<p>Hey everyone!</p>
<p>Tomorrow, I have my AU college interview tomorrow. I’m really, really nervous, as I have never done an interview before, let alone a college interview (although I have another upcoming interview in 2 weeks). I just wanted some tips or suggestions, as I’m totally clueless. Any advice would be great, especially on how to prepare for the questions and anything else you might want to add! Thank you so much! :)</p>
<p>I am actually curious how you got an interview with American. I am planning on submitting my app tomorrow. Did they email you and offer one or did you sign up somehow?</p>
<p>In terms of college interviews, I have done 2, both very different (Gtown/UPenn). The Gtown one was very conversational and the guy pretty much just went down my resume and asked about EVERYTHING. It was about 45 min. For UPenn, the lady just had a list of 10 questions or so, she asked me them, I answered and it was done. It took like 15 minutes.</p>
<p>In terms of questions, be prepared for these:</p>
<p>1) Why AU?
2) What do you want to study and why?
3) Why is that field interesting to you?
4) What has been your favorite part of high-school?</p>
<p>Also, be sure to have some questions for the interviewer at the end. It shows you really care.</p>
<p>Hope that helps :D</p>
<p>Thanks!! :)</p>
<p>Actually, I just randomly emailed my admissions counselor, and coincidentally, he said that he was about to send out an email for interviews in my area. So, I suggest looking up your admissions person for your region, and emailing them about opportunities. I wasn’t sure if I should submit it or not because in the contacts part which shows demonstrated interest, it asks about interviews and the person’s name, but since it hasn’t happened yet, I wasn’t sure whether to submit the application now and not put that on it, or submit it after the interview with the person’s name. I know they put a lot of weight on demonstrated interest, so I wasn’t sure what to do.</p>
<p>Anyone?? It’s technically now today, so any last minute advice would be great. Thanks!! :)</p>
<p>Anyone else? Please? Should I submit it or not? I’m going to the interview in half an hour, so advice would really be great.</p>
<p>Best advice is to be yourself. Be prepared to talk about why AU is a good fit for you and what you can contribute to the school. Talk about how your strengths align with AU’s strengths. Be prepared to talk about your high school experience in detail and the qualities about you that set you apart from other applicants. Talk about your goals and ambitions from both a academic and personal perspective. Good luck, I am sure it will be fine. Your application probably does not hinge on your interview “performance”.</p>
<p>Have things changed this year?
Previously, the AU interview was “informational,” meaning that it was intended to provide the applicant with information about the school, not the other way around. It wasn’t considered in admissions decisions and was optional. One might opt to do an interview as part of the effort to show “demonstrated interest,” which is considered in the admissions decision. My daughter didn’t do an interview because she’d demonstrated interest in other ways and really didn’t have any questions left.</p>
<p>I don’t know, but it’s not an informational interview. It was billed as an optional interview. </p>
<p>But, the funny thing is, when I went today, all ready and dressed up, it turns out it wasn’t today. It’s next week. LOL.</p>
<p>What leads you to believe it’s not an informational interview? Just wondering–because it clearly was, in the past, and because this is what it says about the interview on the website.</p>
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<p>[Interviews</a>, American University, Washington, DC](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/admissions/interviews.cfm]Interviews”>Interviews for Prospective Students | American University, Washington, DC)</p>
<p>I was told by a current student that it could potentially help you, especially if you are a borderline applicant. I also understood that they weren’t like information sessions, where it’s like a presentation, but a way to show interest, like you said. I don’t know who is correct, but I’m doing it regardless.</p>
<p>In an evaluative interview, the interviewer is asked to submit a report to the admissions committee and the interviewer’s report and recommendation become part of the application. I know the school I attended even has all the local interviewers meet together and select which applicants out of the local pool they are going to specifically endorse for admission.</p>
<p>My understanding is that American will note whether or not you had an interview, but won’t consider (or possibly even ask for any type of report about) the content of the conversation.</p>
<p>Not requesting an interview could be construed as lack of interest in the school, so, sure, if you want to do everything in your power to show them your interest, you’d want to schedule an interview.</p>
<p>But it might be useful to come armed with some well-informed questions, rather than just thinking about what you can say about yourself.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! :)</p>
<p>I wasn’t quite sure, but I knew I was going to do the interview regardless. I do have questions prepared, and I do hope to show my interest. I think I have a good chance of getting in anyway, but I really want to get into PPL (first pick) or Global Scholars or honors, so I’m trying to help out my chances as much as possible.</p>
<p>My daughter did an interview with her Admissions Rep. It was definitely informal and I do believe it was more informational than anything else. Be prepared with questions if you have any. Think it will just help with your display of interest, which is always a good thing.</p>
<p>Thanks! I think that it should help me with the demonstrated interest part, then. :)</p>
<p>For others here, as arrozconleche (corn with milk!!) is likely done. We are in the SF Bay Area. They are doing some regional interviewing here, and my son received a “personal” email to do one–only so many slots over a two-day period. He’ll do it to show interest, as it’s one of the few schools he has applied to and/or been accepted to that we have not been able to visit (though we went to one of those two-hour workshops a couple of months ago), and AU has visited his school. Univ of San Diego does not do interviews (as many don’t), but I think if you show enough interest (such as going to fairs or workshops), they sometimes reach out to you (they did for my son and he interviewed when they were in the area.</p>
<p>Actually it means rice with milk, a type of Hispanic dessert. :)</p>
<p>That’s what I got. I was emailing the admissions officer for my region, and he was the one who invited me for a 2 day interviewing opportunity.</p>
<p>Yes, of course! Maiz is corn–I thought, well, maybe it’s corn “cereal” with milk! I guess those “z’s” mixed me up! I am from San Diego, so I’ve eaten many Hispanic desserts–yummmmmm! I hope your interview goes/went well. I think it was a good thing to do–good practice if nothing else.</p>
<p>FYI: arroz con leche is rice (not corn) with milk. It’s basically a very yummy rice pudding.
Interviews are always a good idea and, even an informational interview can work in your favor if you stand out or make a good impression. Good luck arrozconleche!</p>
<p>Thanks @Mamaa195</p>
<p>I had my interview today. I think it went well. I arrived 20 minutes early, but the interviewer was already, probably since I had the second interview of the day, the other one scheduled 5 minutes earlier. The interviewer, who was an alumni was really nice and really had a lot to say. I asked around 10 questions, and afterwards, he asked me the questions on his paper, and wrote down my answers, which I sort of was not expecting, since this was billed as an informational interview. But, I was comfortable and at ease, so it wasn’t a problem. I’m happy that it went well and that the interviewer liked me. Even though each interview was supposed to last only 30 minutes, mine lasted for almost 45 minutes, which was fine, since I arrived early. My dad drove me there, and while he waited for me, he even managed to have a 15 minute conversation with the admissions officer for my area, which was sort of cool. Overall, I was happy with what happened, and regardless of whether the sheet filled out by the interviewer will be read or not, I was glad for the experience.</p>