<p>Could anybody provide details about the interview. I was just wondering what was discussed and how formal/informal it is. I know it probably varies from person to person but just wanted to hear some thoughts.</p>
<p>My son’s interview alum asked him what other colleges he was applying to and to rank them in order of preference.</p>
<p>Just a heads up on how random this can be. His Duke alum guy though was great to him and was a supporter of his application although he was a stranger to us.</p>
<p>Another classmate got a diff alum who seemed to be very preoccupied with his kids during the interview and was not interested in the interview much. </p>
<p>Prepare to be charming, be a good listener, don’t be mysterious…say what you want to say, and listen to alum experiences.</p>
<p>They asked what other colleges he was applying to? That’s not frowned upon??</p>
<p>It is frowned upon and not kosher…but alum are humans and vary greatly from person to person. They are curious! I don’t believe many will do this but it does happen. It is best before interviews to make a decision on how much you will disclose and to be prepared to respond. I personally think openness is likely the best route…My son was caught off guard but decided to just be open. He put Duke in a “reach” category along with one other on his list and lumped his schools into groups.<br>
This alum wrote him a fine letter, and was enthusiastic about his application to Duke. I do not believe Duke penalizes students for being interested in other colleges either–of course students have more than one very fine match and/or more reaches on their lists… but do think about these sorts of issues before you interview. Obviously, not everyone gets in their crush college(Duke or another) nor will every student who gets into Duke choose Duke in the end. Be diplomatic and positive and prepared for both alums who want to reminisce and alums who are just plain curious about you. Alum interviews should give you an eye into earlier eras at Duke and should be something you also enjoy. My son felt more interested in Duke frankly after his alum interview…the guy was lively, productive and shared some good stories.</p>
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<p>Just to expand on what Faline2 already said…Alumni interviewers are actually EXPLICITLY told NOT to ask what other schools somebody is applying to *unless *the student brings it up him or herself. However, it’s stated in a powerpoint presentation that you’re supposed to read, so perhaps some don’t go through it all or choose to ignore it. The questions vary GREATLY from person-to-person as well as the formality. I think wearing khaki’s and a button down (no jeans, no suit) is a good rule of thumb and would be suitable for any interviewer. Many applicants wear jeans, which I personally don’t care that much about as long as they look presentable, but other interviewers may look down upon. I had one guy show up in a track warmup which seemed odd since he didn’t come straight from school…Overall, just be relaxed, be yourself, ask questions, and do your best. The interviewer does write an evaluation on you so I can’t say it will have no effect if you make a *terrible *impression, but typically it’s just to get a greater insight into the applicant and doesn’t carry much weight. Prepare answers to a few common questions that can be found via a simple google search, including the dreaded “tell me about yourself.” Overall, the interview is just as much for you learning more about Duke than it is for Duke to learn more about you.</p>
<p>“Overall, the interview is just as much for you learning more about Duke than it is for Duke to learn more about you.”</p>
<p>This is true but read up on Duke before the interview. Admissions tells interviewers your “academic interests.” So it’s a good idea to be prepared to talk about how your interests relate to Duke. If your app shows you’re into the environment, do a little research beforehand on environmental studies at Duke or Duke Forest. If you love travel and service, be familiar with DukeEngage. It looks bad if you aren’t even aware that Duke has an entire school in your area of interest or that you hope to major in something that isn’t even offered. (Yes, both happened) Distinguish yourself by showing you’ve dug a little into Duke, and it only needs to be a little. As said, the interview is generally casual. Schools like Duke that don’t interview every applicant (like Harvard) can’t in all fairness allow it to carry too much weight.</p>
<p>My interviewer was relatively new in the interview scene. He asked me what other schools I’m applying to, and why I want to go to Duke. He also talked quite a bit about himself… we talked for an hour and I felt that half of it was him talking about his life experiences. Oh well. I’m glad he didn’t ask me any weird/odd questions though. Most of it was pretty predictable- like “If you had a free day, what would you spend it doing?” and “What book did you recently read outside of class?”</p>
<p>He came in a dress hirt and khakis. I wore black pants and a neat, clean white sweater. We met at Starbucks and it was pretty informal.</p>
<p>I have mine tonight…I’m so nervous haha</p>