a transcript. They talked about the courses he took, and I guess the SAT scores reassured the interviewer that he was a very viable candidate. He had both interviews at the alum's home. One I believe normally gave them elsewhere, but he'd broken his leg. I suspect it's pretty rare that an interview goes so well that it makes an application, but I can imagine a really terrible one might do a an applicant in. MIT's acceptence rate is twice as high for kids who choose to do interviews. Refusing to do one is a definite black mark against you there. For both interviews I dropped my son off and asked when I should come back. (We didn't have multiple cell phones yet.)</p>
<p>"In talking to my neighbor, I learned that her son was interviewed by an 79/80 yrs old alum last month for EA application. It was encouraging at the beginning, but during the interview it turned out that the gentleman wasn't aware of some of the most prestigious awards that the candidate received. The alum and kid both felt little embarrassed. "</p>
<p>The info that my college, Harvard, gives alum interviewers in my area is a strip of paper with the student's: name, e-mail, phone #, address, high school, race, whether the student is legacy (which would mean that one of their parents attended Harvard as an undegrad), intended major (which could be "undecided"), if the student is a recruited athlete (very important because the inteviewer would have to follow some strict NCAA rules), and possibly a very vague indication of some ECs the student either has done or may be considering pursuing at Harvard (Most of the time, I haven't gotten such info, and when I do get such info, it is as vague as "newspaper.").</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the interviewer has to write an approximately one-page typed narrative, preferably with quotations from the student to support the interviewers' ratings. Harvard asks the interviewers to get info about the students' gpa, courseload and SAT I and SAT 2 scores, and AP scores, and there is a space to include that info on the interview form. Since the interviewer has to rate the students' intelligence, presumably Harvard wants the interviewer to do this based on some factual info as well as things the student said in the interview. Presumably, the interviewers' obtaining that info also allows Harvard to make sure that it has recorded the info correctly (Harvard superscores) and has the most recent scores. </p>
<p>Harvard asks interviewers to get the gpa, etc. info toward the end of the interview to prevent students from thinking that if their scores aren't perfect, they are out of the game.</p>
<p>When contacting students for interviews, I always explain that it's Harvard's way of getting a fuller picture of the student than it can get from the app. I also tell students that I don't see their application, and I ask students to bring with them an essay or activities list and anything (e.g. excellent term paper, portfolio of artwork, etc.) they think that would help me learn about them. </p>
<p>What I get from Harvard is what probably most Harvard interviewers get from admissions. I live in an area that gets about 20 Harvard applicants from a region that stretches a couple of hundred miles. Alum interviewers from areas like Long Island, which get hundreds of applications, may get more extensive info from Harvard. I've heard that in such places, alum interviewers may get copies of the students' application.</p>
<p>I think that for whatever college a student is being interviewed, the student should bring either a activities list or a resume. If the interviewer doesn't want to look at it, fine: After all, some college interviewers are designed to inform the student about the college, not evaluate the student for the college. However, a resume or activities sheet can be invaluable if the interviewer could benefit by quickly learning about the student so as to make maximum use of limited interview time.</p>
<p>"I suspect it's pretty rare that an interview goes so well that it makes an application, but I can imagine a really terrible one might do a an applicant in. "</p>
<p>Very true on both counts.
