Fresh Questions for Alumni Interview

Parents Forum
61

<p>Economic status affects how many opportunities you have, just like race or disability, etc. would. (I'm not comparing being in a wheelchair to being poor, I'm just saying that both issues affect you to some degree). </p>

<p>They did affirmative action, so that minorities have equal rights. They give lower income and first generation students a slight tilt because we haven't had our parents encouraging us to do ECs all our lives and I personally didn't have any help with the college process... higher income students have an advantage because they have more help/preparation (especially legacies and developmental cases).</p>

<p>Ah, and they also want lower income students to increase diversity. Especially at the Ivies, where very few of their students come from low income families (despite the amazing financial aid). </p>

<p>By my post/other's posts, I don't mean to seem that it's a huge deal. I think it might help me a very slight bit, but obviously it isn't going to make any school accept me. I'm actually not sure how much it helps, an admissions officer would know better than I would.</p>

62

<p>I would ask some questions that are seemingly "university unrelated". In interviewing some freshmen at my high school for a position on a senior council we asked: "if a biopic film was being made about your life, which actor would you choose to play you and why?"</p>

63

<p>I have mixed feelings about the personal questions issue. As someone who is applying from an alternative school, I have had to explain why I attended XHS versus my town's high school or one of the many prestigious private schools in my area. I attended the school for reasons related to challenging life situations, major obstacles I have managed to overcome, all the while succeeding scholastically and extra-curricular-ly. I took it as a foregone conclusion that I would have to discuss some intimate details of my early teenagehood, and prepared myself to do so with poise and pride. My experiences with adversity are deeply imbued in my personhood and of them I am proud, if not somewhat conflicted. A person in my scenario needs to be able to discuss intimate details because in my situation, the difficulties faced were my own. I don't think a student is responsible to inform a stranger that her father is a paranoid schizophrenic if it does not feel pertinent or comfortable to her; the situation directly affects her life but not her potential performance in any way that should mandate disclosure.
As for what else not to ask, it is incredibly awkward when reps ask if one has applied anywhere ED (especially if the interview takes place before 12/15). It is one thing to ask where else a student is interested, but ED at another institution begs the assumption that the student is not really interested in the rep's school. While that may or may not be the case, the effect that knowledge would have on an interviewer's report could easily be unfairly deleterious.</p>

64

<p>Ah, yes, the "where else are you applying?" question is very awkward. Isn't there some rule against asking that?</p>

65

<p>Name a character from any work of literature that you think best represents you or that you best identify with and explain why?</p>

<p>Not only will it give you a glimpse into their character but also allow for further discussion on the types of books they read and their criticisms on them.</p>

66

<p>Since, to a large degree, the point of the interview is to determine:
(1) the student's ability to communicate,
(2) the student's creativity,
(3) the student's motivation and drive, and
(4) how much of the "accomplishments" are consultant's polishing and how many are real;</p>

<p>it seems that the point is to quickly get the student talking--and on what they've accomplished or on giving them unusual situations to solve that are challenging.</p>

<p>This is what is done by some of the larger firms in their interviews nowadays. Besides some of the questions already given "Describe your greatest accomplishment.", there are also questions with more creativity or logic demands. "What accomplishment could you have improved the most--and how?" At Microsoft one example question was: "You have 3 jars. Each jar has a label on it: white, black, or white & black. You have 3 sets of marbles: white, black, and white & black. One set is stored in one jar. The labels on the jars are guaranteed to be incorrect (i.e. white will not contain white). Which jar would you choose from to give you the best chances of identifying the which set of marbles in is in which jar?" </p>

<p>Another question was as follows: "There are four people on one side of a river--a father, a mother, a grandfather, and a grandmother. There is one bridge across the river which can hold only two people at one time. There is one working flashlight and it is pitch dark. If it takes 1 minute for the father to cross the river, 2 minutes for the mother, 10 minutes for the grandfather, and 5 minutes for the grandmother, what is the least amount of time for all four to get across" </p>

