Did your kid interview?

Parents Forum
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<p>The program my son joined was highly competitive and, if one made it through the applications and the essays and the portfolio, the final applicants were invited to on-campus interviews. I tried to get him to prepare in advance - thinking about probable questions, etc, but he would have none of it. When he returned, I asked him what it was like and what kind of questions he got.</p>

<p>He was fairly heavily recruited, so it turns out the "interview" was more of a chance for professors to try and convince him why he should attend that particular school.</p>

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<p>Interviewing is a good learning experience and a confidence builder for most kids, especially if they are prepared in advance and interviewing with experienced admissions staff who do their best to put kids at ease. (Alums and current students are less adept on average so conversations tend to be more scripted and not always as comfortable.) </p>

<p>S applied only to SLACs, all but one of which strongly recommended interviews. We helped S think through how he wanted to present himself-what he had to offer the school, why he was applying, what was his 'best' academic experience in high school, etc...When he next needs to interview for an intership or a job, he'll know what is expected and how to prepare-and he'll have had additional confidence that comes from having done it before. (One piece of advice: Have S or D do a practice interview with someone outside the family. And make the first interviews with schools that aren't his 1st or 2d choice.)</p>

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<p>My S has only had alumni interviews. If memory serves, he's had them at 3/4ths of the schools to which he has applied. Despite the fact that he tends to be reserved, they all seem to have gone well. (He's an interesting conversationalist, I'm told, by those to whom he chooses to speak. :) )</p>

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<p>D interviewed school whose alums called and set one up. Those that sent a letter asking if she wanted one, she did not interview since it did not seem as important to them.</p>

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<p>My child interviewed for two schools, both of which she was most interested in of the six she applied to. The first was a top ten school that she applied to EA. It was an on campus interview and she and the interviewer hit it off immediately. Her grades and SATs were borderline for the school, but the interviewer kept stepping up to the bat all along during the application process. While she was deferred EA, the interviewer kept contacting her and giving her tips as to how to turn the deferral into an admittance and he kept advocating for her with the admissions committee. Anyway, she ended up getting admitted RA and attends. So, yes the interview obviously made all the difference. The second school was an alumnus interviewer. It did not go well. My child felt like the interviewer and her did not click and she made the mistake of telling the interviewer that the school was not her first choice. She was not accepted even though the school ranked far lower than the school she was accepted to. Again, the interview seems to have made a major difference.</p>

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<p>My son interviewed with alums from the three colleges where he would--if he gets in--get a B.A. (He auditioned for the four schools with Bachelor of Music degrees--kind of an interview! he was interviewed by the faculty after one of those auditions.) Did not do practice interviews but perhaps his years of doing theater and singing in front of people helped. Didn't seem fazed but he's kind of a sphinx with us so it's hard to tell.</p>

<p>1st interview: The alumnus called S the day he got his name and offered a concrete time and place: his office (hospital), 5pm Monday, please dress casually. Was quite abrupt on phone and by email but S had a great interview with him even thought they had nothing in common major or interest-wise. 70 min. or so.</p>

<p>2nd interview: In office of alumnus's friend, short (30 min.), ho-hum. S said the guy seemed disinterested. Nothing in common (hedge funds vs. the arts) but interview #1 would suggest that doesn't matter. </p>

<p>3rd interview: In local library branch, alumna in her 70s, was great, interesting, had a nice time, came out happy, learned things about the college he didn't know. 60 min.</p>

<p>In all three of these cases, the alumnus/a called or emailed him. One of his BM colleges (a very selective one academically) sent a postcard saying if you want an interview, let us know. He did not pursue it, perhaps not a good idea.</p>

<p>Dressed the same for all three: casual cords, sweater and t-shirt, pull-on sneakers (you know, vanns-like) and, as it was cold, a topcoat, which made him look a little more formal. Left in his nose ring. (kidding. no piercings...yet.)</p>

<p>Took a single sheet (front and back) resume without GPA and SAT but with honors, senior classes, ECs. All three took the sheet.</p>

27

<p>


D had the same experience although her's was just the RD round. I know the interviewer made her his "cause" because the admissions rep told me that she received almost daily updates from the interviewer who was not known for such antics. I have to think that helped in a year their acceptance rate was 7.6% RD.</p>

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<p>Also, make sure the you check on the college's website whether an interview is "evaluative" or "informative." When an interview is evaluative, even if they state it is "strongly recommended but not required," you should really ask/schedule for an interview. An evaluative interview matters a lot to some colleges (determining fit, show of interest, etc.).</p>

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<p>3 different experiences, with 3 kids who now have great interview skills. They're not braggarts, but have much experience in improvisational theater, public speaking, and meeting strangers. I'm proud of them for all of this, so scuse me. I could recite their weaknessses, too, but these are their strengths.</p>

<p>S-1 interviewed on campus, too early, at his top choice Ivy (big mistake, wasn't experienced) and it was a student interviewer. I could tell from his description that the interview lacked chemistry, but I think he was too green to know. If I had discovered CC then, I'd never have let his heart's desire be his very first interview. He needed practice. Much later, he went to meet the regional alumni interviewer from the same school after he'd been to some other interviews. He knocked that interviewers socks off, and calls were made but the alum couldn't penetrate whatever caused that ED-deferral and ultimate rejection. Ah well.
End of story: he was admitted to a top LAC that doesn't choose to interview anyone, but prefers to spend all its time reading applications. He had a great 4 years there and it became his "first choice" over the lost Ivy, around 2 weeks into his freshman year. </p>

<p>D interviewed at an LAC that emphatically wants people to interview and be sure they like the school, which has a great offering but is in an off location.
The chemistry at her interview sealed the deal that it was where she'd be happiest. She was accepted ED.</p>

<p>S-2 rushed through h.s. and skipped 11th grade, so there was no time for a single interview. His major was uber-competitive (film) so the portfolios matter more than any interview. When I saw he was accepted in 3 places but rejected at 5, I thought perhaps if he'd interviewed anywhere he might have had more choices than 3, because his verbal skills carry the day for him. However, he only can attend one place and is delighted where he is, at a top film program in a regional masters university near L.A. </p>

<p>Someday he'll actually have an interview; in fact in their senior course requirement is one where they practice pitching a script to an agent. When his college acceptance outcomes came in last year, he reflected that wherever he sent a writing portfolio, he was admitted. Wherever no portfolio was allowed, he was rejected. I thought (to myself only) he might have gotten in a few more places that didn't request portfolios, simply because they'd get to meet him. But in his field, the portfolio is a stand-in for a personal interview, anyway. </p>

<p>I believe that most adult interviewers specialize in putting kids at ease. Parental concern about kids being "shy" shouldn't keep a kid from interviewing, because the AdCom would factor that out or have ways to break through it. </p>

<p>If a kid naturally or by experience can interview well, it can sometimes be a dealmaker, especially at a small LAC or midsize university where they speak of students "building community" or creating a diverse class cohort.</p>

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<p>I agree with paying3tuitions. My older D had a portfolio review coupled with a great interview that sealed her admission to her first choice school. Younger D also interviewed well, and it definitely helped. It certainly is a good idea to "practice interview" at schools that aren't the student's first choice.</p>

31

<p>Yes, some mattered, some did not. Only one person-person interview (MIT alum who was a engineer turned law instructor) S was not impressed and not offered a position. Got into a school where interviews had 0 influence on acceptance. </p>

<p>Got him two books when he was a senior, "Interview for Dummies" and Dale Carnegie, so he was primed.</p>