<p>I have one coming up at the end of June. . . and it is my very first one and I'm pretty nervous.</p>
<p>I had a job interview and I felt like I was being so phony. . . I really hope I can be myself and STILL impress Chicago, since my grades aren't perfect. (LIke a 96 weighted-higest is like 100). </p>
<p>So what are these interview like? If anyone has had one, could you tell me how ours was? Is there anything special I shoudl do to prepare? Should I bring a transcript or something?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>It depends a lot on the interviewer. Mine was an on-campus interview with an admissions officer, so it will probably be a different experience than an alumni interviewer. Every interviewer has a different personality and goes about the interview in a different way.</p>
<p>You should really just try to relax, be yourself, and be confident. I feel as if job interviews tend to be more phony than other interviews, in my experience. </p>
<p>Though I didn't have to do this, many people have to talk about why they want to go to the U of C, so try to think about that a little bit. Don't plan your answers or anything.</p>
<p>You can bring a transcript if you want, but it's not at all necessary.</p>
<p>BTW, I'm flying to campus from Buffalo for an interview.</p>
<p>Thanks! I'm worried about not being "quirky" enough lol.</p>
<p>Oh, got it. I've heard diverse comments about on campus interviews, as well. One person posted on here that his/her on campus interview was very dry and question-and-answer. Mine was a conversation. She asked about a book I had read, and we talked about something related to the writing process. We talked about politics and how people become or grow up to be politically active. I don't really remember. I didn't have any of the typical interview questions, really. It was about 45 minutes long. </p>
<p>Don't worry at all about not being quirky. In my opinion, Admissions is trying to make campus a little more mainstream while retaining it's general feel and intellectual commitment, so if you seem social and involved and enthusiastic, it may even be a plus. (I have a feeling people are going to blow these comments way out of proportion.) Whatever you are, just be yourself. You're not interviewing for a date, so unless you seem very rude or pompous, your personality isn't a big deal. Try to be happy and relaxed, if you can. That's useful for all interviews.</p>
<p>this probably isnt the right place to ask and i apolagize in advance if this question is stupid.</p>
<p>can i bring "supliments" to my interview. more specifically a few paintings and a smaller portfolio. ill be sending slides, but im old fashioned in the sense that i like to have people look at originals. is there some sort of interview etiquettei dont know about?<br>
yeah...</p>
<p>Ok cool- I think I am kind of quirky, in my own way- Many people when I met them admired my candor and sense of humor. I do pretty well at auditions and at family parties (easy interview practice I suppose) </p>
<p>In fact, I don't exactly know what "quirky" really is! </p>
<p>Thanks for the tips!</p>
<p>You sound as if you'll do fine, Katia.</p>
<p>Hahahapa, ask your interviewer whether he or she would like you to bring a small portfolio. Some people would like that, and others wouldn't. I also believe that your slides will be evaluated by the art department here, so there's little worth in showing your art to someone not educated in art.</p>
<p>I get the impression that interviews vary drastically depending on what interviewer you get. One interviewer may fire away at you with a list of random questions. (for example, if you could go back in time and meet one person, who would it be and why?) Another may ask only a few seperate questions through out the entire course of the interview, but ask many follow-up questions to the responses that you give. (for example, what do you want to study followed by what background do you have with this subject?)</p>
<p>My suggestion is to "get your story together." Think things over in the weeks and days that come before the day of your interview. Figure out why you want to attend Chicago and what you would contribute to the community. One can prepare for such basic things that you want to communicate. However, it is impossible to prepare for every possible question or point that will be raised in the interview, so at some point it's just a matter of being yourself.. a reflection of how creative, well-read, and interesting you are.</p>
<p>cool tips, and thanks a bunch corranged.</p>
<p>Know what you are going to write for your mini essays. They often ask about them. They are a good base to know about yourself. </p>
<p>Be prepared to argue a point without bashing your opponent whether it is your platform for becoming president or it is the superiority of liberal arts education. Expect them to take the opposite side of the issue to test you. This is the other half of the fun. </p>
<p>It will be random. That's half the fun. </p>
<p>Know that you're cool and this is just a chance to show them it. </p>
<p>It is not the end of the world if you ruin the interview- pressure off! I had a HORRIBLE interview and I still got in. (I ended up crying and thinking I would never get in)</p>
<p>I thought my off campus interview went well when I did it, but in retrospect I realize that it really went terribly in regard to the admissions process. Though I was still accepted.. seconded, DannonWater.</p>
<p>oh! and don't bash yourself on your "horrible" tests scores when they're at a high level! they don't like that!</p>
<p>Hello again!!!! I'm bumping this thread? Why?
