<p>thanks guys! I'll def. take your advice in consideration. :D</p>
<h1>1 Thing I found out after having 5 college interviews: The interviewer is on your side.</h1>
<p>College interviews are definitely not like job interviews, which may be the image one automatically thinks of when one hears the word "interview". The person interviewing you does not decide if you get in nor will he really ever affect you once you get into the school. </p>
<p>Basically, the interviewer is your advocate; he/she will probably want you to get in more likely than not. They have nothing to gain or lose, so why would they intentionally try to hurt your chances?</p>
<p>Also, they know you're human. They know you're nervous, and they know that they can't figure out everything about you in the span of 30-45 minutes. An interviewer wants to know a few of your good points so whatever contribution they make actually helps your application and seems real. </p>
<p>Lastly, the interviewers are people too! They are actually pretty interesting at times, and if you can get a conversation going then you might even forget you're doing an interview.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The person interviewing you does not decide if you get in
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</p>
<p>When it comes to alumni interviews, this is almost always true. My friends and colleagues who are alum interviews for highly competitive colleges (e.g., Yale, Tufts) have told me over the years that many of the applicants they've endorsed most enthusiastically ended up being denied (or, conversely, applicants they were lukewarm about were admitted). My general rule of thumb (though not 100% true across the board) is that the more selective a college is, the less important the interview becomes.</p>
<p>However, when a candidate is interviewed on campus and really impresses the interviewer (if this interviewer is an admissions staff member), it can play a larger role in final outcomes. Thus, when I am advising a high school student whom I think will interview particularly well, I always urge this student to interview on campus, whenever possible. (If the college in question is one that routinely utilizes student interviewers, the on-campus interview becomes less important.)</p>
<p>one point that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you should prepare some questions. In every college interview they are going to ask you whether you have any questions for them. This isn't idle curiosity, its an important topic. Your reply shows whether you've spent some time thinking about what it would be like to be a student at that school, whether you've spent some time looking into the school. Ask generic questions or ones easily answered from the viewbook or web and it sends a message.</p>
<p>Excellent point from mikemac. Interviewers do indeed evaluate candidates based, in part, on the questions they ask. So even if you've already memorized the viewbook and spent two nights on campus, if you claim to have no questions, this can be construed as a lack of interest, effort, or intellectual curiosity.</p>
<p>If you're in a an alum interview, as I noted above, it can be a good idea to ask your interviewer about his or her own experiences at the school. If your interviewer is a staff member, ask if he or she is also an alum. If no, you can ask things like, "If you were applying to college all over again, what would attract you to this college most?" or "What do like the best about living in (or near) this community?" These are the kinds of questions that may put a new spin on what you already know about the school, and they won't be answered on the Web site or in other "propaganda." </p>
<p>Also, as I noted above, steer clear of the "creature comfort" questions .. the ones about cable TV connections in the dorms, etc. Or, at least, bury them in a batch of more academic queries.</p>
<p>Lots of good advice here. I would add a recommendation to write a sincere thank you note. When someone takes time out of their day for you, realize the kindness and acknowledge it. Referencing something specific that you learned about the school or the person who interviewed you, if it sounds real, will make it a better note.</p>
<p>For me, the hardest question is always the first one: "So tell me about yourself..." This is so open-ended and vague that it dries me crazy? So some advice to people getting interviews is have something prepared here because otherwise you might blank out because you have no idea what to say.</p>
<p>Also, I just had an interviewer with a Penn alum and he flat out told me, these interviews have pretty much no influence on the process. He said unless someone comes in here and does HORRIBLE (i.e. knows nothing about the school, looks like a complete slob, etc.) then the interview means nothing. It's really just a way of weeding out the REALLY bad applicants who look decievingly good on paper.</p>