<p>Also questions where there is no right answer, but where they can see how you logically approach the question are popular. One example is: "How much water does the Mississippi River hold?" The point is to see how you would start figuring out the answer--not to necessarily answer correctly.</p>

<p>I understand Shawn Morrissey at the Wharton School used to ask his applicants the following questions: "How would you explain the internet to your grandparents?" or "Steve Jobs calls you and asks how you would improve the iPod. What do you tell him?"</p>

<p>It seems to me that questions that immediately challenge them intellectually and gets them thinking is what you need. Not the BORING questions that lead to the same standard answer regardless of their intellectual capabilities.</p>

<p>Just my 2 cents.</p>

67

<p>I like the last two questions used at Wharton. Critical thinking, creative, etc. It's easier to have a creative answer to a creative question. </p>

<p>(Going by that, maybe that's why interview questions are so boring- to test if an applicant can be creative even faced with a common-place question?)</p>

<p>The other questions seem a little scary to me. Under normal circumstances I could do them, but if I was confronted by a riddle in an interview room, there would be a chance of me blanking (or anyone- we blank on the "boring" questions). Maybe it tests how the interviewee thinks under stress, but I don't see if they really help determine the things you listed. Maybe a bit of 1 and a bit of 2? I'm not sure.</p>

68

<p>I'm not an interviewer, but I really enjoyed my interview for my college, so I thought I would share how it went.</p>

<p>She started out with questions about the school and the general why do you want to come and what's your favorite class, and then she basically let the conversation go wherever it went, asking follow up questions throughout. We talked about my interest in sign language, even though I had never taken a class (taught myself) and the school doesn't offer it, and music and it basically was a good way for her to see who I was, and what was important to me, without asking me the straight up questions that would put me on guard and leave me answering with the 'right' answers. (I know that this is why they did it because I work with admissions now, and someone told me that this is generally how they go and thats why). I thought it was much better than my interview at another school where I was basically drilled as to why I wanted to come and all the things I knew about the school. I actually decided to NOT finish my application to that school due to the visit to the school.</p>

69

<p>brillar in post 64 - I sometimes ask where else they've applied; no one told me I couldn't. My college is competitive, so no one would consider it solely. And it gives me a better idea of what they like in my college over the others. I wouldn't give a list of why they were applying to the college but I might mention why the applicant likes school A over school B. Sometimes the list of where they are applying shows a lot of consideration has been given to one particular program they are passionate about. It is educational for me because I learn a lot about the admissions process at various schools and I find the kids really like to talk about their visits.</p>

70

<p>Can you ask whether they used a college consultant to help with the process?</p>

71

<p>So Harvard is only for extroverts? I don't think your assessment is fair. A lot of really brilliant people may write better than they speak, or may be more comfortable only in groups. </p>

<p>One thing I WOULD want to know, however, even from the kid who has a narrow interest in math or science is:
how would you explain your subject to someone who doesn't know much about that subject? How can you convince me that your subject matters?<br>
That's what I would want that child to contribute to a college environment -- an enthusiasm for their subject that is contagious, so that they can make others excited about the subject.</p>

<p>Weighing in on the travel question -- I'm against it unless the student themselves bring it up. I'd put it up there with "so, do you have a summer house?" which I was asked at an especially memorable college interview several years ago.</p>

72

<p>BTW, I understand most students love questions like:
If you could change one thing about your (high school, neighborhood, city, country), what would it be? Nice and open-ended, allows them to show that they have thought about things . . .</p>

<p>I still find the 'where do you see yourself ten years from now' question to be incredibly revealing. My sister, for the record, said that she envisioned herself "married and living in the suburbs." We're still razzing her about that years later. The point is, I like to know what students value and both of the questions I'm proposing let you see something about their values.</p>

<p>I also like questions where they're asked to explain something about America to someone who not's an American. (i.e. "what do you think American Idol says about our culture?") It's fun to see their perspective on their own culture, and who has questioned the assumptions and who hasn't. </p>

