<p>As most of you i am also applying to college. my concern is if i really need to do interviews. i already visited the colleges and looked them up. some of them say interviews are recommended and others are optional. i am not the straight A student with high grades but somewhat average. so i do get a interview wouldnt it make me look bad</p>
<p>First off, if the school offers an interview, I would HIGHLY SUGGEST that you take it. Your goal is to do everything in your power to get a school to want you to go. If you are given the option and don’t take it, you’re not going 100% and schools notice that. </p>
<p>On a second note, college interviews are hardly, “So what kind of scores do you have?” They already know this information from your application so it’d be a waste for them. </p>
<p>College interviews from my experience do quite the opposite of what you think: they offer students the ability to showcase the personality behind the essays and statistics. The goal is to go in, prepared to answer questions that are more about you personally. </p>
<p>There are two types of interviews however:</p>
<p>The first type, and then one I frequently experienced are conversationally oriented; it’s really a discussion more than an interview. At Washu St. Louis I had an interview and the officer and I talked about some small talk in the beginning, “how do you like the campus, hows the city? etc” and soon after we started talking about the Food Network and why Guy Fietti is our least favorite personality. When I left we were walking out of the office laughing about Iron Chef and everyone gave us weird looks but I didn’t care: I got the job done. </p>
<p>For those types, just highlight your personality</p>
<p>For the other type of interview, notably for IVY league and such, the interviews tend to be…well interviews. They usually ask things like, “What are your goals and why; what is your family situation; what are your passions outside of school; etc.” But one thing I know they love to ask: what are some current events that interest you, or what book are you reading. For these you need to sort of prepare ahead and get ready for some questions. </p>
<p>All in all I would advise that if you are given the interview opportunity, take it!</p>
<p>I actually disagree with the person above me. If you feel like an interview will give you a chance to explain something that your application couldn’t, let you ask genuine questions that you have, or allow you to show off your great social skills and confidence, then it might not be a bad idea. However, if you get nervous or anxious easily, and don’t think an interview will really add anything, don’t risk it. It’s certainly not ‘expected’ that you go on one.</p>
<p>Whoops, wrong thread</p>
<p>Would you consider Georgetown in the same tier as the Ivies? My alumni interview was so chill and conversational; we just discussed different topics and fed off eachother’s answers. It felt two-sided rather than Q&A.</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more with rebeccar. I still remember my s being very nervous before an interview, and he wasn’t accepted afterwards. I believe he would have been accepted if he hadn’t interviewed; he found his confidence later, after he spent his first year in college.</p>
<p>Thanks for the Replies guys! this helped me alot. i think im the nervous type when it comes to talking professionally and i might sign up for a interview although most of my friends who got interviews are all aiming for high schools like columbia, brown, etc…</p>
<p>I recently attended a great workshop at a small Midwestern LAC where we got to play “adcom”. In the scenarios, the interview made a huge difference to the average student, especially when they were able to show their passion for the school and for their intended career. An good interview can mean that when there is a table discussion, someone is there fighting for you. What makes you different from the kid with slightly higher scores? the interviewer will know, and be able to say why or why not you are a good fit.
For the less selective (by CC standards) schools, the interviews with adcoms tend to carry more weight than with alumni. Again, it goes back to who will be in the room fighting for you.
To get over the nerves, “practice” at schools that are more likely to be your safeties, or schools close to home that are not high on your list. By the time you get to the dream schools, you should feel prepared and confident.</p>
<p>^^^^ Very good tip, MizzBee.</p>