<p>In terms of selecting an interview location, what is acceptable and won't annoy the alumni? For Harvard, I chose school because he listed that as an option, and I want to interview at school because I can't drive (we have private meeting rooms in our guidance office). But, this was sent to me from my Princeton alumni:</p>
<p>"Being retired, I am very flexible on time and place. I do live in xxxxx and we have several coffee shops in town, including the Java House and a Starbucks that would be suitable meeting places. If there is a comparable location closer and more convenient to you, please let me know as I can easily accommodate your needs."</p>
<p>Is it bad if I choose at school again (he lives about 7 miles from my school, that is why I feel he may be annoyed if I suggest school. also he listed coffee shops so I feel like that's what he wants)? And if I can't choose school, and I pick a coffee shop, will it look bad if my parents drop me off?</p>
<p>I've never done interviews before, so I want to learn about what's proper for choosing locations because I feel like I'll need this in the future.</p>
<p>Although school may be the easier option for you, your interviewer probably wants to meet on more neutral ground (away from guidance counselors, teachers and other students), so I would choose the coffee shop. And it’s perfectly acceptable if your parents drive you, drop you off, and come back in an hour. Under no circumstances should your parents come into the coffee shop with you.</p>
<p>Thanks! the harvard alumni stated that school was okay in his initial email, and I also got a private room, so should that be okay for that interview?</p>
<p>Honestly, your Harvard alumni interview at your school is the only one I’ve heard of in the last 4 years of being on CC. It’s quite unusual. It’s much more common to meet in a coffee shop. I would take whatever “lead” you interview gives you. In this case, your Princeton interviewer is steering you towards a coffee shop, so go with it!</p>
<p>“Probably the best location is our house on the xxxxx side of [city I live in], but I am flexible – I could also do it at <a href=“including%20during%20the%20day”>my school</a> or we could have a cup of coffee or a soda someplace else.”</p>
<p>maybe I didn’t catch his hint :. can’t change it now though, but do you think he cares (despite the fact that he said it was okay)? one of my friends got an interview with him and said he’s really nice, so I really hope he doesn’t mind.</p>
<p>also, is it bad to have an interview during school hours? (mine’s 1:30, 1 hour before school ends)</p>
<p>You really seem determined to have your interview at school, either during school hours or afterwards. Please, STOP IT</p>
<p>It really is unusual (no matter how well your Harvard interview went) to have your alumni interview on the campus of your high school – no matter what time it occurs. You need to go out of your comfort zone and meet your interviewer in the venue of THEIR choice (not yours).</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s that unusual. My interviewer actually asked me to have it at school. Almost every other kid who applied to an ivy has had their interview in my school also. I actually would prefer outside of school but if your interviewer isn’t against it, it should be OK.</p>
<p>@gibby
woah… misunderstanding. I didn’t mean 1:30 at school. I was wondering if interviews during school time is okay or not at any venue. The Harvard interview was already scheduled before this post so there is nothing I can do about it</p>
<p>FWIW: All the interviews that my son and daughter had several years back (about 16 in total) occurred after school, between 4pm and 7pm or on the weekends, and took place in either the Harvard Club, Yale Club, Princeton Club, in a coffee shop, the alumni interviewer’s office or the alumni interviewer’s home. None occurred at the high school. Good luck with your interviews, wherever they take place!</p>
<p>FWIW: All the interviews that I have conducted for an Ivy (not Harvard) have been conducted at the candidate’s school. The interviews were not impeded by guidance counselors, teachers or other students. It is a serious violation of this Ivy’s policy to conduct interviews at the interviewer’s home. </p>
<p>If the interviewer suggested your school as a venue and you would feel comfortable there, your admissions chances will neither be adversely nor positively affected by having the interview at the school</p>
<p>@Gibby: I think you’re having NYC bias. Most places are not blessed with fancy private clubhouses within blocks of each other </p>
<p>@Need34orAbove: You shouldn’t expect an interviewer to conduct the interview at your school, but if they suggest it and your school has traditionally allowed interviewers to conduct interview privately on campus, then go for it. I would not however, impose or suggest to an interviewer that an interview be conducted at your school, unless there are very, very special circumstances that are out of the ordinary. </p>
<p>It’s very common for interviews to take place in coffee shops.</p>
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