<p>I underestimated the no. of interviews. Two years ago my DH did 10 or 12 in one year, which contributed to him taking last year off. I'd say six is more typical. It's a legitimate question to ask your coordinator. He also tells students that what he's trying to do through the interview is describe to the adm. o. what it's like to sit down and have a conversation with them. He specifically does not ask about grades, scores, awards, etc., but does ask questions like books, movies, music, activities, jobs - anything that interests them that will get them to speak about themselves and maybe reveal who they are as people. One question our son was asked by an interviewer that I thought worked was "is there something you'd like me to stress in my report?" to the school. It was a nice way of giving the student an opportunity to
clarify what they thought made them unique. </p>
<p>"Moral purpose" sounded kind of scary to me, too.</p>
<p>In my city, many top dedicated people who do non-profit work and political activism went to top colleges. One of my friends that works in an area dedicated to low income housing went to harvard. At the tiny nonproft I'm doing work at now: director went to harvard, PR guy to Yale, cust service, WUSTL, cust service hampshire, jr mgr to UNC-CH</p>
<p>SV2, thanks for your nice comment and I apologize for being ungracious...I can understand and identify with the idea of jumping into the various activities that are associated with my kids, too....hope that you enjoy it if you do it!</p>
<p>The question about community contributions is interesting--in our community which has a large number of Ivy grads and an even larger number of Cal and Stanford grads, I think that people of all backgrounds are involved in the community and I don't see Ivies either over- or under-represented in giving back to the community. However, edging a little bit beyond the issue of community contributions and to the whole Ivy mystique....I just got back from my 30th Harvard reunion and I have one overarching observation: too darn many of us became boring lawyers!!! (yes, I am including myself in this, don't worry). The rest are doctors and investment bankers, I believe. I found myself clinging desperately to one of my old roommates who is a writer.....</p>
<p>Patient,
I had my 30th Harvard reunion last year. Did you follow my class's example and make a video?</p>
<p>I did not become a doctor, lawyer or banker, and like to think of myself as one of the classmates who found a more fulfilling (though far less lucrative) path.</p>
<p>Hard to believe that just days ago we were college freshmen, and now college students look at us and think, "When they went to college, I wasn't even born."</p>
<p>Northstarmom...don't know about a video! Had a cabaret show that definitely showed us waning in our musical talents and quite aware of our own mortality....I found myself watching the kids in Harvard Yard and even on the T, quite wistfully....seeing myself or some version of someone I knew, almost reincarnated....this was the first reunion I've been able to attend. It definitely had its lovely moments, but was also quite thought-provoking...also, I think that about 10% of the class was there, so I don't know how representative a sample it was.</p>
<p>Lefthandofdog: I have a similar question to the one your son was given. I always finish my interviews with the following question: Obviously, the college has all your scores, grades, etc. but this is your opportunity to communicate directly with Duke. Is there something you wish you could have told them that you couldn't quite get down on paper? Is there a message you would like to send them about yourself? </p>
<p>They are generally such wonderful applicants and I root for so many of them - I wish they could all get in.</p>
<p>Patient,
What dorm did you live in? I was in the first group of women in Mather, where I moved junior year after living in Comstock at the 'Cliffe. Maybe our paths crossed....</p>
<p>This does NOT refer only to Ivies, but it is something I have often thought about:</p>
<p>In terms of giving back to the community, one thing often overlooked is how much taxes people pay. Considering that almost 50% of tax filers pay NO income tax, and another percentage who owe no taxes get (in some cases) as much as $4,000 as the Earned Income Credit; and considering how many tax dollars go to all kinds of social services, subsidizing student loans, etc. ad infinitum, the people who pay the taxes in the country already give back a great deal. I always think of it when people say that top X% doesn't give as much as the bottom X%. My sister's family gives $2,000 a year to charity; even if I did not "double tithe" my charitable giving, my federal taxes alone are perilously close to 6 digits. Just a thought. NOTE: I AM VERY HAPPY TO PAY MY TAXES - I do not "hide" any of my income.</p>
<p>As for Ivies and other elite schools in particular: In my experience, the hardest workers of <em>local</em> communities are often people without a degree; but as for national boards etc that have far-reaching consequences, I find many, many, MANY people from elite schools in those positions.</p>
<p>Since I am the poster who used the phrase "moral purpose" I feel compelled to reply.</p>
<p>While I agree wholeheartedly with Northstarmom that "ethical" works as well, it would be a crying shame if we let certain political feelings usurp perfectly good words and phrase. I used to do volunteer work for a social service agency, and I was told it was politically incorrect to use the word "family" (yes! family!) because it was a racist code word!!! Supposedly it referred to certain right wing "family values;" also, many people coming to the agency did not come from a mom-dad-Buddy-sis-and-doggie type family. The word was simply taboo, and one could get severely reprimanded for using it!</p>
<p>To have moral values; to be an ethical person; to operate with a purpose in life as opposed to being whimsical or capricious - there is nothing wrong with that. "Moral purpose" has a use and meaning that far antedates the current political scene.</p>
<p>NSM, if you will activate your private message function, I can send you a private message and can reply in more detail as others are certainly not interested :). Quick answer though, by year: Currier, Quincy, France :), Currier--one of the things I realized last weekend was that I really, really missed out on things by hopping around and not solidifying an affiliation with a house. I would have SO much more fun if I were there now. I said to one of my roommates on the walking tour, "College is so wasted on the young!" She cracked up.....</p>