<p>I recently received a phone call from a Brown Alumni Interviewer, offering to set up an interview with me. He said that he was trying to do a dual interview with me and another applicant who had listed the same intended Major as I had. Is this normal to be interviewed two at a time? I feel like it’d be better to do the interview 1v1. Should I just tell him that?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I don’t think that is normal or usual. It is hard to know what to say you should do about it. It puts you in an awkward position. I will ask and try to get back to you today or tomorrow if I can.</p>
<p>My understanding of the interview is for you to get a personal discussion about Brown, ask questions about Brown and to get a chance to talk about your own interest in Brown. Then, also for the interviewer to assess what qualities you seem to have that makes you a good candidate, I guess, since they don’t evaluate your academics the way the admissions committee does.</p>
<p>I think that it is not okay for him to suggest that. But otherwise you are in a hard position. You either have to tell him no, or you have to ask the school, then I’m sure they will say that is not okay, then you may still have to see him if they don’t have another interviewer locally. Or no interview.</p>
<p>So, my advice is to email to ask if the interviews could be back to back as to be more personal. But don’t push. If you have to end up doing it together, be very friendly with the other person and don’t look at it like a competition.</p>
<p>Sorry.</p>
<p>I’ve done one or two interviews with more than one person. They’ve happened with kids from the same high school, so they’ve known each other, and I gave them the option of either doing it together or separately. (In both cases the students had to drive long distances to meet with me, so it made sense for them to drive together.) Both times it went really well, and I feel that I got to know both students just fine. Witnessing the interaction between the two actually helped.</p>
<p>Brown is incredibly overtaxed this year. In some areas of the country we simply don’t have enough interviewers to reach all the applicants. We’re trying really hard, but there is a good chance we will not be able to find alums for all the students who have applied. Your choice might be either a dual interview or a very short interview, or no interview at all. If I were you, I might say – “I’d prefer a one-on-one interview, but if this is the best situation you can offer me, I’d be glad to meet with you and the other applicant.”</p>
<p>My advice would be to be gracious and do the 2:1 interview. Enjoy that you will not have the spot light just on you, and can have a good time in any environment. I am sure the interviewer is strapped for time and sees this as a way to accomplish his goals without having to repeat the same information twice. Not an optimal situation for you, and probably not the first choice for the interviewer either. </p>
<p>That said, I would think asking for a 1:1 interview will not cast you favorably to the interviewer. So why risk it?</p>
<p>The interview is not a make or break situation. Truly, I think at most a bad one can kill an admission, but a great one is not going to get you into the school. Look at it as a learning opportunity, and enjoy the process. Let your love of the school shine thru, and you will be fine.</p>
<p>That’s odd. </p>
<p>I interviewed 1:1 with a Brown alumnus a few weeks ago. The alumnus is probably trying to kill two birds with one stone. Personally, I’d request for a 1:1 interview. I wouldn’t want another student taking the spotlight, but that’s just me.</p>