<p>We recently got back in touch with old family friends of H's family. As it turns out, one of them is married to a professor at a college that D is very interested in -- and is a professor in the field that interests her. (chemistry) </p>
<p>The prof indicated that he'd be more than happy to have my D sit in on a class (the visit is such that she wouldn't otherwise be able to sit in on a class), take her to lunch afterwards, and answer any questions in general. We also have a general college tour scheduled during this time. </p>
<p>So, I assume the direct contact should come from my D, but not from me, and obviously I think the offered class and the lunch are for her alone and the rest of us (parents and twin brother) can cool our heels elsewhere on campus during that time. But I'd like to give her a little guidance in how to come across and what questions to ask.</p>
<p>Now, if she were a normal CC student, she'd be able to tell him about how she really prefers analytical chemistry over biochemistry, or organic over inorganic, or how she's built her own lab and is now synthesizing chemicals that will form stronger Post-It note bonds or cure cancer, take your pick. Or how she just can't wait to get to college to use a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer with a multinuclear probe, or a gamma ray MCA, or a spectrophotometer. But -- she's not one of those CC students. She's just a normal bright kid, who took Chem as a soph and is now taking AP Chemistry and seems to like it, enough to consider it as a major. She's not equipped to discuss the prevailing controversies in chemistry, have a point of view on what specific parts of chemistry interest her, or the finer points of what to look for in a chemistry lab. And it would come across as fake to pretend that she was. </p>
<p>What suggestions does anyone have in terms of how she should approach him, should her questions be focused on chemistry or more about student life in general?</p>
<p>She should relax and be herself. No professor worth his salt expects an incoming student to be a peer. He is a family friend who has volunteered to give her insight into a place that she is thinking of attending, she should approach it in that light. Now is a good time to ask questions like, How much student research opportunity is there really? Do most students take advantage of the opportunity or is it limited to a select group? What directions have your past students gone in, is it mostly academics, private sector research, public research? She should also ask questions like Is it true that all the students here do nothing but party? study? go home every weekend? </p>
<p>This a great resource to get the real scoop on the place that most students don’t ever get to tap into.</p>
<p>D1 made a point of meeting with professors at each campus visit. Two professors from different schools volunteered to contact adcoms on her behalf after their meetings, but I don’t think it made much of a difference. A friend’s son started a year long correspondence with a professor at an ivy, he had subpar stats and was admitted. In his case, it showed true interest in the field he wanted to pursue and the professor validated it. Nevertheless, D1 enjoyed meeting various professors, because it gave her an insight to their teaching styles, class sizes. D1 didn’t find those meetings intimidating or uncomfortable, most of them were very friendly and helpful. She did incorporate her meetings into her “why school X” essay. In your case, it’s a family friend, so it should even be more relaxed. I don’t think there should be any need to impress.</p>
<p>“She should relax and be herself. No professor worth his salt expects an incoming student to be a peer.”</p>
<p>I agree. Saying this as a former professor who’s married to a professor. We’ve met many young people who were family friends or friends of friends and were interested in the college where we were teaching. We expected of them only the same level of conversation we’d expect of other teens who were talking to adults.</p>
<p>It’s nothing for her to get stressed about or to prep for other than thinking about questions about the college that she has that the professor may be able to answer.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that at many schools, profs do not have any impact on the admission process.
They are great sources of information about their own departments and the college in general, however.
Besides the questions already suggested, she could ask questions about labs, size of class sections, research opportunities during the school year; during summer; internships; about the dreaded weed-out organic chemistry class; how many students are pre-med and how many are interested in chemistry for its own sake? what about majors such as biochemistry? how about the relationship between chemistry and physics? what about chemical engineering? </p>
<p>Although this is a long list, she should be relaxed and let the flow of the discussion guide her as to which questions to pose. She can always email him for more information later!</p>
<p>". She’s just a normal bright kid, who took Chem as a soph and is now taking AP Chemistry and seems to like it, enough to consider it as a major. She’s not equipped to discuss the prevailing controversies in chemistry, have a point of view on what specific parts of chemistry interest her, or the finer points of what to look for in a chemistry lab. And it would come across as fake to pretend that she was.