<p>FOr my own women's college, I enjoy asking "do you think sexism still exists? Has it affected your life up until now? do you think it will ever go away?"</p>

73

<p>Momzie - did your sister get in? She obviously answered honestly and there are worse honest answers!!!!</p>

74

<p>"So Harvard is only for extroverts? I don't think your assessment is fair. A lot of really brilliant people may write better than they speak, or may be more comfortable only in groups."</p>

<p>No, it is not only for extroverts when you use the actual definition of extroverts, which refers to people who get their energy from being around other people.</p>

<p>However, it is for people who -- extroverted or introverted -- have the skills and confidence to be able to articulate themselves in a challenging situation such as during a Harvard interview.</p>

<p>Someone too shy, unselfconfident or passive to express themselves verbally during a Harvard interview will certainly not be happy at a college and in a city where self confidence is considered a big plus, and virtually everyone speaks up assertively about themselves and the things they believe in. </p>

<p>Certainly there are some students who are quiet and introverted (meaning that after being in groups, they need some alone time to recharge), but they will speak up about the things they care about, and they are involved in some extracurriculars related to their interests. </p>

<p>Harvard also has hundreds of extracurriculars, which are organized and run by students who may put as many as 30 hours a week into their ECs while carrying a full course load in a major unrelated to their ECs. Students whose idea of a great college experience is to go to class and then spend the rest of their time studying in the library would not be happy at Harvard nor are they the type of students that Harvard seeks.</p>

<p>"Ah, yes, the "where else are you applying?" question is very awkward. Isn't there some rule against asking that?"</p>

<p>Harvard asks interviewers not to ask that question and not to assess students on their perceived interest in attending Harvard.</p>

<p>However, colleges that are very interested in raising their yields, may expect interviewers to ask that question, and may also make admissions decisions based in part on students' perceived interest in the college.</p>

75

<p>I've been doing alumni interviews for 27 years, and I've had plenty of job interviews myself. I dislike general questions like "where do you see yourself in 5 years," "what character in literature is most like you," "if you were a fruit..." "name the actor who would play you" and so on. My interviews follow the pattern described by letscrshtheparty in post 68. Kids are nervous enough about these interviews, and when you are nervous it is easiest to relax when talking about things you know. </p>

<p>I haven't the foggiest idea where I want to be in 10 years, what fruit I am, what character I would be or what actor would play me. I would totally freeze up in an interview if asked those questions -- and if I don't know, why would a 17-year-old know? And I am articulate and tend to do well in interviews.</p>

<p>There are so many things to talk about, between school and extracurriculars and summer activities, that I don't need to resort to those questions. If the kid seems particularly self-assured and pre-professional (i.e., determined to become a lawyer), I may ask something about the future. Most kids don't know what they want to be doing in the next hour -- 5 or 10 years from now is an unfathomable lifetime away. </p>

<p>If the kid is an actor, I ask them to describe their favorite part and why. If the kid is a journalist, I'll ask about them to talk about stories they've written. I always ask about what they do over the summer, and like to hear about their jobs or travel experiences. </p>

<p>I usually ask what they are looking for in college that they aren't getting in high school. On very rare occasions I ask about parents, but usually only if the conversation leads there (i.e., when a kid says they spent the summer working in their father's office). I have never had a list of prepared questions -- I wing it. </p>

<p>The very first thing I do in an interview is spend a couple minutes talking about me -- what I majored in, what my job is, why I liked my college. My first question to them might be something like "Have you visited the college?" Or, "you said on the phone you do the robotics team on Thursdays -- tell me about that." Toward the end I open it up to questions they ask me. And the last thing I say is -- "is there anything else you want to tell me? this is your chance to talk about something that you couldn't elaborate on in your application."</p>

<p>I've had interviews where the kid has nothing to say. My typical interview lasts 60 to 90 minutes, but those can end after 30 minutes and I've done most of the talking. My write-up reflects that.</p>

