<p>I have my last interview and its for my first choice school...I got the phone call to schedule it today and I'm getting pretty nervous!</p>
<p>I had interviews in the past and there were 2 things I want to get straightened out before this last one:</p>
<p>1] Water: Usually, I talk for long stretches at a time and that means my voice gets tired really fast! I don't want to croak so is it okay if I bring a water bottle and drink from it during the interview itself? Is it an etiquette faux pas if you drink while your interviewer is speaking? If it is, when is a nice discreet time to do it?</p>
<p>2] Other school: I was accepted to my first choice school's peer already. If a question comes up, can I mention it? Is it against interview etiquette to even mention another college's name?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Assuming that the interview is relatively informal -- as most of them are -- I think the water bottle is fine.</p>
<p>As far as the other school is concerned, I don't think you should mention it. You want the interviewer to think that you really really really want to attend their school. </p>
<p>On the other hand -- if the interviewer asks where else you are considering, you can mention it along with two or three other schools, and you could "casually" drop the fact that you were already accepted at First Choice Peer College.</p>
<p>I vote yes on the water bottle and on taking a sip while the interviewer is talking.</p>
<p>On the other college: I wouldn't bring it up. However, if the interviewer brings it up -- and if it's true -- I'd say that you've already been accepted to Peer College but that you're doing this interview because you're most interested in Your Uni. After all, if the other college was a lock you would have skipped this interview.</p>
<p>BTW: Are we assuming that mentioning that OP has already been accepted at Peer College makes him sound more desirable?</p>
<p>Because other than that, I can't see any real reason for mentioning it.</p>
<p>Yea for you!! Agree with the other posters, yes take a sip while interviewer is talking (but don't lose your focus!) and only mention other school if interviewer brings it up - but that would be a great time to acknowledge that you indeed have an acceptance in hand but would really like to attend your #1 college.</p>
<p>I don't think mentioning it makes him sound more desirable but demonstrates a sincere interest in attending interviewer's school. If OP knew he/she wanted to attend Peer College, he/she wouldn't have bothered to interview. Again, I wouldn't bring it up, but if the interviewer asks which schools OP has applied to, then I don't see a reason not to mention the acceptance.</p>
<p>Where is your interview going to take place? If it is at a home or office, a civilized host will offer refreshment. Say yes, you would like a glass of water, and drink that rather than pulling out yours, which would seem rather uncouth. It makes people feel good to give guests something. If it is at a public place, such as a Starbucks, you can buy a water or other beverage. Often the interviewer will offer to buy you something. Again, you can say yes. Or YOU could offer--"I'm going to get a drink. Can I get you something?--if they don't offer first. If the interview is at your house, arrange in advance with a parent to offer the interviewer refreshment. It's fine to make sure that you have water even if they decline.</p>
<p>I would be a little concerned if you are talking so much and at such length that your throat gets dry, unless it's nerves. You are supposed to be having a conversation, not a monologue.</p>
<p>I would not mention other schools unless the interviewer brings it up. If s/he does, certainly you can reveal that you were accepted to school X but that the interviewer's school is your first choice.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the replies! It's at an office but in the interviews I've been to so far, water wasn't offered; if it is this time (and oh, I would hope for my top-choice!) then definitely I wont pull out my water bottle.</p>
<p>@Consolation - It's mainly nerves, like you said. My throat thinks I've been babbling on for hours when it's only been a few minutes and it dries up, leaving my voice sound scratchy and high(er)-pitched.</p>
<p>Any other thoughts on question 2 (other college acceptance)?</p>
<p>If I were interviewing someone in my office, I would think it very poor form for them to pull out a water bottle. It's not a sporting event. </p>
<p>Hydrate before you go in, and hope they offer you something. If you've had a number of other interviews, you should be able to calm yourself for this one.</p>
<p>I'm with Consolation - don't take out the water bottle.</p>
<p>I vote don't talk so much.</p>
<p>ask questions! </p>
<p>sip water bottle</p>
<p>respond!</p>
<p>ask more questions....listen...</p>
<p>sip water bottle</p>
<p>respond. ask a last question...using the socratic method.</p>
<p>you're in!!!</p>
<p>drink the case.</p>
<p>Sorry for dragging this out, but say okay fine, it would be awkward if I take out my water bottle during an interview...</p>
<p>If I'm still nervous and I need a few sips, can I say something along the lines of "I'm terribly sorry but do you mind if I take a quick drink of water?" Would that be better? Or worse?</p>
<p>for the last time.</p>
<p>TALK LESS.</p>
<p>ask questions...get the interviewer talking..sip while you listen.</p>
<p>@jdjaguar - Thanks for your posts. My post right before yours was in response to what previous posters said: don't take out your water bottle at all. So "sip while you listen" wouldn't really apply</p>
<p>well, if you fail your interview due to thist, nothing applies, right?</p>
<p>good luck...and ask QUESTIONS..then listen..the ASK MORE..</p>
<p>you'll get in.</p>
<p>Okay, if you get to the point that you can't talk without drinking, then sip from your water bottle. If you get so nervous that you can't talk without drinking water, then start working on those nerves. You want that to change somewhere along the way.</p>
<p>I think you keep the water bottle in your purse and if not offered something to drink in the first five minutes, reach for the bottle while asking, "do you mind if I have this?" More than half the people I know carry their own water bottle these days. And frankly, at our school, we've done away with water bottles as a step toward being more green. And truth is, for some reason, people get pretty picky about the water they drink and like their "brand." </p>
<p>I also think it's perfectly normal to get a dry mouth when a) talking and b) nervous. And if I were doing the interviewing, I would be more surprised if the candidate were NOT nervous. It would be my assumption that I would be putting her.him at ease and just trying to see them for who they really are.</p>
<p>Plus, having a drink of water handy can give you a much needed moment if needed. Of course, you only have that opportunity once. :)</p>
<p>If you're in an office setting, I think it's appropriate to have a water bottle (but a SMALL one, not a behemoth one!) and say "I hope you don't mind if I have some while we're talking; my throat has been scratchy and raw lately" or words to that effect.</p>
<p>If you're in a Starbucks-like setting meeting an interviewer, I'd get there first and buy your bottle of water there so it looks like you were just nursing a drink, the same way you'd nurse a cup of coffee. If the interviewer gets there before you and you're all just settling in, I'd go buy the water and offer to get him something while you're up there. (Though I think an adult interviewer with any manners should be the one offering to get the young'un the refreshment, and if the adult says "Oh no, it's on me, what would you like?" I think it's fine to ask for the water.)</p>
<p>If it's at your house, no reason not to have a water bottle for you and a water bottle for the interviewer --he / she can always decline his!</p>
<p>I think it's hysterical how much thought goes into this water bottle thing. I totally get it, and find it appropriate, but as an adult I think this would be inconsequential. Hauling out a sub sandwich would be weird for sure, but water? I think the key is if you are in their office or otherwise non-neutral setting where the interviewer has control to not make the person feel like they've somehow committed a faux pax by not offering.</p>
<p>I know a woman who interviews for Harvard and the only thing that ticks her off is when kids act like they are doing HER a favor by showing up. No one, and I repeat, no one is that special. And while interviews don't have a huge amount of weight, when you've been doing them for as long as she has, her saying, "Not Harvard material" holds some weight.</p>
<p>Bringing a water bottle is no big deal. Nothing to keep worrying about. Lots of people -- including me-- carry them with them due to medical reasons. An inteviewer isn't going to care.</p>