Brown interview

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
21

<p>simple: Your interviewer absolutely positively should not have cursed. That needs to be reported to Brown. He should not have called you an idiot; in fact, shouldn't have asked you where else you are applying. If you don't feel comfortable reporting it, perhaps your guidance counselor would. </p>

<p>However, the fact that he was not dressed for an interview is irrelevant -- I wear jeans to interviews, and always tell kids they should dress casually, like students are supposed to be dressed. If anything I dress down as a way to put the student at ease. </p>

<p>We interviewers hear the same reasons ad nauseam why students want to go to Brown (the diversity, the new curriculum), so I can somewhat understand his dismissing those (I can't stress, guys, how refreshing it is for an applicant to say something different). </p>

<p>I'm sorry he was condescending, but that just goes to show that Brown is not necessarily full of all those quirky, creative types as stereotyped. Yup, jerks go to Brown, too, as well as jocks and preppies and JAPs, etc.</p>

<p>Shadylane, the interviewer should not ask your GPA -- in 20+ years of interviewing I've never asked that. The question about diversity, though, is very important. There are many types of diversity that students bring to Brown, and diversity does not and should not only mean racial diversity. A Jewish white girl from DC could be raising service dogs, learning Mandarin Chinese, playing the harp, reading philosophy books for pleasure -- diversity comes in many forms. What he was asking was -- sell me on why Brown should accept you. What makes you stand out, what will you bring to campus. Brown is going to accept a bunch of white Jewish girls from DC (because the students from Utah are going to want to meet you) -- why should you be the one accepted? (Personally, I would never ask that question so bluntly, but yes, that is one thing I am looking for in my interviews.)</p>

22

<p>oh man, i think i totally screwed up my interview because my two answers to "why brown?" were open curriculum and diversity. no wonder she kept asking me all the other schools i was applying to and stopped talking about brown completely. how much do interviews really count for? because i hope they don't count for much...</p>

23

<p>^^ Shady Lane got in ED. :) Guess Brown likes (amazing) white Jewish girls from DC.</p>

<p>Thanks for the helpful posts, fireandrain.</p>

24

<p>KD, almost everyone answers that way. Don't worry -- that answer isn't going to be the reason you're not accepted! There's disagreement on how much interviews count -- interviewers certainly hope that they count for something, or else why would we devote so much time and energy to doing them?</p>

25

<p>Ugh, I am SO excited for my Brown interview! I am so enthusiastic.. I can't wait until I'm contacted!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

26

<p>Haha, fireandrain, I understood why she asked me, it just threw me a bit. I talked about how my school values diversity but hasn't yet been able to achieve it, so I wanted to help reach those goals in a larger community, etc. It was not one of my best answers, and I don't thinks he was impressed.</p>

<p>She also asked what other schools I was applying to. I had to keep stressing that I'd applied early decision, so I hadn't applied anywhere else yet (and then gave her the list of schools I was planning to apply to if deferred/rejection). She didn't seem to get what applying ED meant, to be perfectly honest...</p>

<p>I also asked a lot of questions about the drama/arts programs which she fully admitted she didn't know much about, as she was a math major. So I came prepared with all these questions to ask, and her "I don't know"s didn't exactly eat up our interview time. </p>

<p>She wasn't interested in me at all, I don't think, until I mentioned the book deal. My dad made me swear I'd mention the amount of money I got for my advance...as sick as it sounds, I think that's really what caught her attention.</p>

<p>And Poseur, you're a sweetie :)</p>

27

<p>That IS a tough question, Shady. It's like.. "Well, Brown is the one deciding whether or not I'll fit into the community.. why don't THEY figure out what makes me diverse??"</p>

28

<p>I think it was hard because I'd been so stuck in the "what can college do for me?" mindset (because, let's face it, both CC'ers have their pick of fine colleges) and suddenly had to switch to the "what can I do for college?"</p>

29

<p>I thought mine went pretty bad too. My interviewer asked me all these hard questions and I'm not sure if the responses I gave were good enough. She asked things like: What are you future goals? What do you expect to get out of your 4 years at Brown?, What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?, Why are you interested in Politics? etc etc.
I don't I did too well because we were in the middle of discussing something when she looked at her watch and said time's up. I don't think she liked me very much.</p>