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<p>The professor isn’t expecting her to act like a “normal CC kid.”</p>
<p>When I was a professor, I remember talking with a h.s. senior from the city where I used to live. The student was tongue tied and I had to carry the conversation, something that I was used to when talking to teens. It didn’t cause me to think badly of her. I knew what teens were like!</p>
<p>The student ended up coming to my college and as a senior winning the top senior award in my department. :)</p>
<p>I suggest that she take a look at the Department Homepage and find out some more information about the professor so that she will be more familiar with him/her. </p>
<p>I would ask about some research that is going on in the department and maybe what the department is thinking of doing in the future etc.</p>
<p>I would try to think about this- and convey to your daughter- as having nothing to do with admissions, and just another way for your daughter to learn about the school, the major, and make decisions about where she would most like to go.</p>
<p>If this offer was made to you, and not to her, it might feel uncomfortable for your daughter. If she is not eager to do this, then I would help her find an “out” so she does not have to meet with the professor friend. Or just keep it at having the professor available for e-mail questions she might have.</p>
<p>In general, we tried to avoid anything “special” that could affect admissions, but information gathering is worthwhile in any way that it comes to you.</p>
<p>Your level of expectations for her is way too high, and could be less than helpful to your daughter. I would try to relax and just let things happen.</p>
<p>Now might be a good time to have an all family discussion on good interview techniques – which is great training for everything from college visits to party ice breakers. Watching someone like Barbara Walters or Charlie Gibson can be helpful. They tend to avoid anything question that can be answered “yes” or “no.” Instead, they say “Tell me about . . .” or "Why do you think . . . " or "What would you like to see . . " which tends to get longer, more interesting replies. </p>
<p>So your offspring can ask “What do you look for in your chemistry students?” “Who fits well here?” “What have you seen students choose that doesn’t work out?” “What do you like about Happy College or Collegeville town?” Any prof should be able to riff on those – hope it all unfolds well!</p>
<p>Chemistry major from eons ago here (then did MD). As a chemistry enthusiast I imagine the conversation could go for a long time just asking questions about what one does as a chemistry major and chemist. Tell her not to worry- chemists are generally nice people and enjoy having someone interested in the same things. The best thing is to enjoy talking to someone who shares an interest and can answer questions others can’t. Being a professor he is tuned into students and will probably find ways to make her feel at ease. Remind her there is no such thing as a dumb question, something professors told me long ago and still true today.</p>
<p>He won’t know much about student life, that’s for other students to discuss.</p>
<p>Wish my family liked chemistry so I could discuss it with them, sigh.</p>
<p>While doing interview prep might be helpful for other reasons for a HS junior or senior, this very nice invitation probably shouldn’t be viewed as an interview. I know a “normal cc” type over-achieving student who had the opportunity to meet with a Nobel prize winning physics professor at an HYPMS school. They had a lovely converstation over lunch in the faculty dining room, and there was almost no discussion of physics. (THe father, by the way, was included in the luncheon invitation.)</p>
<p>It’s not likely this spouse of a family friend is expecting to have an in-depth discussion of some hot topic in chemistry. Your D might want to ask why the prof. likes teaching at that school. If she follows the advice of another poster and goes on line and checks on the prof’s CV and research interests, she can ask what he thinks the differences are between the students at this school and one of the other places he’s taught. </p>
<p>Depending on the size and type of school, the prof could have some “tip” influence – if it comes to the situation of the admissions committee looking at your D versus some of the “unknown” applicants — and the admissions office has info. on file that the prof. met with this candidate, had a nice chat, and knows her father’s family.</p>
<p>I would use the opportunity, not to sell my accomplishments because profs aren’t football coaches , but take advantage of the informality of being a family friend, and find out about what the students are like, what kind of students do well there, what it is like working with students.</p>
<p>He also might be a good person to ask about similar colleges- cause I bet he knows peers elsewhere and what their schools are like.</p>
<p>She could ask about the prevailing mood on campus–is the staff happy? Does the Chem department have the resources it needs? Do students show up for office hours? Are they tired? How many hours of homework might she expect?</p>
, but take advantage of the informality of being a family friend, and find out about what the students are like, what kind of students do well there, what it is like working with students.</p>