<p>I am a senior in high school. I am interested in Smith College and was just wondering if the alumni interview is helpful in the process of admission? If it is, what do people usually wear to interview? Thank you</p>
<p>The interview is not an extremely heavily weighted part of the admissions process, but if you have the opportunity to do one, I think it’s always a good idea. An interview gives you the chance to elaborate more on points that are on your resume, or to discuss things about yourself that might not be clear on paper. For example (I use this example a lot on CC), your resume might say that you played the violin for 10 years. But only in an interview would you really be able to explain how your grandfather was also a concert violinist, and he gave you your first violin, and you’re obessed with Bach and have been trying to learn every violin piece he every wrote, etc. In other words, your resume tells Smith that you play the violin. Your interview tells them that you’re passionate about the violin. If they’re looking at two otherwise equal candidates, it might be helpful for them to know if one has the drive and the passion they’re looking for. Also, if you have specific deficiencies in your application (maybe a significant drop in grades) an interview provides one more place for you to discuss the reasons for that and what you’ve done to correct. </p>
<p>The interview also gives YOU a chance to ask questions you might have in a more relaxed, informal setting. The interview is as much a chance for Smith to sell itself to applicants as it is for applicants to sell themselves to Smith. </p>
<p>It makes little difference whether you have an on-campus or alum interview. The assessment and report they fill out at the end is the same and it goes to the same file. My main tips for an interview: try to practice some answers in advance. You don’t want to be too scripted, but you want to be prepared. They’re going to ask you things like “why do you want to go to Smith”, “tell me about your high school classes,” etc. and they may ask you questions about the activities that you do. If you’re going to put down that you play the piano, think about maybe who a few of your favorite composers are or some of your favorite pieces. If you’re going to put down that you do theater, think about some of your favorite roles or plays, etc. </p>
<p>As for what you’ll wear, wear whatever you normally wear during the day. Dressing up is not necessary, and dressign like yourself will give the interviewer a better idea of your personality. Just make sure that what you wear is clean and ironed. And if you’re a t-shirt and jeans person, that’s fine, but wear your best t-shirt and your neatest pair of jeans.</p>
<p>Just a note here–my daughter did not elect to have an interview and she was admitted. The interview is not essential for admission.</p>
<p>Yes, the interview is absolutely optional. Not doing one won’t necessarily hurt you. Doing one doesn’t 100% necessarily help you. But if you’re going for the theory of giving yourself every possible opportunity for acceptance, and it’s not a hardship to do one, it can give you an opportunity to express yourself more fully to the admissions officers reviewing the application. I would recommend doing one if a person has the opportunity (for all of the reasons outlined above), but I also wouldn’t tell anyone who couldn’t interview to sweat the problem.</p>
<p>Thank you so much C:</p>
<p>Another tip would be to set up and interview with a school not high on your list as a practice run first - we did this and it really helped my daughter get a sense of what the process was like although all interviews are different since the person you end up with can determine a lot of the process.</p>
<p>I agree. Even though it’s not an intense or life-determining interview, most high school students don’t have a lot of experience with interviews…I think developing a comfort zone with the process helps. Because there are certainly more interviews down the road, whether for research positions, internships, jobs, etc.</p>
<p>Probably the one thing I would “coach” a student is that hitting the right tone is as important, if not more important, than any one or two elements of content.</p>
<p>Absolutely agree practice interviews are good. My D did some at HS, but really hit her stride (pun) after two or three.</p>
<p>I believe with most schools, the biggest benefit of the interview with alumnae is just showing interest, just like taking a tour. Unfortunately, the admin staff can not highly rate alumnae reviews across so many different sources when they have so much additional information to review “apples to apples” like scores, writing samples, etc. </p>
<p>Do the interview, be relaxed by having done a few prior to your targets.</p>