30

<p>People keep reminding me of questions I had. "Where do you picture yourself in five years? Where do you picture yourself in ten years? Where do you picture yourself in twenty years?"</p>

<p>Those were tricky.</p>

31

<p>
[quote]
I think it was hard because I'd been so stuck in the "what can college do for me?" mindset (because, let's face it, both CC'ers have their pick of fine colleges) and suddenly had to switch to the "what can I do for college?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm highlighting this quote because it is so relevant for all applicants. That is the mindset all applicants need to have when doing their applications and having interviews. Because that is exactly what the admissions people are asking themselves. I know how tough it is to market yourself, but that is really important to do. </p>

<p>I never ever ask applicants where they see themselves in 5 or 10 or 20 years -- mainly because I can't answer those questions myself. Most HS seniors can't imagine where they'll be in a month, no less a year or a decade. It's a stupid question.</p>

<p>I just finished an interview. I just don't ask those really tough questions. I ask what classes they are taking now, which is their favorite and why. What ECs they do, what they do over the summer. Why Brown. I honestly don't understand the need to ask those tricky questions. </p>

<p>And Shadylane, I just looked at your past posts, and wow, 2 novels. That's awesome. That is the diversity you provide to Brown, being a published novelist. I couldn't care less what advance you got, I would have explored the publishing process and your thoughts on it. Next time I explain what diversity means, I'll be sure to use "published novelist" as an example. Congrats on getting in ED.</p>

32

<p>I think that one of the major problems students have is whole self-marketing thing. I know that's what throws me off. It's odd to talk about yourself, and to try to impress someone and convince them that they'd be a good addition to a college while at the same time trying not to come off as a complete self-absorbed narcissist. It's definitely a skill I need to work on...</p>

<p>I have my interview next Tuesday...I was initially having a mini mental freak-out, but it actually doesn't seem too big of a deal anymore. From the email, my interview sounded nice enough. At the very least, he was reassuring. Good luck to all the interviewees! (myself included ^_^)</p>

33

<p>Thanks, fireandrain. </p>

<p>I did actually talk quite a bit about the publishing process--and, actually, my experience with the publishing industry was absolutely invaluable to the application process. Knowing how to sell yourself without sounding like you're bragging, knowing how to highlight your strengths and downplay your weaknesses, giving the people what they want while still remaining true to yourself...applications were a piece of cake for me. I looked at every essay, even the tiny "elaborate on an EC" or "how did you find out about Brown" and thought--"What EXACTLY do I want to show the adcom in this section of my application, and how can I write something that both answers the question and shows THIS aspect of how awesome I am?"</p>

<p>That's what you have to do when writing applications, I think. Keep thinking, "I'm awesome, I'm awesome. I'm awesome. Now let me show them exactly why I'm awesome and show them in a million different ways."</p>

34

<p>yeah it got really awkward when she found out i applied early somewhere else but when i explained my reasoning (parents wanted me to) the interview pretty much ended, which sucks because i really really realllly want to get in and a good interview could have possibly made them forget my very mediocre test scores... ughhh</p>

35

<p>KD, a good interview would not help them overlook your self-described "very mediocre test scores." That is not the purpose of the interview.</p>

36

<p>um...harsh.</p>

37

<p>Worst interview of my life. I'm still sweating. It was like every answer I gave was wrong or something...</p>

38

<p>My interview is this Saturday and im so so nervous.
I know its supposed to be pretty casual but I'm still having a mental freak-out episode.</p>

<p>How much does the interview count in your overall application?</p>

<p>How do you "sell yourself" without coming across as arrogant? It's so hard.</p>

39

<p>my interview was pretty good. i mean, we had a couple of awkward silences, but we talked steadily for about an hour and 15 minutes. overall, it was good. he learned a lot about me, and i learned a lot about brown.</p>

<p>^i don't think the interview counts for much, but it can't hurt. and as for "selling yourself", i can't think of anything to say besides be honest, be confident, and try not to be too nervous. i know i was (nervous, that is). he actually commented on that...and i'm pretty sure i said "interesting" about 15,000 times...ugh.</p>

40

<p>hey sphangie.phlange</p>

<p>thats sounds pretty harsh.
Where are u from?</p>