<p>Having an interview is supposed to help with admissions, right? Would a mediocre interview be better than none at all. Any ideas about what Columbia asks during the interview would also be helpful.
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:</p>
<p>I would say that a mediocre interview would neither help nor hurt you , but if you turned down an offered interview, I'm sure that would be looked at askance. On the other hand, a very bad or truly outstanding interview can be a tip factor, so my advice is let your best, true self shine through in the interview, for which the purpose is to let the adcoms learn more about you, you to learn more about the school, and possibly a gauge of your "fit" (a word used by S's interviewer) with the school. His interview with a Class of 2002 alumnus was very relaxed and casual-as we live in Queens, they met at interviewer's office, then went to the Columbia Club. Interviewer asked about his HS (my S was the first ever applicant from his HS), his ECs/passions, and "Which class did you find most academically challenging and why". It's also important that YOU ask some questions, things you really want to know that are not in the catalog/website. Good luck!!</p>
<p>They asked me what classes I was taking at the time, why I wanted to go to Columbia, what was an event from which I learned a lesson, what activities I was doing, of what accomplishment was I most proud, is there anything else you would like us to know, and as an after thought (it was very conversational, she didn't write it down) to what other colleges are you applying.</p>
<p>Although Columbia hasn't yet offered an interview (when do they offer one, is it after you send in your application?), I saw on the list of people who were accepted/waitlisted/rejected from last year that a factor in some people's being waitlisted or rejected was "no interview." If I'm going to request an interview, am I supposed to wait till I've mailed in my application, and how do I request an interview? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions.</p>
<p>Hi, I believe the interview is on an "invitation basis" only, meaning you can't request one-you have to wait until they contact you, and all interviews are with alumni, not adcoms, and are subject to availability of alumni in your area. As it appears you're from NYC, there should be no prob, as they have more interviewers than interviewees from what I've heard. My S applied ED-mailed in his complete app on 10/27/04-and got a phone call from an alumnus @11/11/04 to schedule an interview, which was held on 11/19/04. If you're not called for an interview, don't panic-there are lots of students who got in w/o being offered an interview (possibly not available or possibly they were "auto-admits"). I just think it's wise not to turn one down if offered.</p>
<p>My son applied ED, was not offered an interview and was subsequently deferred. He was offered an interview after his deferral and was subsequently admitted. I don't know what this means, but I thought I'd share.</p>
<p>Columbia was a little late at the game of developing an alumni network. The interview is as much about keeping alumni involved with the school as it is about selecting students -- probably more, in my opinion. Of all the elements in the process, I think the interview counts the least.</p>
<p>If you have one, just use it as an opportunity to solidify the impression you tried to make with your application about what really interests you. And, as an opportunity to ask questions that aren't answerable on the websites. My son asked his interviewer whether he had fun at Columbia. That was the one thing he really wanted to know. (He also thought it was his worst interview -- it was his first -- and he still got in.)</p>
<p>As for preparation, my suggestion would be to think of a couple of questions to ask ahead of time and to think of how you might answer the final question, which is usually: "is there anything else you want us to know?" This is your chance to either reinforce what it is about you that is special, or to add something that you didn't get a chance to stress in the application. Try to think of it as a conversation, a chance to be your real self, rather than just a resume.</p>
<p>I've done the interviews the last four years. As others have said, an alum will call. It doesn't hurt if you don't get called, as it is simply a function of # of interviewers and applicants in your city. If you decline an interview, you're pretty much rejected (unless you have a good reason).</p>
<p>A horrible interview will most likely be enough to get you rejected. I've only had a few of these kids, and none was even close to qualified. Plenty of kids are shy and nervous and don't present themselves well, so a mediocre interview isn't as bad as you would think. It is correct that interviews aren't that important relative to your academic record, and I'd put them on the same level as things like letters of rec.</p>
<p>There are like 10,000 interviewers. There isn't anything standard that is asked. Most interviewers will want to know about the following three things in some form: academic interests / classes, extracurriculars, and interest in Columbia.</p>