<p>So I just had my Dartmouth Interview um, don't know what to say.</p>
<p>Alum said that because I had the interview it meant that I made the "first cut" but I thought the only reason people don't get interviews was because Dartmouth didn't have enough alums so IDK what that is about.</p>
<p>Gosh, I got a lot of political questions ( KILLLED ME )</p>
<p>asked me what I would do to change my school and what actions I have taken (KILLED ME).</p>
<p>worded questions weirdly so I didn't know what was going on....</p>
<p>umm said he was "rooting" for me and would do "everything he could" to help me in the decision. in the process and said I had a "good chance" but I think he was just being nice.</p>
<p>This lasted for an hour and a half
Thoughts? How were your interviews?</p>
<p>I was almost certain that there were no "first cuts" but eh...
I think this bombed. GOOD LAWDDD.</p>
<p>That’s crazy, but schools have a bunch if old coot alum who know nothing interviewing. We saw that up close with DD. There is no such thing as the first cut, all of the schools doing alum interviews do them for everyone in an area where an alum is available.</p>
<p>Don’t give it a second thought. Likely the write up will sound nuts to admissions anyway.</p>
<p>Interviews don’t matter at all, unless you bomb them. There are too many alumni who don’t know the first thing about what goes on in the admissions office to put any stock in the interview.</p>
<p>By the way – you weren’t interviewed because you made the first cut. Everyone receives an interview, assuming there’s an interviewer who lives nearby you.</p>
<p>Do not worry. It sounds like you did more than fine.
IMO, at Dartmouth and similar schools, the two main functions of the interview are to (1) keep alumni tied to the school, and (2) convey a positive impression of the school to the applicant.</p>
<p>There are five people applying early decision to Dartmouth from our school. Only one of use was offered an interview. Coincidentally, that person has the highest ACT (34) and GPA (right around a 3.99 UW). We all live within approximately ten miles of each other, but only one of us was offered an interview. Are you sure there is no first cut? I kind of wonder if they admissions people look at your scores and GPA, because they have so little time for anything else to give out interviews. I think they offer interviews to people who are more competitive.</p>
<p>that is weird…but since there seem to be many admitted with no interview you could read it that they do start at the best candidate if the interviewer maybe only has time for one? I dunno but I would not assume no interview means you have no shot. I even thought for a bit, well if they pull your file and you are a “fast read” maybe you do not need one. Then again they probably do not pull your file before setting up interview. For ED I am not sure how uniform this might be either. Good luck either way!</p>
<p>I am an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth. I promise you that getting, or not getting an interview means nothing. Don’t look for hidden meanings. So many alums sign up to interview. Each one is given the name or 1 or 2 kids to interview. BUT, the interviewers are busy, or flakes or both. Even thought the alums said they would love to interview, many drop the ball. It will NOT hurt you if you don’t interview and a great interview doesn’t get you in. The interview is primarily for YOU. The college also likes to keep the alums feeling involved.</p>
<p>Also, I know for a fact that there is no “First Read” When your application is received, your info is sent to the Area director to assign someone to contact you for an interview. This happens automatically, before admissions starts looking at the application.</p>
<p>all we receive is the contact info. We’re suppose to just have a conversation and not ask test scores and GPA. Just talk about what makes the candidate tick and what they hope to get out of college and most importantly, share our happy (hopefully) memories of Dartmouth. We are not in a position to judge whether the admissions office will admit or deny the candidates we interview. We’ve all been surprised many, many times.</p>
<p>I’ve had interviewers who ask about scores and courseload. In one case it was because it was recommended by the school, and in the other cases the interviewers probably asked out of personal curiosity, and also to get a sense of what kind of classes I preferred and what my interests were.</p>
<p>And getting or not getting an interview has nothing to do with your chance of admission. I was never offered an interview for Dartmouth, but somehow actually got in with a likely letter.</p>
<p>9 -Yeah good information from a real alumni. I think though most are probably diligent but in the persons case with 5 from one school they may just not have had time. ED all 5? Must be a big school or one of their primary top feeders. 5 is a lot to pick one college ED in one school. Anyway, I agree that if it goes okay its fine, if its not great its fine, but if you do not reply or no show or do something nutty that might be a show stopper but how many kids with numbers and ECs to get into Dartmouth are going to do airhead thing like “bring flower!” LOL–no offense to the guy who asked about that and misspelled alum(i)ni. Too funny.</p>
<p>Flakes? Are you saying your fellow Dartmouth alumni are often a bit flaky? Maybe they are just retired or near retired and nostalgic for the old days so the interviewer and interviewee are on different cultural zones? Alas, I think its just to make sure you do not look like a serial killer-LOL. Okay enough jokes. Good luck whoever gets an interview and if not call and see if they can get you one if you are sure you are personable, if not maybe just better to leave it.</p>
<p>BTW, any alumni that is delegated to do an interview can get a copy of your transcript with a proper letter from Dartmouth saying they are interviewing you, as long as they are going to your school to interview you. Otherwise they could get it via PDF or fax from adcom office right? I mean they are working as part of admissions its not your medical records with HIIIPA laws hey?</p>
<p>Anyway, good feedback poster 9. It can’t hurt though as you say its not going to get an AI of 2 or 3 in…never say never but not likely that big a tipping factor. Goodnight.
WLM</p>
<p>xrCalico23-Great! and a likely letter to boot-none of them for EDers but still shows its the admission file that walks the walk mainly. So people can calm down who did not get called. I know I would still worry but that is my compulsive worry gene. Don’t do as I do-do as the admitted guy xrCalico23 and the alumni 1ofeach says-don’t worry!</p>
<p>If your application is great you are great, if your application is weak, its still weak, if its good its still good…and in 1 out of 100 cases if the interviewer uncovers a fact you TOTALLY forgot to mention like winning a Westinghouse Science award or an internship with Stephen Hawking then you you will tip to the plus side! If you belch constantly and choose to come in a tank top and speedo well, maybe a minus-depends on interviewer hey" WLM past bed time-getting flaky myself!</p>
<p>I know- I think most interviewers ask about grades and scores. Too tempting not to and it does give a sense of whether the candidate has a realistic chance. And Dartmouth doesn’t tell us “You are NOT ALLOWED TO ASK!” They just tell us that there is no need to ask, they’ll take care of interpreting GPA and scores. Interviewers should just have a nice chat.</p>
WLM past bed time-getting flaky myself!</p>