<p>I'm An alum and today I begin interviewing applicants. I have a question for you. I'm looking for suggestions. What questions, the answers to which, would be the most revealing?
Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>I’ve been to a billion interviews, so I hope this helps.</p>
<p>First, realize that you represent Middlebury. Nothing is worse than an uptight, humorless dork. If that’s you, resign now. Try to sell the school. Share your excitement about Midd.</p>
<p>A revealing question that all interviewees despise is: “Why Middlebury?” That said, it’s a good question that can be very revealing disclosing whether they know anything about Midd or have given any thought to it. It can also be a vehicle for them to ask you questions. You can also phrase it in a less confrontational way. For example: “I’m sure you’re familiar with the information on the website and brochures, but what questions do you have for me about Midd?”</p>
<p>The world’s worst question, however, is probably “What was your favorite class in high school and why?” Don’t ask this. It’s irrelevant, and you learn nothing from the answer.</p>
<p>A question I like being asked is “What are you passionate about? What has it done for you?” The worst answer is probably a listing of ECs.</p>
<p>Assuming everyone looks pretty good on paper, the interview can supply the admissions folk with information concerning how the candidate would fit in at Midd. To determine this, you can talk about anything – politics, partying, movies, books, sports, etc. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks Max, that does help.</p>
<p>I think asking , Why Midd? is a bad question and here’s why. Generally, I don’t know if people really know why they fit at some schools and not at others that seem very much the same on paper. And saying… I just feel like it’s a good fit would probably be considered a lame answer and listing off a bunch of things from the website would seem equally trite.</p>
<p>As for what you should ask… I am gonna think on that one. But mostly I think I’d be personally interested in the answer kids would give to; When you think about college, what is it about the idea that you most look forward to? And in the process of looking at schools to applying to them, did your idea of what you were looking for change? Mostly you want a kid who is reasonably mature to handle all the academic work and social life of college, but I think it’s also important to not be sooo sure of what the future holds and be open to the possibilities (while also knowing a tad of what those might be).</p>
<p>Have a conversation. Don’t come in to the interview with a set list of questions - go with the flow of the conversation. Ask lighthearted questions and professional questions. Try to put the applicant at ease with your demeanor and tone - even a great candidate can freeze up under pressure. Don’t put too much stock in the interview either - realize that your candidate might have been having a bad day or may not be a social person.</p>
<p>I agree with drought and would recommend taking the Larry King approach. Get the student comfortable with the conversation and with you. This is usually done by asking questions that will cause the student to talk about himself. People generally like to talk about themselves. If the student is confortable with the situation, he will be more likely be willing to let his guard down and you will exchange more meaningful information about the student and about Midd.</p>
<p>If they were a color, what color would they be and why? How many ping pong balls could a person fit inside a 747 jumbo jet? How many gas stations are there in the United States?</p>
<p>Just kidding. I would never ask any of these questions, but friends of mine have been asked these questions at job interviews.</p>
<p>My favorite “suggested question” is, “if you could be any single cell in your body which would you be and why?” </p>
<p>Seriously, that’s petarded (Family Guy reference).</p>
<p>I love Family Guy – but don’t tell anyone.</p>
<p>Some tough yet revealing questions: “Out of all the applicants, why should Middlebury choose YOU?” “How would your friends describe you?” “What would you change about your school?” (this question will show you what kind of things that the student dislikes and wishes to change) </p>
<p>Personally, those questions (to me) are dry and I’ve been asked those…I always wish for an interviewer who is fun and can relax the whole situation rather than a dry, uptight person who asks questions that feel like ammunitions. </p>
<p>Let the conversation flow even if it kinda goes off course. Questions are only there to upstart another conversation.</p>
<p>Personally, when going out for job interviews, I was taught to beware of the “casual trap”. So if an Interviewer were to try to be casual, instead of becoming more relax I would tense up, and watch what I said–which always a step down from natural flowing conversation. </p>
<p>That being said, I do agree with a lot of the people here. The interview is another portal into the applicant. In psychology interviews are used to acquire data about the participants behavioral patterns, and I don’t think College interviews should be much different. See how the applicant reacts to certain things. Ask him/her a question they probably wouldn’t have practiced. Yes there are question that are “dumber” than others but applicants should be able to think on there feet. Which is a valuable skill in any environment. I’m not a huge fan of the creative questions, because not everyone is creative. Anything that could help you get a better since of the applicant, as a person, as a student, as a friend. </p>
<p>I also agree with TheRoad, questions are meant to jump start a conversation. let it become a conversation don’t force it into one.</p>
<p>I think it’s wonderful that you are asking for advice. I’m guessing that you’re a good interviewer. I imagine that your job is to get a sense of the student and try to determine whether s/he is a good fit at Middlebury. These interviews can be very stressful for some students, so first of all, I would put the student at ease. Tell the student a little about your experiences at Middlebury and what you found special about it. And then let the conversation flow. I don’t think it matters what you ask. </p>
<p>Do you have a piece of advice for the student?</p>
<p>Yes, I do have some advice for students. RELAX! This is as much an opportunity for you to learn about the school as it is an opportunity for the interviewer to learn about you. There are no trick questions, and for that matter, no right answers. The interviewer just wants to like you and have a good conversation. Be sure to know a lot about the school before the interview though. Do some simple web research, but be sure to have some good questions to ask the interviewer. Just enjoy it. You know it was a good interview if it felt like a fun/engaged conversation.</p>
<p>Does Middlebury try to have alumni interviews with all of the applicants?</p>
<p>I had my interview today.</p>
<p>and… how do you think it went?</p>
<p>098-- not sure to the degree that Midd tries to give “all” applicants an alumni interview. But son did not have one and was offered admission so it surely isn’t a make or break thing.</p>
<p>So how did it go, what did you think?</p>
<p>I always asked students to tell me their greatest strength-and then their greatest weakness…The results have always been fascinating. Males tend to wax long about their strengths, and females describe their weaknesses in excruciating detail…</p>
<p>My son had his interview today in San Francisco. (He’s applying EDII, and it’s definitely a reach.) They talked very informally for about an hour and 20 minutes in a small cafe. He said that the interviewer put him at ease, and he really enjoyed the conversation.</p>
<p>I had my interview today (somehow in my town of 2500 people, there was an alumni interviewer.) It went very well and my interviewer was very informal yet very helpful and encouraging. Definitely worth the hour spent.</p>