My interview is tomorrow! I'm like so nervous. Do I go to admissions?</p>
<p>Anyway afterwards my dad and I have a day and a half in the city I love.</p>
<p>Also, I'm a girl- how dressy should I dress?</p>
<p>Don't be nervous. And nothing too fancy-- a nice pair of pants and a nice top should be fine. Students who overdress look kinda foolish. Make sure you're not overcleavaged or otherwise hanging out. Other than that, you'll be great. Be ready to talk about things that are important to you, remember the last book you read, maybe a little current events refresher, but other than that, be yourself and good luck.</p>
<p>Unalove said everything I was going to say. Be relaxed, be yourself, be prepared to talk. If it's hot in Chicago, a summer-y skirt and casual shirt should be fine. Otherwise nice pants and a nice shirt of some sort. Don't feel you need to dress up in a way that will make you look and feel uncomfortable--it always shows.</p>
<p>Good luck, and have a good time in Chicago.</p>
<p>
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remember the last book you read
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</p>
<p>Nice bit of advice. That's exactly the type of thing that comes up.</p>
<p>Interviewing at Chicago is like sitting in a hot-chair while someone (who is probably more learned than you) throws questions at you and expects intellectual answers in return. Books are good sources that interviewers can inquire about or reference in their attempt to rouse an intellectual conversation with the interviewee. Know your books. Professing to love a book but not being able to discuss it on an intellectual level will make for a bad interview.</p>
<p>my interviewer bought me ice cream. then we talked about how our families came from the same part of Eastern Europe. Then we got into a heated political discussion which we both enjoyed. then he told me I would fit in very well at Chicago and that he's looking forward to me being admitted. Quite quite cozy.</p>
<p>Yeah.... I don't think that books will come up unless you bring them up, and you will bring them up if you tell your interviewer that you like school/are intellectual. "What book did you last finish?" is a great question to see how on top of academics a person is and also how much they care (if they can't remember, what does that say about them?)</p>
<p>Of course, you're probably in a fit of panic no matter what, so even if you read for school and such, you probably won't be able to remember anyway.</p>
<p>Also, be ready to TALK. The interviewer is going to ask you questions, but he or she wants you to feel comfortable in expressing your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and the person you are. I would think it's better to be "open" than "closed"-- if you by accident say something stupid, but you're open, you can just say, "That was really dumb of me, sorry," and move on.</p>
<p>If you only keep yourself to mild comments, you are suffocating your personality and your opportunity to show the interviewer who you are and your interest in the school.</p>
<p>Is your's on campus or alumni? I did both, and they were very different.</p>
<p>My on campus interview with an admissions counselor felt like a job interview. I didn't bring a resume, but they made me fill out this information form (asking for my GPA, SAT scores, courses that I'm taking, hobbies, interests, etc.). Immediately after introductions with my interviewer, he just started throwing out questions, and I felt kind of intimidated. However, he eased up after 5 minutes of fastballs, and it eventually became more of a casual conversation (we talked about music, biotechnology, cancer research, economics, etc.). That lasted around an hour, and it was a very good experience. I felt like I was able to tell him a lot about me as a person interested in learning and UChicago.</p>
<p>My alumni interview was A LOT more casual. We met at a Starbucks inside a Barnes & Noble. I wore a suit, he wore a sweater and jeans. First thing he said was: "Ok, give me the pitch." I was kind of surprised, and just started giving out my stats (I carried a resume with me, but ended up not needing it). A few minutes into it, he just started laughing. Then he was like, "Let me tell you about my time in HS." He was a foreign exchange student from the US that went to Japan for a year, so we started talking about cultural similarities and differences. Then we somehow moved onto economics. Then globalization. Then into global culture. Haha. It was a very fun and interesting conversation, and lasted around an hour to an hour and a half (I couldn't keep track of the time). That interview was what made me want to go to UChicago when I applied. And if you wanted to know, I was admitted RD.</p>
<p>To sum it up, don't be intimidated, and be comfortable. Find something common between you and your interview (this may take a few minutes), and you'll be fine. Good luck, and have fun with it!</p>
<p>Would it be a bad idea for my son to do an on-campus interview this summer if he's undecided about applying to Chicago? This visit is very much an exploration, so he surely wouldn't be in a position to impress the interviewer with his passion about the school. But it will likely be his only chance to do an on-campus interview. Is it better to wait and do an alumni interview after he knows more about the school and is sure he will apply?</p>
<p>katia - how did your interview go? Would love to hear details!</p>