<p>I had my interview today with the U of C alumnus. I think I made a major blunder in my approach/ answer. My personality is straight as an arrow and I am a minimalist by nature. I hate to sound too grandiose or pompous so I have a hard time advocating myself. I did not want to do any mock interview because I thought being spontaneous will help me show my best side.
I was taken aback when my interviewer asked me to which other schools I was applying. The straight shooter that I am, I told them that I was applying ED to another university for a program that U of C does not have. In retrospect I should have said that my first choice is U of C, because I am more and more convinced that U of C is the perfect fit for me. The other school that I am applying to is a long shot and so I decided to apply ED. Did I just destroy all my chances at U of C? My dad who is a CEO and does a lot of interviews said that I might as well not apply to U of C now because the interviewer is going to not recommend me since U of C is not my first choice. I am so devastated...because despite my true love for U of Chicago, now I may have left the interviewer with the wrong impression.</p>
<p>Well if you're applying ED to another school, it means that
Chicago isn't truly your first choice. It's a loss, definately,
but you have that other school.</p>
<p>And yah, you're pretty much in a hole. I can see you going
EA somewhere else, but ED? Ehh...</p>
<p>^^ radron, I don't know if you intended that as a joke or not.</p>
<p>First of all, you have no evidence that your answer made it in to your interviewer's writeup. I also read somewhere (gah, where are sources when you need them the most?) that U of C does not count the interview against you, but only for you, which is a sigh of relief for all of us socially awkward types who might have a problem eking out complete sentences when we're put on the spot.</p>
<p>Secondly, it's totally okay that you have an ED school. If the U of C didn't think it was okay to apply here and elsewhere ED, we'd have a policy saying so. I don't think Chicago views it as a downside that they aren't somebody's first-choice school. For most EA students, I gather, we're towards the top of their list.</p>
<p>(As I've said before, though, there are a considerable number of students who apply EA Chicago and don't apply anywhere else, or apply to programs where they think they'll get copious merit aid, so there are a significant batch of students for whom Chicago is their number 1).</p>
<p>Third, if you apply ED, realize that you're BOUND to that ED school. If you get in, you can't even CONSIDER attending Chicago. This is okay for students for whom Chicago is in the middle of their list, but if you love it as much as you profess, it sounds like you may be remorseful if you apply ED and get in.</p>
<p>It's hard to see that as a plus, but don't get too upset about it, because there are a few silver linings:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Unlike some colleges (whose names begin with letters towards the end of the alphabet), Chicago has no reputation for rejecting students who look like they might be candidates to go elsewhere. As far as I can tell, all evidence is to the contrary. Chicago would rather accept really strong students and make its pitch.</p></li>
<li><p>For an interviewer to ask that question is really, well, questionable. I'm surprised it's not on some forbidden-questions list. It really puts students on the spot, and practically invites them to lie. If the question is legitimate at all, it's as a way to approach understanding what the student is looking for in a college, and how the University of Chicago fits into that. Since you profess "true love" for Chicago, I'm going to assume that your college list was thoughtful and deep, and reflected well on you. I'm also going to assume that your alumni interviewer only asked this question for totally legitimate reasons. So it could well have shown you in a good light.</p></li>
<li><p>Plus, you obviously didn't lie when put on the spot. That's nothing but positive. Maybe a big positive.</p></li>
<li><p>Depending on how hard it is to get into the "program that U of C does not have", basic game theory (of the sort Chicago has no reputation for following) may suggest that Chicago should accept you. For example, if you are a desirable candidate from Chicago's point of view, and you are applying to the Huntsman program at Penn ED, or to Deep Springs, your chances (and any particular applicant's chances) of being accepted for Huntsman or Deep Springs are, objectively, pretty low. It would be rational for Chicago to accept you EA and to try to woo you on the rebound after your first choice strings you along or tells you to get lost.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I use Huntsman and Deep Springs deliberately. They are examples of programs that I think jibe very well with what attracts students to Chicago, and I can't see the Chicago admissions office holding it against a candidate that he or she is also attracted to one of them. On the other hand, if the program you are applying to ED is an engineering or accounting program . . . well, then you may have hurt yourself some.</p>
<p>yeah i'm pretty sure that the interviews are more of a "getting to know you" kind of thing. i don't think they really count much at all.</p>
<p>Thanks. It helps me a bit. I was applying EA to Washington Univ STL for their Architecture program. I did a sumer program there and liked the university and the program. But I want to keep my options open and WUSTL allows you to swich majors. U of Chicago is my "other" first choice because I love their core curriculum. Since I am undecided and like to learn for its intrinsic value I feel it allows me explore many interesting interdisciplinary programs. But since Architecture HAD been a love of mine I feel I ought to give it a shot, and hence WUSTL. My problem is that my areas of interest are very diverse!
I am hoping that the interviewer will not hold this info against me if the interview counts. Why do they do interviews at all if they do not count? And what does optional mean?
Can anybody tell me how the interviewer generally relates back all the info to the University? Is it in writing.. what is the process?</p>
<p>Yup, It's just a write-up. And I think your honesty is a big plus. Chicago is secure enough to not mind being second ( or third) fiddle for a student in the fall of senior year. If they see that you would be a good fit in your app, they will offer you a spot. I don't think that they spend a lot of energy on the "yield Game".</p>
<p>Completely off-topic, but Deep Springs sent me a brochure and I was intrigued until I got to the end and found out it was an all-male school. It was deeply insulting, to say the least.</p>
<p>unalove, I think somebody on Facebook said that their interviewer told them that nothing would be used against them unless they simply weren't a fit for the school and wouldn't be happy there -- maybe that particular interviewer is like that and you heard about them too, or maybe it's simply one of the guidelines for interviewers.</p>
<p>I really don't know. My mom did interviews for her alma mater years ago and always looked for ways to compliment the interviewee in her write-ups.</p>
<p>Say your interview writes something like "Does not seem intellectually motivated." If your EC's and teacher recs say otherwise, whose word do you think the adcoms will take? Somebody who talked to you for half an hour, or somebody who's known you for a few months?</p>
<p>a stranger's honest opinion, or someone you chose to write good stuff about you? just another way of looking at it.</p>
<p>If the teacher gives details, the teacher wins.</p>
<p>Essays and grades would also be a tiebreaker :-)</p>
<p>Anyway, I think that the people who interview like to interview. If anything, it's a chance for them to reminisce on their times at the good ol' U of C. One of my friends actually ended up coming based on something his alumni interviewer said. So it can work in your favor, too!</p>
<p>I went on two college interviews. One was for this school. Both were fantastically embarrassing.</p>
<p>One suggestion I have is to turn off your cell phone during your interview. That's one fumble that you can prevent before it happens.</p>