I’ve got a college interview next week at Starbucks, and I’m starting to get nervous. My other interviews were at colleges, so I’m not sure how this is going to go. My interviewer will be there already (she’s interviewing someone else before me). How hard will it be to find her? What about buying coffee? How casual/formal should I dress?
<p>It is not unusual for interviews to be held at Starbucks. My daughter had a few college interviews there. Make sure to verify the location and the cross streets (one of D's Starbucks interviews was at a Starbucks located with in 2 blocks of another on Bway in NYC. She went to the wrong one waited 90 minutes. She contacted her interviewer told her what happened and reschuled. In the end it all worked out and she was admitted) </p>
<p>If you are coming from school, just make sure that your clothes are clean , other than that you can keep it casual. Be on time (5 to 10 mins early is good also)</p>
<p>Don't buy her coffee, if you can refrain, I would not recommend drinking out side of a bottle of water (yourchase your own), because accidents do happen. Above all relax, be yourself and you will do fine.</p>
<p>Don't be nervous - my D's interview was at a local Starbucks and it went great and she was admitted EA. The fact that it was at a Starbucks made her feel more at ease. She dressed casually, but neat and clean. She doesn't drink coffee, so I can't comment on that. Her interviewer told her in the phone call arranging the meeting how he would be dressed, so she found him immediately.</p>
<p>Good luck to you - be yourself.</p>
<p>This is an alumni interview I'm guessing, not with an adcom. Meeting in a public place such as Starbucks is pretty usual since parents & students often feel uncomfortable about going to the home of a stranger.</p>
<p>Often the interviewer will have some school logo item on the table with her, making it easy enough to find her, plus she'll be looking for you. (I am starting as an alumni interviewer next year and plan to conduct interviews in a Starbucks with a school coffee mug.) You might exchange email telling her you'd like to be sure to spot her easily, and telling her in general what you look like, or what color backpack you'll have, or something like that. She may respond by describing herself or what she'll have on the table.</p>
<p>You may even arrive while she's talking with what looks like another nervous student, so it might be easier than you think to spot her. :) Good luck and have fun!</p>
<p>I had my Princeton interview at Starbucks and it was fine. It was ver relaxed. I hope all goes well.</p>
<p>Oh I should mention that I didn't know what he looked like and he didn't know who I looked like, but I was able to pick him out. (He was messin with his palm pilot). I'm sure you'll be able to recognize who you interviewer is.</p>
<p>but what do we wear?</p>
<p>My was right after school, (and he knew this) so I wore exactly what I had on at school. Jeans, Sweater, Uggs.</p>
<p>I have done alum interviews at coffee shops in New York. I generally have something with the Logo on the table. Don't worry about your clothes--one of your "better" school outfits is fine--something you feel comfortable but not sloppy in. In NYC it's considered appropriate to order something-just coffee or another drink is fine. Listen to what your interviewer says about him-herself and ask follow-up questions--show a polite interest in him or her as a person and try to find out what the college meant to him or her and why he/she bothers to do interviews. Answer all questions honestly and have ready some info about yourself that is "praiseworthy" but not presented in detail on your written app. It's good to show real enthusiasm for something -- not to try to seem an all-around genius who loves everything the school might have to offer.</p>
<p>First of all I want to say that I despise Starbucks!!! AHHH - I HATE IT!! YUPPIE!!</p>
<p>ok!! (hah) I had my Columbia interview at Starbucks. The lady didn't even bother to offer my anything to drink or eat (kind of rude because she said that's where it was gonna be...) Anyways, don't feel the need to offer your interviewer coffee or a snack. Just be casual - don't get all dressy, but wear nicer-type school/semi-nice occasion attire. I really hate Starbucks, especially because they don't understand what "large hot chocolate" means - you have to say "Venti", even though they have "Grande", which means "LARGE" in Spanish, right there (though they say it's medium - ***...) ok my Starbucks rant is over.</p>
<p>basically just be cool and calm and everything will go fine. Maybe call her up and ask what he/she'll be wearing or if he/she can wear a determined color jacket or something to have him or her stand out. Good luck!!</p>
<p>Crypto-
I hate Starbucks, too! It makes me :mad:. My sister had an interview there, and she refused to buy anything. She really did not want to go. :p</p>
<p>*The lady didn't even bother to offer my anything to drink or eat (kind of rude because she said that's where it was gonna be...) *</p>
<p>While you think your interview was rude they really acted in an appropriate manner. You would be suprised how much people can read into a cup or coffee/tea. The interviewer has a responsibility to keepthins as objective as possible. So even had she offered the the most correct thing for you to have don would have been to decline</p>
<p>I can sorta see your point sybbie, but come on. The interviewer says Starbucks and she can't even offer - chances are I would have declined, but it's still a little weird. Maybe I'm the only person in the world that is like this, but I really hate being all professional and stuff. That's why I loved my Cornell interview (and why it was my best one). They guy had a few questions he asked me but basically it's what do you see yourself doing in the future - then we talked about the NBA and how he's associated with the companies that my dad works for (neat actually). I hate all this "structured question number 1, followed by dictated question number 2". To be honest, I had to just contrive some answers out of my head really quickly for my Columbia interview about why Columbia over any other school and blah blah blah. I would think that the respective schools would realize that they're gonna get a MUCH better read on a person if they are personal rather than asking concrete questions (or rather ONLY concrete questions - a few are necessary) instead of just being personal. I don't care if you ("you" in the sense of anyone) have the uber-best answer for one of the fabricated interview questions - if you don't have any personality (which is detected by informal settings and just chatting), then you're probably pretty boring at any college you go to, and I wouldn't want to chill with you.</p>
<p>crypto86, the interviewer is not asking the student on a date, they are conducting an interview, getting to know some parts of the student as a person, beyond what they've written on their application. Choosing a coffee shop as a location for an interview is not meant to endorse Starbucks (which I don't care for either, by the way) but because it is a public, neutral location where it is not unusual for people to loiter at tables for an hour at a time. Talking and socializing often occurs at coffee shops, and the atmosphere is generally more informal than at, say, an office or hotel conference room. The choice of a coffee shop is meant to provide a less stressful locale, not to promote the goods sold there or have lunch together.</p>
<p>You do make a good point, though, and I may consider next year offering interview candidates their choice of a local coffee shop or other neutral location. And I may purchase two bottles of water before the student arrives.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help, everyone! I called my interviewer, and she described herself and what she'd be wearing. From what everyone is saying, it sounds informal, which is a relief. :)</p>