<p>True, the info is not the actual common data set. But it does appear to be a subset of it (for example, the table showing what is taken into account in admissions). Since U of Chicago doesn’t seem to post any of the Common Data set info, it is still very helpful.</p>
<p>Xiggi, you are making me feel better. Although I have to provide one story where an interview was helpful. D1 interviewed at her 50-ish ranked LAC. She is the opposite of her sister – a true extrovert, loves people, new friends with everyone in five minutes, great rapport with adults, etc. For her, the interview was one of the strongest parts of her application. And she hit it out of the park with her LAC. She ended up with great merit aid at her LAC, well above what the college website led us to believe she would be eligible for based on GPA and test scores. I am convinced that the interview is the primary reason for this. Maybe that why I am wary of the interview for D2 – I have seen a situation where an interview made a big difference (in the positive direction). I assume it could be a negative factor if it does not go well (not admitted, less merit aid where it is available, etc.).</p>
<p>Has your daughter had a diagnosis? It might help. My son is on the spectrum and has had a scholarship interview. In the written materials that he submitted beforehand, he was very upfront about having autism. We encouraged him to do so, knowing that he might have a rough time interviewing. We thought that letting the interviewers know about it beforehand would be a good idea. Although we don’t yet know whether he received the scholarship, the interview (at least by his reckoning) seemed to go well.</p>
<p>She has a diagnosis of a non-verbal learning disability. But if you look at her list of colleges, you can see why she is choosing not to disclose during the application process. A lot of these schools will pretty much boot a kid off the list in that situation, figuring they can’t cut it. She is actually quite strong in the classroom (brilliant in some areas). If she were applying to less selective schools I could see this as a possibility, but she is just not having that conversation with a rep from Swarthmore, U of Chicago, Carleton, etc. The top level schools get so many applications, they really need to be looking for excuses to push a kid’s application to the reject pile (otherwise they would go crazy). She is not going to give them an excuse.</p>
<p>Carleton participates in federally-funded TRIO program, which includes learning disabled students in its “student retention-focussed” programming. Its TRIO office is located in a separate large house on-campus. Many highly selective schools participate in TRIO. I don’t believe self-identifying as a student with Aspergers will jeopardize admissions at those schools. “Appearing disinterested” at interview, however, likely would.</p>
<p>I once went to one of the college admissions sessions featuring a bunch of ad-coms who walk you through three applicant folders, and commented on what they look for. One thing the Mt. Holyoke woman said was this: We’re a small, residental relatively isolated school. We need women who can get along with everybody else in the dorm. Presumably your D will talk to her roommate once they get acquainted, but I’d sure avoid a situation where it looks like your D would be miserable to have as a roommate.</p>
<p>She has done fine with roommates at some three week summer camps (gone to 3 different camps, no issue at any of them). The last one was an engineering camp, so her roommate did not talk, either. But the other two weren’t and it went okay. Of course, a full year is a longer time, and more stuff can go wrong. There are plenty of threads on CC attesting to that!</p>
<p>Regarding TRIO, I still don’t believe for one minute that it won’t hurt admissions at Carleton to tell them about that type of disability. Once the student is there they want to retain them, but that does not mean that the application process is not stacked against them.</p>
<p>OP, reporting back on final results for “the kid who didn’t interview”. She got in everyplace she applied (dropped Cornell & Reed before application time) – Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd, U of Chicago, Carleton, Macalester, Kenyon, Mt. Holyoke, and Lawrence. Got merit aid (beyond NMF aid) at U of Chicago, Macalester, Kenyon, Lawrence, and Mount Holyoke (21st Century Scholar @ Mt. Holyoke). She did not interview with any of these schools. So I think the final lesson I take away is: for the kid who is a truly terrible interviewer and has strong stats & recommendations, don’t interview it unless the school requires it.</p>
<p>You called this one, xiggi. You were right, I think, about the possibility of disaster and avoiding it, at least for a kid who you KNOW isn’t going to handle it well.</p>
<p>The only school I know of where you really have to interview is MIT, the admit rate for those who don’t is much, much lower. Basically they assume if you skip out on it, it’s because you’re a troglodyte.</p>
Although I have to provide one story where an interview was helpful. D1 interviewed at her 50-ish ranked LAC. She is the opposite of her sister – a true extrovert, loves people, new friends with everyone in five minutes, great rapport with adults, etc. For her, the interview was one of the strongest parts of her application. And she hit it out of the park with her LAC. She ended up with great merit aid at her LAC, well above what the college website led us to believe she would be eligible for based on GPA and test scores. I am convinced that the interview is the primary reason for this. Maybe that why I am wary of the interview for D2 – I have seen a situation where an interview made a big difference (in the positive direction). I assume it could be a negative factor if it does not go well (not admitted, less merit aid where it is available, etc.).</p>