And for people who are wondering, a "terrible interview" would NOT mean that a student seemed a bit nervous. It's normal for anyone -- adult or student -- to be nervous during an important interview.</p>
<p>A "terrible interview" would be when: a student was so nervous or social skills deficient that the student could not talk during the interview (I had a student who literally burst into tears when I asked why she applied to Harvard. This is one of my softball questions. The student, however, whom I actually got to know very well and still am in contact with 20 years later, was seriously depressed and lacked self confidence then. No, she didn't get into Harvard, and wasn't ready for it back then, but could be ready for it now.); is caught in a lie during the interview (I've caught students in various lies.); or expresses views that are antithetical to the college's mission (Depending on the college, this could include saying things that are racist, sexist, homophobic, incredibly selfish, unethical, etc. I haven't interviewed anyone who did something like this in their interview).</p>
<p>If the choice is between coffee shop, office, or home, I'd choose office and have been doing that for several years. I think that Starbucks would be awkward -- the interviewee might well have friends getting coffee and it is easy for others to hear the conversation. I'm not crazy about having folks in my home because a) it is chaotic; b) we have two teenagers who might know the interviewees (and both this year know my son); c) the potential liability issues raised by an earlier poster. My office is in the town in which I typically get interviewees. We have a very quiet conference room, but there are other people in the office so we are not alone. We can offer coffee or water but the kids don't feel compelled to have something (which they might in Starbucks). [I'm one of the founders of the company so the boss does not get mad at my misallocating my time.] I travel a lot and my assistant does the scheduling but I have not heard about anyone asking to do the interview someplace else.</p>
<p>DadII, I devote 1 to 1 1/2 hour per interview and then take another 1/2 to 1 hour to write up the interview. I ask the students to bring a resume that typically lists their current courses, their awards/honors, extra-curricular activities. I don't ask for GPAs or SAT scores, although I get them about half the time. Overall, this may help calibrate some of the interviewee's answers.</p>
<p>DadII, I don't know how much weight the interviews get. They probably get some otherwise it would seem a big waste of alumni time. I suspect that, as mathmom said, interviews are not dispositive except in a very few cases, either because the kid was extremely impressive or surprisingly bad. But, I don't actually know. In another thread, a poster said that at Richmond, they are explicitly not evaluative but are part of selling the school. For my alma mater, I think my primary charge is help the school to identify kids who have special or extraordinary skills or activities or are somehow especially interesting so that the class is not composed primarily of kids who worked hard in HS to get good grades and worked hard/received coaching to get good board scores but in addition to that will contribute to the vitality of the institution. This may involve helping the school understand what kinds of obstacles the kid had to overcome to achieve his/her scholastic and extracurricular record. This would include low socioeconomic status or a broken family, coming to the US as an immigrant, disabilities or medical problems, etc., though I would never ask about any of these unless they come up. Because the alumnus/alumna is part of the community, he/she may have a greater sensitivity to the obstacles an applicant may have faced.</p>
<p>A "terrible interview" for me is also kid not showing up, or kid being incredibly late AND not apologizing for the error. I won't mention in the report that they forgot or were late as long as they are mature about acknowledging the inconvenience to me.</p>
<p>My children met alumni at the Starbucks most convenient to the adult doing the interview. As a parent, I was okay with this as a neutral, public location. My son's very first interview, for his ED school (a very well known highly regarded east coast school that one would have expected better of) that he thought he loved (didn't happen which has been for the best in the long run) was not a good start to the college application process for him. This particular alumni seemed to think quite highly of himself (and DS got an earful of HIS many accomplishments) and made the process incredible difficult for my son who as a rule does fine in these situations. The real kicker was when this gentleman asked my son to compare and contrast the current US military situation with the Revolutionary War. HUH? That did not strike me as "normal" or fair. Needless to say, DS came home rather shaken as he did not expect anything like this (though did feel he did a decent job responding).</p>
<p>"Terrible interviews" can go both ways. Honestly, that interview made my son doubt his ED choice, so not as painful when he was deferred.</p>
<p>"The real kicker was when this gentleman asked my son to compare and contrast the current US military situation with the Revolutionary War. HUH? That did not strike me as "normal" or fair. "</p>
<p>You are right. It wasn't normal or fair nor was it appropriate for the alum interviewer to spend lots of time bragging about himself. The down side of alum interviewers is that the colleges have to use whatever alum volunteers they can get. Unless a volunteer does something egregious like show up drunk or make a pass at a student, the college probably will continue to use them. It's not that easy getting alum to take time from their schedules to interview.</p>