<p>My D is going for an interview next week at her first choice (where she was deferred) and I am wondering if the fact that we are not in need of financial aid is a topic that she should bring up? Would that be something not worth or not right bringing up? She has already had mid year report sent, sent a letter to the school letting them know it is her first choice and she will attend if admitted, etc. Thanks.</p>
<p>I suggest not. At many schools, the admissions and financial aid processes are separate. It would sound a bit inappropriate to me to mention not needing aid (just my opinion here). Is the interview with an alum or an adcom? The interview is a great opportunity for your d to impress by being articulate, interesting, and mature - the kind of student the adcom could see as a member of that year’s class. I’d encourage her to study the website well so that her questions are intelligent ones. And I also suggest having an answer to the question of what she’d contribute to the school’s community, which is almost always asked. Good luck to both of you!</p>
<p>Agree with frazzled1. Her not needing aid is something the adcom would notice and take into account (or not). It would be wildly inappropriate for an interviewer to base his or her recommendation on whether an applicant was well-off or not and therefore extremely inappropriate as well for the applicant to bring it up.</p>
<p>Thank you both so much…that was my gut feeling but needed others input. Thanks also for the other suggestions too!</p>
<p>Agree with everyone above. The interview (especialy if it is an alum, not campus interview) will be far removed from the FA issue. Just let her passion and persona shine through! Good luck!</p>
<p>My wife and I were alumni interviewers for our respective colleges for many years. The purpose of those interviews was not to “rehash” information the colleges already had, and the lack of need for financial aid would already have been noted. We were to try to get a feel for the applicant that might not have come out on the application. Also, hopefully we put a human face on the college, if an actual visit was not possible. Just as an aside, having an interview at all shows (reconfirms) your significant interest in that school, as opposed to someone who just sent in an application and never had any other contact with the college.
How much the interview actually affects a student’s chances is a whole other question. Just be yourself but show you’ve done your homework with some knowledgeable questions and observations about the school.</p>