Hello. I’m an international student applying for Bowdoin
I haven’t decided whether I’ll apply for EDII or Regular Decision, but Bowdoin in surely one of my ‘very top’ choices
I was very glad to get an alumni interview offer from the school, but I have few problems.
The interviewer asked me to send my common app to him/her.
Well, the biggest problem is that I haven’t finish my common app yet!
(I have not apply to any school for Early Decision I because I was also applying for domestic universities.)
I completed the basic section of it, but I haven’t enter the extracurricular activies as well as my essay.
What should I do? Should I write the common app ASAP or tell the interviewer the truth?
And do alumni in Bowdoin usually ask for common app inhs or her interview?
I am taking the December 12 ACT exam.
Because the December test is my last chance to improve my score, I want to put a full effort in it.
So I was hoping to have an interview after this week.
The interview offer came at December 5.
Would it be impolite to make the interviewer wait for more than a week?
@lookingforward I also think this is unusual, but I have no one to ask for at this moment… I can’t contact my counseler and I don’t personally know anyone who actually applied or got accepted to Bowdoin. I wonder why he/she wants to see my common app.
You could diplomatically ask the school if it’s a requirement. But generally interviewers at this level don’t see the app, by policy, and they aren’t qualified to “review” it. Also, it’s before deadline. Is it possible he simply asked for a list of activities or something else?
@lookingforward In the mail, it says “Please send me a copy of your common application(a preview PDF file is fine).” So I was assuming that he/she wants the whole version of the common application.
Could this sentence mean anything different?
That’s mail from the interviewer, right?
Can you call the school, get through to the right person? There are sometimes new interviewers and on CC we’ve heard of some (from other colleges) who misunderstand their role.
I know you’re in a dicey position. You might say to this interviewer, in a friendly and positive way, not a hint of confrontation, that you are finalizing the app now and would be happy to discuss any questions and provide info, but that your app/supp themselves are not yet ready for a view. Or the school may be able to assign another, possibly a telephone or skype interview.
As a Bowdoin alumni interviewer, you should not be expected to submit your common application to your interviewer. And it would be perfectly acceptable to let your interviewer know that you aren’t available until after the Dec. 12th. If you have any doubts, please contact the Admission Office. Good luck and all the best!
Hello everyone! First of all thank you so much for your comment. It was very helpful indeed!
I told my interviewer that I haven’t finished my common app and I wouldn’t be done until late December.
He/she replied that we should arrange the schedule after my common app is finished.
I guess he/she really wants to see my common app. kk
Nonetheless, I think I’ll be writing my common app ASAP, and maybe asking the admission office about brining common app into an interview (just in case).
I’ll post again if there’s any progess regarding my interview. Again thank you everyone!
Hi again!
Yesterday I sent an email to Bowdoin admission office and just get an reply.
The admission officer said I am NOT required to show my common application to the interviewer!
She also kind enough to talk with my interviewer about this issue for me.
I also just got an email from the interviewer to newly schedule an interview.
I’m glad to see everything going into its own places.
Thank you for your help everyone!
(special credit for @lookingforward and @Bearhawk ! Your detailed advice really helped me a lot for this case. Thank you very much)
I wonder why he/she wants to see my common app.