Hi everybody!
So I have my interview with Georgetown in 3 days.
My interviewer sent me an email saying that “i’ll see you on ____ at ______”
He was kinda like finalizing everything.
But I don’t know what he looks like and he doesn’t know what I look like.
Should I reply and be like “i’ll be the girl in glasses reading a book”???
PLEASE HELP ME
Well, I know there is a tendency to arrive plenty early, but sometimes interviewers are doing several students in a row and it’s not a good idea for you to sit across the Starbucks for the next half hour looking at the previous student get interviewed. It’s best to step into the interview site right on time. It also gives the interviewer a chance to select the seating. If he’s late, then fine, people get busy.
It’s a good idea to arrive in the area early and go window shopping, that works well. You are correct to give them something to identify you by. Maybe a scarf color or coat color or something reasonably unique for the venue you will be in.
I agree with JOD - it’s considerate to give an identifying piece of information and I like the idea of keeping it to your clothing (you’ll be wearing a gray coat with a red scarf) rather than something about you personally.
My son’s interviewer from MIT did same thing, and he emailed him back and asked him what he would be wearing. He said Oh, I’ll be in the MIT shirt! haha, they had a good laugh over it. SO, email your interviewer and ask them.
Whatever makes you comfortable. I can tell you, there will only be ONE solo 17-18 year old hanging out at the Starbucks, and the interviewer will be the one looking around for that ONE, so it is not a problem. Determining what s/he looks like or will be wearing OR giving him/her an idea of what you will be wearing may make you feel more comfortable. If so, do it. It is your interview, so set it up so that you are comfortable.
My D had an interview at a busy Starbucks. The Interviewer had a big folder with the school’s name on the front on the table, so it was easy to find her.
Unless you Google stalk him (not admittedly recommended) you should be able to pinpoint him right away. He’ll be dressed rather formal and will have a folder/papers in front of him. You can reply and say something like "Thank you, see you then! I’ll be the girl in the insert identifiable piece of clothing here.
Also, don’t arrive RIGHT at your admitted time. Be like a few minutes early. With my interview, I was about 10-15 min early. He arrived 5 minutes after me. He doesn’t have to be the first one there.
My D had an interview at Starbucks…she said it was obvious where the interviewer was (the adult with folders sitting across from to a 17 year old) plus the interviewer let the employees of the Starbucks know that he was there interviewing for XYZ college in case anyone asked. My D got there a few minutes early which was fine.
@TheDidactic Maybe you could explain why appointment times aren’t appointment times anymore.
@JustOneDad Well I just always believed it was better to be early to meetings or appointments. I know you shouldn’t be TOO early but I thought it made a better impression that you showed up a few minutes earlier.
I do my interviews at Panera. I get there a little early and look for a teenager who is looking aroudn and usually has a folder.
By the way, what’s the protocol for interviews at places like Starbucks? Do/should candidates actually get something to eat or drink before sitting down for the interview? I know I am overthinking this but…
I would only go with a bottle of water. DONT order food. How embarrassing if you got food in your teeth or something.
You could email the interviewer and say “I’ll bring my Georgetown brochure so you’ll be able to recognize me”, or something like that. I have to meet people often for my work, and it feels awkward to me to describe my clothes. So I usually describe my laptop. 
@TheDidactic On time is preferable. People show up early who can’t trust themselves to arrive on time. If you do arrive early, stay out of sight until your appointed time. An exception to this might be if the interviewer is clearly done with the previous applicant who has departed, the interviewer has had time to write his notes and prepare his file on you, has refreshed his drink, made a phone call and is now kicked back looking bored. If it’s still not quite time for your interview,THEN you can approach.
They can, but they need to do it on THEIR time and not that of the interviewer’s. That means you arrive early enough to take care of it. As I already said, you may NOT then proceed to take a seat and watch the ongoing interview. If there is no place you can be out of sight of the interviewer and their current interviewee, that means you go out and walk the street.
And, as ZBD5421 pointed out, food is not a good idea. It is the rare HS student who has the poise to eat food in an interview. Drinks are usually less dangerous.
For all of my interviews, it was pretty obvious once they walked in and saw me sitting alone
I am so nervous for my interviews. By the way if the interview is at Starbucks what do you recommend with drinks. DO I buy it before they arrive or wait for the interviewer to arrive and then invite them or should they be inviting me? I know this is probably a minor issue but I would still like to get it right
As the interviewer, I always buy a beverage because I don’t think I should be using a table unless i am a paying customer. Most students do not get anything. You will be talking and not having much time to drink. Don’t get anything to eat. If you want a drink, get there early enough to get through line.
Ok thanks.