<p>I saw a thread like this in the Harvard discussion and it was interesting. Hoped there was one for Penn because I got contacted for an interview and too scared to email back right now.</p>
<p>I'm nervous! What are Penn interview's like? what questions do they ask?</p>
<p>What do I wear?! =O</p>
<p>and is it weird if i bring paper to write down the answers to my questions?</p>
<p>I believe it’s all about who you get as an interviewer. I had someone who was doing interviews in bunches. This meant time was short, leading to him cutting me off a lot. Most of my other interviews were conversations, so I wasn’t prepared for that, and I felt like I didn’t get to say everything I wanted.</p>
<p>He also did have a set of questions. Some were like the simple “why penn?” Some took me by surprise simply because I hadn’t had them asked before. For example, “pretend you’re in front of the admission committee, and you have 1-2 mins to distinguish yourself. What would you say that they don’t already know from your app that makes you better than the rest of the apps who look exactly like you on paper?” </p>
<p>It’s not exactly a random question…it was just a lot more straightforward than I’d have liked. I don’t know if they all ask questions like that (he gave me a lot of scenarios), but he was reading from a sheet. Other examples that I remember were, “2 life lessons that you learned in a minute, what you could do differently in a minute, biggest risk you took in a minute, what is intellectual curiosity to you in a minute, etc.” I guess it was just drastically different from my other interviews. </p>
<p>Just be prepared to talk about yourself, make yourself look good, etc. Most importantly, be confident. Talk passionately, keep eye contact, good posture, etc. Wear something nice. As I see it, overdressing never does any harm (especially since you might get someone who went to Wharton). You’re there to make a good impression. </p>
<p>You can bring paper I guess. I never did in any of my interviews. It’s important that you have questions to ask though.</p>
<p>
Sounds like the guy lives his life minute-to-minute. :)</p>
<p>I think I’m going to wear a brown collared shirt and a patterned skirt(it has small flowers on it)… is that okay? xD it will be at an attorney’s office</p>
<p>My ED interviewer asked me what I would do if I was Obama’s financial advisor for the day… Not a normal interview conversation starter. The rest of the interview went swimmingly and she seemed to like my questions. Mine was definitely more of a conversation with me doing half the talking and she doing half the talking. I was surprised that it went so well considering she was a Wharton alum and I applied to CAS.</p>
<p>I would think for you it might be more of a conversation since the interviewer seems older (established attorney) and likes to reminisce about his Penn days, compared with a fresh alum who asks her questions off of a sheet of paper. I could be totally wrong though…</p>
<p>^Yeah I looked him up… xD hope that wasn’t weird… but I think he graduated from Wharton in 1970 or so…</p>
<p>Mine was an old alum also, so I don’t think it has anything to do with age.</p>
<p>Ahhhh, I just got contacted yesterday and I’m too nervous to email back…</p>
<p>This is my first college interview so I have no idea what to expect. My interviewer is actually really young, Class of 2000, and I believe she works at the same company my dad works at, so that was unexpected. How should I prepare? I will freshen up my research about the school, but do I need to prepare a resume or anything?</p>
<p>^you sounded exactly like me. lol But yeah I’m in the same boat, but lucky you! I find it easier to connect with younger people than older people. xD I’m bringing a resume just in case. I know my SAT scores like the back of my hand but if asked, I can only give you the total ACT score, not the breakdown and I don’t want to to be at a total loss, if asked. xD</p>
<p>Mine is this saturday! D:</p>
<p>^ Do not talk about scores. It’s also advised that you shouldn’t bring a resume. This is not about your application, but you as a person. Try to avoid classes, listing ECs, etc. Rather, focus on what makes you click, what gets your motor running, how you think, and how passionate you want to come across as.</p>
<p>You will not be asked about your ACT</p>
<p>^Yeah to be honest, I rather not talk about my scores, but it doesn’t hurt to bring it just in case they DO ask? (if he doesn’t ask, I won’t give it to him) given that it seems many interviewers have asked for scores based on the interview thread.</p>
<p>I had my interview a few months ago and I brought my resume. I would recommend doing that because your interviewer will have to write you a letter of recommendation. At least with your resume, he or she will have something to refer to when writing your letter of recommendation. Referring to your resume when writing the letter will help your interviewer write a stronger recommendation letter for you. I wore a skirt also. Mine was at a cafe. Remember, your interview will most likely just be a friendly conversation all about you. So relax and be confident. Good luck this saturday!</p>
<p>Thanks KAJvet24vball! =D Did you give it to your interviewer at the end of the interview or the beginning? And guys… I put stacking golf balls and bowling balls under Additional Talents on my resume that I uploaded to the Additional info on the CommonApp. Should I take this off before I print it for the interview? xD It’s true, I stack golf balls and bowling balls but I’m not sure whether the interviewer would like that. hahaha</p>
<p>Yeah, I was also wondering about when we give the resume to the interviewer. Like, I don’t wanna be shoving it in her face or anything! And I honestly don’t know what to wear. I know people say to dress to impress, but what I normally wear seems okay to me…I figure as long as I’m not wearing jeans or sweats it should be okay. Like a dress? That is casual enough to wear on a regular day but more of something you’d wear if you work in an art gallery? with boots? Haha I know I’m weird but I don’t own anything other than boots and sandals/flip flops…and I don’t wanna wear heels… Oh and my interview is at starbucks, so overdressing might be weird? Idk, help!</p>
<p>Oh and for starbucks…should I buy something? should I get there super early? how will I even know who my interviewer is? ahhh I’m freaking out already!</p>
<p>^If you get there earlier than the interviewer, I suggest buying something as to not tick off the Starbucks people. And as its Starbucks, I think the dress code is probably more lenient for you. My interview is at an attorney’s office in a fancy location. -___-" And indeed, I had limited shoe choices, so I just went out and got some dressy flats as who knows how many other interviews await. xD</p>
<p>Hahaha I am so paranoid I feel like even what I get as a drink is a psychological test LOL. Yeah, I guess I’m kind of stuck in an awkward position between formal and casual, so whatever, I guess if my interviewer judges by what I wear, I can’t really do much about that. I think I’ll go get shoes…and borrow some business clothes haha. Wow, figuring out clothes for interviews is almost as bad as prom!</p>
<p>neorobie: I gave my resume to my interviewer at the beginning of my interview and that worked great because he actually questioned me about a few of my activities from the resume during the interview! My interview was at Cosi and I got there before my interviewer and just waited. I didn’t buy anything because I thought it would be awkward if he showed up and I was sitting there eating haha </p>
<p>Also, if you really do stack golf balls and bowling balls, then go ahead and put it on your resume. I put both of my jobs on mine and pretty much every other activity I participate in. Colleges really like to see that you’re well-rounded :)</p>
<p>Anyone know when the deadline to be contacted is?</p>
<p>I havent received an interview yet… from Long island NY an area where I expect there to be a ton of interviewers bt also alot of applicants… its not late right??</p>
<p>KAJvet24vball: heh heh, yeah I stack golf balls in my spare time, like today after school while waiting to be picked up. =D Bowling balls, that was only once, during the first time I went bowling, I stacked 3 and then my friend took it down(luckily my other friend got a photo of the stacked bowling balls) because she believed we were gunna be kicked out because of that. xD But heh heh I’m sure i could do four bowling balls.</p>
<p>I love stacking… Like even the sport stacking cups thing we were taught in elementary school (i still have those cups and I stack them)</p>