<p>Did your child do an interview as part of the admissions process? I'm curious as to any feedback anyone cares to share about that decision.</p>
<p>Yes, because she was interested in several LAC's, where an interview is an important element both of showing inaterest in the school, and for her to get personal information about the school. Fortunately, DD is quite comfortable in one on one conversations, even with adults she doesn't know, so she was very pleased with all her interviews.</p>
<p>Mine both applied to large universities, so there were few interviews, and only with alumni. </p>
<p>In my experience, interviewing is important at large universities only for students who are applying to highly specialized programs.</p>
<p>My son went to two interviews. MIT strongly encourages interviews. The acceptance rate is double for those who do interviews. He also went to a Harvard interview, which again made it clear that they wanted kids to have one. His other schools didn't seem to want interviews or care. Since he's a shy introvert, he didn't ask for one. BTW he was rejected from MIT after an initial deferral, and accepted to Harvard, so I don't think his interview hurt him, though I doubt he had the sort of interview that bowled over the interviewer either.</p>
<p>My daughter visited and then interviewed at the six colleges she eventually applied to. Five of these schools were LACs. The other was William & Mary, which is very difficult to secure admission to from out-of-state, particularly if you are a female from NYS. She viewed the interviews as part of the application package, even though interviews were not required by all of "her" schools.</p>
<p>My d did interviews at some schools, and portfolio reviews at others. She is very shy. But she did okay with the interviews. She actually rejected a school because the interview process was very intense and very serious - she preferred the more casual interview style.</p>
<p>My D had several casual interviews when she visited campuses. Some of these were student interviewers (upperclass students who met with prospectives), some were admissions staffers. One interview, Tufts, was a more formal alumni interview (great interview & she was accepted). One school that offers alumni interviews, Vanderbilt, accepted her without an interview. Another, Macalester, encourages interviews ... D did not interview, as she had lost interest after applying ... and she was waitlisted with great stats. I would encourage interviews at schools that are top choices. Better safe than sorry!</p>
<p>My D visited ten schools and interviewed at all of them. We just set up the interview when we arranged the visit. One school she had set up an interview with a coach, but he didn't show up. At one school the interviews AT the school were booked, so she had an interview with an alum. Of all the schools that she visited and interviewed, only one said that the interview was part of their decision-making process, but she did get feedback from several that said the interview was an important part of showing your interest in the school. All the schools she looked at are smallish LACs.</p>
<p>D1 interviewed at all schools she applied to. She is outgoing and can talk to anyone. She was accepted at all LACs. I am worried about D2 who is just starting the process. Her academic stats are much better than her sister's but she is pretty shy and is uncomfortable with interview settings. We'll see what happens!</p>
<p>S is shy. After one tour an Ad officer came out to visit with the group, and asked if anyone would like to talk. We pushed S into the room, on the "you've got to start somewhere" premise. What followed was probably the shortest, least informative interview ever. </p>
<p>It WAS good practice for the his first choice that required an interview. S was nervous but said that it went well, and they had a LOT to talk about. Go figure.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Did your child do an interview as part of the admissions process?<a href="I'm%20a%20little%20gun-shy,%20but%20it%20appears%20this%20question%20asks%20parents%20to%20comment%20specifically%20on%20their%20own%20child's%20experience%20in%20admission%20interviews.%20If%20I%20am%20wrong%20,%20and%20by%20using%20my%20child's%20experience%20in%20my%20answer%20I%20am%20offending%20others,%20I%20apologize%20in%20advance%20and%20ask%20that%20you%20please%20disregard%20my%20post.%20Thanks.%20;">/quote</a>)</p>
<p>That being said, D interviewed at every school we could visit or connect with a traveling adcom. She even took advantage of alumni interviews when offered. She started with a couple of "non-evaluative" interviews (as if there is ever a truly non-evaluative interview) as practice and quickly became comfortable with the format. </p>
<p>I am a real interview booster and proponent for some kids. Mine especially. I feel that her skills made a dramatic difference in her results. She has great verbal strength, but it tends toward the spoken not the written. She also had an excellent resume of tests, grades, rank, and EC's. Her weaker link (although it wasn't that weak) was her essays. For a kid like her the interview , IMO, canceled out any doubts about the level of her communication skills. </p>
<p>I also think the interview is more important at smaller schools, scholarship schools, and individual programs at schools. </p>
<p>Like most things in this process it's important for the student to know the wants of the school and how their strengths mesh with those wants. An interview can be a wonderful time to show that. As always, just an opinion - but it's mine. ;)</p>
<p>Curmudgeon, since when are you "gun-shy?!"</p>
<p>My S is shy but grabbed every chance for an interview because he wanted to know more about the college. He felt it was very helpful; let's see what happens when the admission decisions roll around.</p>
<p>kelsmom, No biggie. It will pass and I'll be my usual self-aggrandizing defensive illogical braggart self again soon. ;)</p>
<p>curm...as a relative newcomer I love your insight and opinions! :)</p>
<p>(OT: North Minnesota. I can be a real ****-heel, too. But thanks. I have my moments. ) </p>
<p>Back to our show.</p>
<p>My son did two admissions interviews (Pomona and Occidental). He said they went fine, although I know he felt a little nervous doing them. He didn't end up applying to either school as it turned out, but not for any reason related to the interviews.</p>
<p>One interviewer asked him if he was a kitchen utensil which one would he be. That was his favorite interview question.</p>
<p>He did have a number of meetings with coaches at various schools. Those were almost all quite enjoyable to him, though.</p>
<p>S's high school has a college meet and greet weekend and college rep visits throughout the fall. He had an informal interview with a rep from one LAC. He had alumni interviews with two other schools in the application process.</p>
<p>Eventually he chose the college where he had done the informal interview with the rep. The rep was very helpful in "sealing the deal" after S was accepted. She advised him not to visit in Feb because he was in the running for the school's merit scholarships and he would be receiving an invitation to a two day get together in March for the potential scholars. </p>
<p>I believe that the connection made in the interview helped at every level, including my S's decision to not accept admission at several other colleges.</p>
<p>My S interviewed with 4 different schools. He felt all went well; 1 extremely positive, 1 more neutral and other 2 very good.</p>
<p>He was deffered EA at one of the very goods
Waiting to heare RD from the other three
Has been accepted EA at a school where he did not interview.</p>
<p>From his experience then, you can not infer anything.</p>
<p>D interviewed at all every lac and small uni on her list - - and then applied EDI to top choice. </p>
<p>D presents very well, so interviewing was part of our strategy. Every sch on her list offered evaluative interviews (and not offering eval interviews was sufficient basis to bump a sch off her list).</p>