<p>anyone with knowledge or experience on this question?</p>
<p>the web page says it is recommended. what sorts of questions do they ask in the interview?</p>
<p>Not necessary, but a great chance for you to find out more about the college. And I have to believe that if you are otherwise on the bubble, a good interview could help move you into the “admit” pile. </p>
<p>Son had a great off-campus alum interview. I’m sure there are as many different topics in these interviews as there are interviewees, but you should go in prepared to talk about YOUR passions, what you would bring to the college community if admitted and why you think Grinnell is a good fit for you.</p>
<p>Son was admitted without an interview, so yes, it can be done. But I agree with the above that a good interview can only help.</p>
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<p>–but can a bad interview hurt?</p>
<p>These are the nicest people. I wouldn’t worry about making a bad impression. Showing up on campus, if you can, is a nice touch. They won’t be trying to trip you up. I did suggest to my son that he generate a question or two for each of his interviews and that he read college guides and the web sites to ask good questions. As far as the questions they’ll ask you, they will be about you, so you are the expert. If you don’t have an answer, you can say what a good question they’ve asked and you need to think about it. Give yourself a little time or be willing to say you don’t know. This is the kind of place where that’s ok. Honesty is a virtue! Think about what you are looking for in a school and why you think Grinnell would be a great fit for you and what you might contribute to the college community. Also my son said lots of colleges asked him to describe his HS experience. I suggested he be positive about HS but say what he hoped for in college, if you get my drift. Grinnell is a lot better than HS! Good luck! Don’t be afraid of interviews.</p>
<p>yes, I get your drift, beth. son openly says he wants to do more things in college than he did in HS. On that pesky contribution question, admissions reminds the prospies that the potential to contribute to GC is worth about 25 pct of the application.</p>
<p>WHat is meant by contributing to GC?</p>
<p>At first blush I thought it was the potential to make good money and to give back $ as an alum (maybe since GC’s endowment is well known).</p>
<p>I would read the contribution in terms of campus life. What activities would the student be likely to engage in, whether s/he will be active in class discussion, etc. Will this student contribute to the sense of community that is so important to Grinnell?</p>
<p>I also think that when a college says an interview is recommended, it is a good idea to have one, or at least try to schedule one, as my S did, but the school did not have an alumni interviewer available for him. He got in, though!</p>
<p>Grinnell alums are actually not great about contributing to the college, much to administration’s chagrin, so I don’t think that’s what they have in mind when they talk about “contribution to the Grinnell community.” SDonCC is right–it’s about what interests and passions you might bring to the campus… student governance? music? water polo? social justice? What will you do to make Grinnell a more interesting and vibrant place to be? </p>
<p>And yes, I have to believe that a bad interview can hurt. While many at Grinnell readily identify themselves as “socially awkward,” I assume that the ability to put a coherent thought together is expected. Or if a student is clearly bored and not happy to be there, why should the college give a coveted space in the first year class to him or her?</p>
<p>Oh yes, contribution to college meaning what you as a student have to offer to the current community, not how much money you might donate in future. Both things are probably important to any college, but I honestly think Grinnell is more interested in current personal contributions rather than future monetary ones.</p>
<p>And I think, as far as interviews go, being socially awkward is not a problem. Not caring about Grinnell would be a problem. Know the college and be prepared to say something about why it’s a good fit on both sides.</p>