<p>so I have talked to a lot of applicants who had already had their interviews. Most of them, I say about 90%, said they talked about politics and current events. However, I am not really a political person:(. I am aware of the current events but I really don't have many comments on them.</p>
<p>Mine didn’t (I got deferred early)</p>
<p>Politics weren’t brought up once for me</p>
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<p>I wouldn’t say you have to be a “political” person but if asked, I’d like to know your thought process. If you had no comments on important issues, the various stances on them and why the sides believe what they do – would be a concern for me as an interviewer.</p>
<p>But I don’t mean esoteric things – but you should be aware of major ongoing issues (e.g. November ‘12 election, Fiscal Cliff being averted, gun control/violence, etc.). If you stare blankly at me if I were to ask "what’s yours and your classmates’ feeling about what just happened with the Govt averting the Fiscal Cliff?" — I would note that. And it wouldn’t be in your favor.</p>
<p>If you said you were a potential science major, I might ask you what the your state’s laws are regarding Stem Cell research or issues of funding for research. I’d hope you have a thought on it. </p>
<p>If you said you might go into social work, I might ask you about major happenings in your area. I’d hope you have some thought on it.</p>
<p>I once had a person say she wanted to study PoliSci at my HYP alma mater. I asked her about the 2008 Financial crisis – she had nothing but repeated canned phrases about “less regulation is what is needed”. Regardless of my opinion, I noted that she *didn’t *have a real opinion nor understood the other side’s perspective. It was noted in my write up.</p>
<p>That’s my take on things.</p>
<p>T26E4 wrote: “I once had a person say she wanted to study PoliSci at my HYP alma mater. I asked her about the 2008 Financial crisis – she had nothing but repeated canned phrases about “less regulation is what is needed”. Regardless of my opinion, I noted that she didn’t have a real opinion nor understood the other side’s perspective. It was noted in my write up.”</p>
<p>I have met many applicants who either do not have opinions of their own or are afraid to share them with me out of fear that I will not take their side. Regardless of where you end up going to college, you need to be able to think critically and form your own opinions instead of focusing on currying favor.</p>
<p>Let me clarify: I don’t have opinions on many subjects myself. Thus it’d be ridiculously unfair of me to demand them of my interviewees. However, I broach topics to see if they are aware of the facts surrounding issues. I’m looking for engagement. If they one stance, that’s fine too.</p>
<p>^ did you ask them about Sooki or Beyonce? One of our local political hosts does this bit with young people on the street. One person knew everything about pop culture but was not sure who Pelosi or Boehner were.</p>
<p>I’m not an interviewer so I defer here to T2 and others, but if it were me being interviewed and I was asked a political question that I don’t know too much about, there’s nothing wrong with prefacing your answer with a simple “Well there’s definitely a lot more for me to learn about _<strong><em>, but I think…” or “I’m still learning more and more about _</em></strong>, but…” You would still offer an opinion but it shows that you have some deference toward the issues that constitutional scholars and Supreme Justices and heads of state grapple with every day, and is a much better alternative to merely repeating hackneyed phrases you hear at the dinner table or by pundits on TV.</p>
<p>But honestly, OP, it is not unreasonable for applicants to top schools to be expected to know what’s going on in the world around them. If you must, start reading 2-3 short articles a day from various newspapers. Not just for the sake of interviews but because you’re soon to enter the world as an adult.</p>
<p>Haha, I got really lucky because me and my interviewer both happened to be extreme liberals. Both of us were Jewish, but happened to be really unhappy with the way Israel was handling itself, both of us thought conservatives were not very bright, etc. Obviously an interviewer should not be moved by the interviewee’s political positions, but I think psychologically, there’s not much you can do about that. Anyway, it worked out for me, because I got accepted! Just hope that you and your interviewer have a common interest/passion, and he/she will come away with a very positive impression of you!</p>
<p>Yes, I certainly hope they bring up current politics, should I be granted an interview. I may be a bit biased, considering I want to be a polisci major, but I certainly think it sheds light on how much students view the world around them and their ability to think critically.</p>
<p>@T26E4, thank you for your answers. In past interviews I’ve had, I’ve been a bit overly nervous about baboout eing too open about my political views, since they tend to be pretty out of the mainstream (I am very liberal), and instead have talked about my political involvement, since I’ve done a lot of work with my the Democratic Party. I might try to state my views a bit more now, if asked, just in a respectful and open way.</p>
<p>I would say that interviewers let the applicant guide the conversation, but may throw in a political question if things aren’t moving. (Husband does interviews). Most applicants should have some awareness of politics.</p>
<p>Not necessarily, depends how the interview flows naturally.</p>
<p>I have never asked about politics except when an applicant depicted himself or herself as interested in politics.</p>
<p>On one memorable occasion, a young woman told me she was very interested in progressive politics. She had been a founding member of her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance; she said she was interested in pro-choice causes. I asked her, then, what she thought about her congressman–a pro-life, traditional-marriage defending, Second-Amendment loving social and fiscal conservative who stuck out like a sore thumb in the Congressional delegation of our very blue state. She didn’t know anything about her congressman.</p>
<p>If she had represented herself as a volleyball player or a cellist or an aspiring neurologist, I would have tried to discuss sports or music or medical science. But she told me she was political, and she didn’t know who her congressman was or how he voted. That went in the write-up. Not because she didn’t know much about politics, but because she didn’t know basic information about the thing that she said was a big interest of hers.</p>
<p>In all my college interviews (7 in total), not once did I discuss politics with my interviewers.</p>
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<p>Oh, come on.</p>
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Hmmmm… why the objection? I’m not looking for validation of either side of the argument about Stem Cells. What the student’s position is irrelevant. I’m seeing if the student is aware that controversy surrounds the matter, and if he/she has any thoughts about it. I’m fishing for conversation routes. It could be a dead end – and that’s OK too. In my state, it’s a point of discussion. Maybe not yours.</p>
<p>Is asking a student if he/she is aware of funding problems in overall research? Out of bounds? I don’t think so.</p>
<p>Student might not have any thoughts on it – as long as he/she is aware – that’s what I’m looking for. Is that unfair? Enlighten me if you think so.</p>
<p>It’s just the principle behind it, the idea that my awareness of one state’s approach to science funding is somehow an indication of how much Harvard or other top colleges might want me, especially if I’m an aspiring scientist. </p>
<p>It’s too tangential, a step too far from anything that should really matter in the long run.</p>
<p>Asking about his position something broader, like the way science relates to social interest in case like stem cell research, et al, though. That’s nice.</p>
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<p>I think we finally have the first bit of reliable evidence for why our republic’s legislature is so dysfunctional…</p>
<p>well there you go Philo. A freebie for you. If one of your interviewers asks you, you’ll be prepared. Like I said, the topic is a salient issue in my state where there are very large research universities and opposition to stem cell research. Dunno what’s in the news in your state concerning sciences – but I’m gonna ask the kid across from the table from me if our conversation veers toward that direction.</p>
<p>You say it’s tangential. I say it indicates whether this kid is aware of something besides his/her studies.</p>
<p>^It does not sound like a difficult skill to acquire after college (having an opinion). It is usually getting people to shut up about it that is the hard part. :)</p>