I have an alumni interview scheduled for Northwestern University on Jan. 23rd. I have not had one of these before and was wondering what I should expect. It says that it will last 30-45 minutes, so how should I prepare? what kind of questions do they ask? If anybody has had one of these before, I would really appreciate any help! Thanks!
<p>I do alumni interviews for Brown. There is really nothing to "prepare", but if you have some questions or want information that is not readily available, this is a good time for you to ask your interviewer, who, in most cases, is "a nice face for the institution" and does not have all that much evaluative power or input into your file. In most cases, all they will know about you is your name, email address, and high school, and perhaps your prospective area of study, and main EC's.
I usually conduct interviews in a Starbucks, or the sitting area of our local library. I am looking to engage the student in a conversation, and not subject her/him to a quiz.
For the most part, the interviewer is going to send an email to the admissions office reporting that you are a nice kid and you don't have two heads, or didn't pull out a hypodermic needle and shoot yourself up during the 1/2 hour you sat together.
If you are lucky, your interviewer will be up to date on information about the school she/he represents. In my case, I have a daughter there now, and I can answer a lot of questions about curriculum and student life. If you are unlucky, your interviewer will not have been on campus in the last 40 years, and will want to tell you about their fraternity parties they attended in 1962.
Shake hands, say hello, be yourself, and in general do all the things your grandmother would want you to do when she introduces you to her bridge partner.
Good luck and don't worry.</p>
<p>I would advise that you find a list of questions from the internet and answer them in front of the mirror. Practice 2-3 times. It helped a lot for a few of my interviews. I guarantee that they will ask some of the questions that are listed.</p>
<p>So I should have put a paper bag over my second head, huh? Nuts.</p>
<p>Hi annelise, I have interviewed for Brown too. I have been more impressed by kids who talk naturally and don't sound overly prepped and practiced. If your individuality shines through, the interviewer can help to personalize you for the adcom. Treat the interviewer like a person and try to get a sense of who he or she is and what they liked about the college in question- then you can say some version of "me too" or "well, in my case, I think x or y would be more important to me." It should be a conversation not a performance.</p>