76

<p>"I've been doing alumni interviews for 27 years, and I've had plenty of job interviews myself. I dislike general questions like "where do you see yourself in 5 years," "what character in literature is most like you," "if you were a fruit..." "name the actor who would play you" and so on. My interviews follow the pattern described by letscrshtheparty in post 68. Kids are nervous enough about these interviews, and when you are nervous it is easiest to relax when talking about things you know.
"</p>

<p>I agree. Since the best way to predict future behavior is to know past behavior, I ask open ended questions about the applicant's current and past life and activities, and then follow up to get specifics.</p>

<p>I ask about a class that a student particularly enjoyed, and then get specifics about why the student enjoyed it, and what assignments or activities were particularly enjoyable and instructive. A student whose favorite class was due to its being an easy "A" is very different than is a student whose favorite class was one that caused them to have to learn new skills or view the world from a perspective they previously had avoided.</p>

<p>I particularly like to ask about challenges they've encountered in their ECs, and how they've addressed those challenges. Someone who quit a club because their challenge was that "all of the popular kids got club offices and then didn't do anything in their positions" is very different than someone who ran for office, didn't get elected, but found a way of improving the club or organizing a club project anyway.</p>

<p>When it comes to community service, I like to ask why they decided to do that community service, what they did during the service, and what they learned as a result of their participation. </p>

<p>Another good question to ask about any activity is, "If you could do it over, what would you do differently?"</p>

77

<p>Page 5 has some great questions. I've been disatisfied with the same old questions that get the canned answers. Thanks.</p>

<p>I like the Microsoft kinds of questions but think that the non-math/science types could panic even though they should be able to think their way through. [However, both of my interviewees are taking AP Physics with Calculus, so they should be OK with that kind of question]. The Wharton questions can be answered by anyone.</p>

<p>I have asked where else they have applied. This never seemed to be a problem. Given acceptance rates of 9%, no one should expect a candidate to a) only apply to one school; and b) to completely fall in love with my school given the probability of getting in is not that high for almost anyone. I think it is useful to get a sense of how what they say they want from a college matches where they are applying, but I also don't think this is as high on my agenda as other things.</p>

78

<p>This is a good thread, because I just reread my volunteer interview handbook! It is interesting what different colleges expect alumni to ask. I don't think I'm good at asking hard questions and wouldn't enjoy the process as much if I had to challenge the kids.</p>

<p>Some kids say they're applying to St. Johns (the books one) or West Point or art school or some little hippie school in the middle of nowhere and that's all extremely interesting to talk about.</p>

79

<p>I usually ask where else the student has applied. I represent a small LAC located in rural New England, which geographically is not everyone's cup of tea, so it helps me find out if the student has put a lot of thought into why X College. If a student from the suburbs has applied mostly to large city universities, I will want to find out if he/she has any idea what it's like to be in a small town where everything closes up at 6 p.m. "Because my teacher told me it's a good school for x," means it may not be the best fit.</p>

80

<p>I am on the same wavelength as sly<em>VT. I even tell candidates on the phone when lining up the interview, that there are no trick questions and that I will be asking about the sorts of things they would expect to talk about...their background, their academics, their extracurriculars/summers/work, their interests, college, etc. I am not into those very difficult questions. I just want to learn about the person and who they are and hopefully go beyond the basic data that is on their application and get to know them personally. Like sly</em>VT, I give them a chance at the end and invite them to tell me anything they wish the admissions committee to know about them that we didn't "cover" and also to ask me anything about the college (again, some ask good questions and some have nothing to ask....a bad sign). </p>

<p>I do not ask what other colleges they have applied to. My college does not want us to ask that question per their current handbook. Years ago, when I was new at it, I did ask and later realized that was a mistake. I do not think that is the college's right to know. I think it is MUCH preferable to ask what criteria they have for selecting a college and then also why they specifically want THIS college, as well as their exposure to it.</p>