<p>This question has been on my mind for a while. I feel if I do choose to do the interview, it could give me an advantage. But I am worried that I might screw up my chances by being to nervous or stumbling over a question or not being able to answer a question "intellectually" enough.
Does anyone have advice?
Thanks! :)</p>
<p>interviews are not to see how intellectual you are…test scores and grades show that. Interviews are used to see that your personality fits what they are looking for, not your answers to the questions.</p>
<p>It is completely optional to do the interview, but I would say go with your gut. I did mine b/c I feel like in person I am better than on paper, and I ended up meshing amazingly with my interviewer. She’s finishing up her dermatology residency now (I’m premed as well), and I’m still in touch with her today.</p>
<p>With that said, I still don’t know that it helped me all that much. I’m sure it was one more positive thing that certainly didn’t hurt, but I wouldn’t lose too much sleep over the decision. The interview shouldn’t be about your grades and test scores, but rather your future interests, what activities you were involved in, and other things relating to that. I enjoyed mine.</p>
<p>When I went to an information session at Vanderbilt they said that interviews do help, but usually are geared toward regular decision applicants. If you are applying ED, your demonstrated interest is already seen, which is a large part of the interview process.</p>
<p>So, Chewbacca, I am applied ED. An interview, by what you were told, is really not needed?
Ugh! I don’t know why I am stressing over this so much :/</p>
<p>My S, now a freshman at Vandy, applied ED and chose (with husband’s and my slight push) to do an interview. There were several interviewers to choose from, so he contacted a male on the younger side who graduated from the college of engineering, as that’s where S was applying. The interviewer was informative, asked great questions, and was not at all intimidating. They met at a Starbucks on a Sunday afternoon. S thought is was a good experience and was very glad he decided to schedule this. He got some helpful advice and insight into Vandy as well. Was it a factor in his being accepted? Who knows? But it definitely didn’t hurt.</p>
<p>my son was surprised that his interviewer had a major in a subject he was interested in and after having coffee with him, he was impressed with his interviewer’s character and outlook. Previoiusly, my son has allowed old stereotypes about the Vanderbilt undergrad culture to color his views and sink his real interest in Vandy. He also sought out an interview with the only other visible Vandy grad in our region, and this man also altered his outlook about Vanderbilt. Interviews are two way experiences. You might have some comment to write about after your discussion with an alum. I know alum’s are not always gracious and open-hearted but you may be surprised that there is little other point to the meetings than to generously offer you one person’s insights and experiences as you find your way to your final choice. Alum interviews might screen out students who are difficult via their written assessment but my biggest other message: graduates of good colleges know that introverts are also very valuable personality types in a university and that complete variety is what is achieved every year in a school of 6000 people from all over the country. Alum interviewers are not screening you or rating you on how fabulous your small talk skills are. Sincerity, genuine qualities, balance, passions of many kinds, ambition, desire…these things might be noted. Have three or four things about yourself to convey and make sure to have walked out with three or four things you learned about one alum’s experiences at Vandy…and all will be well. Also…try it. Because you will have to interview immediately again at college X for internships, positions on committees, and jobs. In year one our son applied for four things at Vandy that had interview components and was rejected from two and accepted at two.<br>
Interviewing now is an opportunity to build skills.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>
<p>My son, a Vandy Jr, applied RD a few years ago and chose to do an alumni interview - he felt it couldn’t hurt- could only help. He was able to choose someone from the database, and picked someone who had graduated with his intended major. She had graduated about 3-5 years earlier. They met at a Starbucks towards the end of the day - he arrived about 10 minutes early, settled himself at a table with a drink (but didn’t drink during the interview!) and waited for her. As I remember, it was a really good interview - she was able to gauge his interest in Vandy and he was able to ask her many questions about the major, how it helped in her job search and her current employment. They probably talked for close to an hour and he did send a thank you note immediately after. She emailed him back and told him that she had given him her highest recommendation and then emailed him again upon his acceptance to congratulate. For him it was a very positive and informative experience, although I believe he got in on the strength of his application.</p>
<p>I did an alumni interview a few weeks ago and I don’t regret it. The guy was super nice and even though we didn’t have too much in common, we got along well and I think it will only help. He even told me that he never says anything bad about people in his reviews, so although I’m sure that isn’t the standard for everyone, I think it will rarely hurt you. We pretty much just talked about what I wanted out of my experience and what his college life was like. Then he just asked me what I wanted him to tell Vandy that they wouldn’t know from my application.</p>