<p>I'm wondering if anybody else received an email from their interviewer after their on-campus interview?</p>
<p>Yes, S did receive an email from senior student interviewer following on campus interview.</p>
<p>My D did, too. She was interviewed by one of the admissions people. I thought the email was a nice touch.</p>
<p>every interviewee receives one.</p>
<p>I interviewed on the 1st and I haven’t received an interview. I did mail a thank you note though.</p>
<p>Is this on campus interview most likely must to do? (I know it is optional but it will take 3 hours driving from our house. Please let me know~</p>
<p>^I don’t understand what you are saying.</p>
<p>An on campus interview is not necessary. If you live close to Swarthmore a visit to campus is a good idea - be sure to get your name written down at the admissions office so they know you were there. A 3 hour drive (6 hrs round trip) would not be considered close.</p>
<p>If an on-campus interview is not practical, it is still a good idea to sign up for an alumni interview. There are alums in many places who can do interviews.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if I lived 3 hours from Swarthmore and wanted to maximize my chances of acceptance, I would take advantage of the opportunity to not only interview, but visit campus several times, especially for an overnight. I believe that students who learn as much as they can about Swarthmore and become familiar with the swattie “ethos” tend to have a signficant advantage in putting together an effective application.</p>
<p>We live 2.5 hours from Swarthmore. My daughter visited 6 times before applying ED. Maybe that is extreme, but everytime we visited ANY other school that was remotely near Swarthmore, she wanted to “just stop by and see it again”!</p>
<p>^^ Exactly…regarding putting together an effective application. And this goes for college fairs and admission rep visits, too. The more contacts you have with a competitive college – even those that don’t track interest – the better off you are. Each contact makes you a little more connected to that college’s particular (or peculiar?) ethos. Each contact makes it more likely that a light will go off and you’ll “get it.” It’s possible that you’ll be turned off when you “get it” (which, I submit, is immensely valuable information to gain). But if you’re still highly interested at that point, these contacts can make a difference, in your head if nowhere else. I’d get away from the idea that you’re just signing a log book, checking off a requirement, getting some “face” time with a decision maker in the Admission Office. I think you want to learn something new each time.</p>
<p>I may be in the minority, but I happen to think alumni interviews and alumni contacts at college fairs are excellent resources for prospective students. These people have decided that their alma mater kicks ass – otherwise they wouldn’t be giving up valuable time just to talk to you about it. And there’s always something they really want to talk to you about. Something they can’t shut up about. And, as a prospective applicant, you need to make it your job to find out what that thing is. And hear her or him out. Because it is important information. Mission critical information for you.</p>
<p>This is a 4-year commitment. It’s your education and future that you’re setting the path for. As a student, this may be the first time you’ve had this much control, independent of your parents, over the course you’re setting for your future. And you’re choosing a place where you’re going to make even more important choices and set new courses for yourself. I won’t even throw in the actual dollar value of this decision because even if it’s a full-ride, the stakes are high and you really want to choose wisely. The Admission Office may not think it’s necessary to drive 3 hours each way…but you should.</p>
<p>EDIT: And if mom and dad are skeptical of the time investment, get a ride to a train station. You can do homework, write college essays or ponder humankind’s place in the universe on the train, so it will be highly productive time for you without being a drag on your family’s time.</p>