<p>So, this coming Monday I'll be visiting Reed College. I'll be doing the information session, the tour, the interview...the whole deal. But lately, this interview thing has been worrying me a little bit. I spoke about college interviews in general with my college counselor today, and what had a simulated interview. He asked me questions like "What book have you read most recently and what effect did it have on you?" and further delving into more and more intellectual questions. And I couldn't answer immediately...</p>
<p>So now I'm worried. Reed values interviews in the admissions process, so I want to make sure I make a good impression. Any tips?</p>
<p>The interview isn't an inquisition, but a chance for you to ask some questions and for the interviewer to learn a bit about you. Try to have a real conversation; look the person in the eye. And don't try to impose an agenda. If you've done your homework about Reed you'll have some questions, and you'll be thinking about how you might contribute to the social and intellectual community.</p>
<p>Both of my kids went into their first interviews with some trepidation but came out laughing. Keep your sense of humor.</p>
<p>Mack has given you very good advice. If it helps any, my son had a TERRIFIC time during his Reed interview. It was very relaxed, down to the fact that the admissions person's dog sat in on it. Reed's admissions people are friendly and pretty down to earth - in fact, there's a good chance you'll be interviewed by a Reed student who works in the admissions office, or someone who went to Reed who isn't much older than you. </p>
<p>My son and his interviewer just basically chatted about what he'd done and who he'd met the night before during his overnight, his reactions to the class he'd sat in on that morning, and a few questions he had about Reed. Then they moved on to his interests (both inside and outside the classroom), a few things they had in common, and things he'd been reading lately. He came out feeling like he'd just had a great chat with a very interesting person, not like he'd been put through some interview torture chamber. :)</p>
<p>It wasn't a "impress us with your knowledge" type of interview, but rather a relaxed and friendly conversation. If you think of it that way - as a conversation - you'll do great. Don't try to second-guess what Reed (or any school) is looking to hear. Just be yourself, be honest, and try to enjoy the conversation.</p>
<p>Finally, remember that admissions people are always looking for reasons to LIKE applicants, not reasons to dislike them. They also are masters at helping 17 and 18 year olds feel comfortable. They very seldom bite. ;) You will do fine.</p>
<p>Carolyn, I think you're exactly right. My brother does alum interviews for Reed and says he doesn't make it his mission to critique students so much as to help them get a sense of what Reed is like and encourage them to apply if they think it sounds right for them.</p>
<p>I know this is old but I didn’t want to start a new thread<br>
so I was curious if the topic of grades comes up at all. I did poorly freshman and 1st semester sophomore year and I have a personal reason for that and I don’t want to disclose it here but I’d like the admissions office to know that there was a reason for the poor grades instead of just a lack of effort. should I just leave that for my essays or is this a topic covered in the interview? (I’m currently a junior looking to interview sometime during the summer)</p>
<p>^There’s an additional information section on the Common App that lets you explain anything you think you have to. Grades don’t really come up in interviews since they’ll already have that information come admissions time. As others have said, it’s a conversation about you and Reed. They’re just trying to get a feel for how you might fit into the community, and if you yourself would like the community :)</p>
<p>Yeah, put that in the additional info section if you must, and be honest and concise. And for the love of God, don’t write an essay about your grades! The essay is the only place in your application where you can be yourself and talk about something other than grades and scores and schoolwork. Not only is writing about your bad grades a waste of that opportunity, it also makes something negative the focus of your app.</p>