<p>oh and spideygirl, my mom always makes me send a thank you note afterwards :)</p>
<p>it is good though, because if you mention a specific thing you talked about, that will stick in their minds when writing your rec.</p>
<p>Posting #22 is very right - the interviewer is on your side - so work with that. (I've been an interviewer for many years)</p>
<p>However, the interviewer NEEDS substance to put in his/her report. So please make an effort to communicate. It doesn't matter what your interest is, as long as you can talk about it.</p>
<p>And I've read great advice on this board on questions to ask - always ask an alumni interviewer about their experience at the university, how do they think it has changed, etc.</p>
<p>The interview really can help the reader get another idea of the student. BUT if you really can't handle an interview, remember they aren't mandatory and no interview is better than a bad interview. Really, the interviewer WANTS to recommend the candidate, so if he/she can't, it is generally because the candidate gave the interviewer nothing to note.</p>
<p>any advice on on a med school interview? i'm interviewing for a guaranteed admit program... i have to go to the college of medicine and interview with a faculty member. i was thinking of wearing khakis, shirt, tie, sweater?? yes/no? </p>
<p>do i bring my resume and any info? </p>
<p>any advice in general? it should be interesting. </p>
<p>also, many people have said that the interviews don't mean much... but mine counts for everything. i'm not sure if i'm going to be nervous or not cause i'm actually pretty excited haha.</p>
<p>Your nervousness could be the proverbial "elephant" in the room, so don't hesitate to mention it at the start of the interview. It may make both you and also your interviewer more comfortable if you bring your fears to the forefront and begin by saying something like, "If I knock my coffee cup on the floor, it's because I'm really nervous, so I hope you can jump out of the way fast."</p>
<p>Sally, you give great advice and I especially loved this suggestion. Thanks. I'm a lot less nervous now</p>
<p>Based on my previous interviews, you will know within the first 5 seconds if it is going to go well or not. It's all about image and what the other person thinks of you.</p>
<p>RE:</p>
<p>...thank you! Btw, as I do possess a rather unusual accent, would it be possible for m<br>
me to, at the beginning of the interview, explain how that came about?</p>
<p>Do you mind telling us about your unusal accent - I'm intrigued!</p>
<p>I wore a suit to my Harvard interview and the guy said I was overdressed, haha!</p>
<p>Rosieoney: it's a mix of British, American and Taiwanese. </p>
<p>so sometimes I sound British. Then the next word I sound American. Or Taiwanese. On certain days the Britishness comes out in full force. People have thought it's fake before so that's why I was kind of worried :P</p>
<p>Most of us will not admit it but being nervous is something we all go through and not just in interviews. The advice I would give you, is to be yourself and just give it your best. Am sure u will do okay.</p>
<p>DreamingOutLoud ... Did you have your interview yet? If so, how did it go? Any surprises?</p>
<p>DD just went on an interview for a scholarship. This didn't happen to her - but to another girl being interviewed. The professor asked her to name two dead people that she would like to meet. She didn't hear the word "dead". And answered Taylor Swift. So a lesson from this - Make sure you hear and understand the question correctly.</p>
<p>Casual, schoolappropriate attire is recommended <--- does that mean dress pants, too? (for girls)</p>
<p>"DreamingOutLoud ... Did you have your interview yet? If so, how did it go? Any surprises?"</p>
<p>I had it a few days ago and I'm actually not sure how it went. The interviewer was really nonchalant and nice. He didn't ask me a million specific questions like the one I had in October but I almost wish he would've asked more. He just told me to tell him whatever I wanted about myself. He said the interview wasn't a biggie and it was basically too see if why wasn't crazy or really odd. He actually spent a lot of the time telling me about the school and what was great about it. All of you were right when you said most interviewers are on your side. The only part I can say I didn't like was when he asked how many schools I applied to and what I got accepted to. I applied to a lot (11) so I didn't want it too see like I wasn't taking the school seriously, you know?</p>
<p>I have a sneaking suspicion that my next interviewer may ask me more specific questions. I'd be able to convey more about my self, but interviews like that are certainly harder.</p>