<p>I figured that parents would probably give some of the best advice. Soo… I just checked my e-mail and had received something from a Brown alumnus yesterday about an interview. I want to e-mail him back like NOW (ha!) but am freaking out about the phrasing, the salutations, the specifics that I’m giving him… Can someone (preferable everyone) answer some questions for me!?</p>
<li><p>I wrote how glad I was that he contacted me, and how I look forward to learning more about Brown from him. But it looks like fluff to me, I don’t feel like it has a point but I don’t want to jump right in and be like “I can do an interview this time, this time, and this time.” So how do I find the happle middle?</p></li>
<li><p>My schedule for the next two weeks is insane – it’s the two weeks leading up to show. So I mentioned that and said that rehearsals are from 6-9 every night of the week. I told him that an early afternoon interview would work well for me, but I could do a morning or early afternoon interview also. This is suggesting that I would skip some school to make my interview. Is this out of line? Would he be appalled that a Brown applicant would skip school? Should I leave that suggestion out?</p></li>
<li><p>I have a job but the schedule is very leniant. If I need to get out of work, I can. Should I mention that I have a job when the times aren’t the same from week to week and I wouldn’t be able to tell him specifically when I would be working? Or just leave that part out?</p></li>
<li><p>At the end I say - lamely - “Again, thank you for e-mailing me. I hope we can arrange something very soon.” I want to sincerely thank him, but this just looks awful! </p></li>
<li><p>How should I sign it? Sincerely? Thanks again? I love you unconditionally? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Dear Mr. X,
Thank you so much for contacting me about an interview. I'm very much looking forward to meeting with you. The best time for me is during the early afternoon, immediately after school (3 PM), until about 6 PM when I need to be in rehearsals for a play. If need be, I can miss part of a morning, and am also available on weekends.<br>
Thank you again for e-mailng me. I hope we can arrange something very soon.
Sincerely,
X</p>
<p>I'm an alumni interviewer (not for Brown). You're way overthinking this. When I email someone about an interview, they do not send back a formal, longwinded email. I would address the person as Dear Mr. ______, not by his first name. I think just saying thank you for this opportunity and that you look forward to meeting him is enough of an intro. It sounds like you have some flexibility even within your busy schedule. Can you say that work and extracurriculars are very hectic right now, but that you'll do your best accommodate his schedule? It sounds like weekends are good for you, so you might mention that. If he writes back with a time that you can't make, then you can get into your scheduling details. You can just close with a "Thanks!" and then your name. </p>
<p>Can you miss any of the play rehearsal? I know some interviewers get grouchy when they feel their schedule is not being accommodated due to activities they perceive a student could work around. For instance, if you had an all-city swim meet, it would be understandable that you couldn't make it. If you can't make it every night for two weeks due to a play it might be less believable that you can't get time off one night.</p>
<p>I think you are stressing out way too much about it.</p>
<p>Telling him you are glad that he contacted you and you're looking forward to learning more about Brown from him is appropriate and fine.</p>
<p>Telling him what your schedule is, and when you could be available is what you have to do. If skipping school is not a problem for you, you should give him the morning option as well - you don't need to explain that you'll be skipping school for that.</p>
<p>Don't get into your job schedule if it is irrelevant for the scheduling of the interview.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! I knew that the parents forum was a good place to post this. :)</p>
<p>I know I stressed wayyyy too much over that simple little e-mail, but I just didn't want to make any mistakes. I took all of the advice and wrote a succinct, polite e-mail. </p>
<p>Yeah but...you should have wrote what you thought was right, not what someone else thinks you should put down (not that I disagree with their advice). Otherwise, what's the point of it, or the subsequent interview anyway? </p>
<p>No doubt you are a very bright, earnest, hardworking student: trust yourself! Someone cut out for Brown is able to send a brief mature email without needing adult assistance.</p>
<p>I just saw this thread. You did great, OP. All I would have added (if you hadn't already sent the email) is to ask you if you can make a breakfast interview.
For some kids, that suggestion results in howls of laughter, so if you can't function well at that hour, forget my suggestion. If you find you have trouble finding a mutual time, however, some adults are morning risers and make breakfast appointments... </p>
<p>Anyways, it'll go well from here on, I'm sure. Best of luck!</p>
<p>After the interview drop him a line and say thank you and mention 1 point or something he said that was helpful. I interview but not for Brown and am always impressed when students remember to do that. I also don't hold it against them if they don't. Just be yourself and it will go fine. Good luck!</p>
<p>To the OP: I apologize. I must have sounded too harsh and made it too personal. What I was trying to get across, but obviously did so poorly, was that you should relax and trust yourself (I believed you have what it takes to craft a reasonable email and did not need anyone's advice, and that should be taken as a compliment!). It IS great to seek advice when needed- some of us should do it more, including myself! In this case, I thought it was unnecessary and I wanted for you to have less anxiety and more confidence. </p>
<p>More broadly, my post wasn't about the OP, but my general concern about the craziness this admissions process creates. I believe that a senior with stellar stats, a huge list of impressive ECs, great grades, is mature enough and will have the ability to confidently write an ordinary email to an adult. And if a teen writes an email response like sounds like a teen, all the more power to them! Just like I think we'd agree, kids can and should write their own essay in their own words, spend their summers doing things that genuinely interest them and not what looks good, doing volunteer work because they are actually altruistic, filling out their own applications, and being themselves in an interview. All easier said than done, of course, but to the extent we adults encourage more coaching, managing, and facade building, the more we further push and legitimate this whole process into a game. </p>
<p>But then again I'm also not a fan of helicoptering, nor the negative products of this hyper-competitive admissions creates too often: anxiety, depression, a lack of genuine independence/maturity, and years of narrowly focused gaming behavior.</p>
<p>star, on the parent forum you get advice from an adult point of view, which is what the OP was looking for. Kids "own words" are great, but my feeling was the OP wanted us to tell him the structure and tone of a letter that would appeal most to an adult. OP is right to ask on this board. If I were trying to text message a future employee, I'd come straight to you guys for the 411 (is that right??)</p>
<p>Just saying, AdmissionsAddict, it's really not acceptable to skip parts of play rehearsals when you're getting close to opening. Having one person gone generally screws things up for the entire cast... the interviewer might see it as being uncooperative, but that's not really as important as working with your cast. :-)</p>
<p>Starbright -- I understand what you're saying. I probably should have made it clearer in my original post, but I had already written an entire e-mail. I only wanted help on some aspects because I didn't know the general outline for a college interview e-mail; my Brown interview will be my first -- and probably only -- interview.</p>
<p>Paying3tuitions -- I wouldn't have a problem with a breakfast interview at all! I had already sent my e-mail when I checked this thread, but I will definately keep that suggestion in mind.</p>
<p>Arizonamom -- Would a thank you e-mail be appropriate? Or would you suggest snail mail?</p>
<p>Riverrunner -- 411 is right! :)</p>
<p>Dc89 -- You're right about not being able to skip rehearsals. My director announced yesterday that "we now own you." But I'm sure if need be I could be late.</p>
<p>Thank you again to all who replied. With your help I was able to re-craft, and improve, my e-mail. Even though I doubt the alum will care how well-written it is, I was generally proud of it when I clicked send.</p>