<p>Oh, please. BeanTownGirl, way to get worked up over nothing.</p>
<p>The one interview D had that was in our house was for an Ivy and the only “effort” we went to was H took the dog (he was a barker) outside for the duration. I greeted the interviewer, offered coffee,then disappeared.</p>
<p>It was not the oddest interview experience for our family - that would have been the time son was bitten in the interviewer’s home. My feeling is that if an interviewer invites himself, he’s got to have some sense of adventure and realizes people live in different ways and should be open to whatever he meets. I did the tidying up I would do no matter who was dropping by. </p>
<p>As it happened, it was a sunny bright afternoon following on the heels of a picture perfect snow storm. The house, a small cedar shingled cottage, looked like it was caught in a snow globe. Neighbors were pulling their preschooler down the street in a wooden sled as I opened the door to the interviewer and of course we had a fire burning. I wouldn’t think of saying that I wove all the curtains myself, but he might have guessed as he walked past the loom. My point is - I could have fretted that the house didn’t make a large enough statement for D’s ambitions but it happened to have been a very magical day here if you looked closely.</p>
<p>D was rejected from that school (son likewise at the “dog bite” school) but I don’t think it had anything to do with the location of the interview. And both kids loved/love their schools.</p>
<p>We have snow in the forecast. I just finished weaving a silk scarf in D’s school colors, a combination that isn’t easy to find outside the U bookstore. Fireplace ready to go.</p>
<p>I’m just amazed a senior in high school goes to bed at nine pm, even with getting up at 6. College should be a blast. I can just imagine this kid complaining about noisy roommates who are up at 11pm. Learning to adapt to different situations may be good for this family. </p>
<p>8pm is not late. I would guess its after most peoples dinner time. Maybe suggest 730 as a compromise. </p>
<p>And i anticipate this mom posting next year about son and dorm noise and why isn’t everyone in bed at nine.</p>
<p>I say this becuase 8pm is not unreasonable for many high schoolers. It’s actualy a decent time. Or would have been for everyone I know.</p>
<p>^^
lefthandofdog- glad you clarified that your son was bitten by a dog, not the interviewer ;)</p>
<p>Lefthandofdog, can I come interview someone at your house? You paint a beautiful and inviting picture…and I want to see the weaving.</p>
<p>I like ClassicRockerDad’s take on the whole thing: weird or not, it’s one evening, it’s a school your kid likes, scramble to clean up, board the dog, put the younger sib to bed, do the interview and wait for the day when the memory is funny.</p>
<p>I just remembered that someone from the college oldest D ended up attending called me and asked if she could come over to chat because she was in the area. I don’t even remember why but I do remember that I thought it was a tad bizarre that she wanted to visit with parents, post-acceptance. Maybe she got us mixed up with someone else and thought we were big donors. I raced around cleaning at lightning speed and managed to pull it all together and even serve some refreshment. Amazing, really. I’m in awe of those of you who seem to have it all together and are ready to entertain without notice. </p>
<p>I think it’s harsh and unnecessarily judgmental to pick on a kid based on his schedule and on his mom who did nothing more than raise a concern about the arrangement. Give them a break.</p>
<p>Allow me to point out that 8 pm is when prime time TV programming STARTS. I think the interviewer would be astonished to think that 8 pm is “late” in anyone’s home, and even more astonished that a high school senior would go to bed at 9. (I think my high school’s basketball games started at 7:30, for heaven’s sake). </p>
<p>As for the concern that the interviewer will want to see the son’s room or musical instruments–that’s just not going to happen. They’re going to sit in the living room and chat. The son will offer a beverage. Dessert or any other food is completely unnecessary and would really look like the family is trying way too hard to impress. OP is getting frantic for no reason.</p>
<p>I don’t think OP has been “frantic” at all. I’m really surprised at the harsh tone of a lot of these posts. I think OP had a valid question, especially considering the fact that so many of the alumni interviewers on this thread (myself included) have pointed out that we are specifically instructed by our institutions that home interviews are inappropriate, no matter what time they occur. She has given no indication that she is unwilling to be flexible; she was merely curious about whether this was the norm. So to berate her and call her “dramatic” and “frantic” is totally unnecessary. And to extrapolate that the son will be a problematic roommate based on the information given seems completely unfounded and uncalled for.</p>
<p>OP, I hope you have gotten some helpful information from this thread and are able to ignore the nastiness. I have no idea why people feel the need to get judgmental so often on these boards, but it does seem to happen pretty frequently. It’s unfortunate, because it often turns people off from one of the best college resources around.</p>
<p>I have heard of people judging others for being late sleepers, but for going to bed early is a new one to me. I think many college students get sick, do poorly on tests, don’t go to class because they don’t value going to bed early enough.</p>
<p>A bit of pot having to meet kettle, Lisa? </p>
<p>Read your post again and ask yourself who is being judgmental and dramatic here. Do you believe your opinion has more value because you happen to interview for a school that frowns on home interviews? A fact that shines by its utter lack of relevance to the question asked here. Duke does not, but THIS interviewer does. Does not mean one has it right. </p>
<p>Offering a suggestion to take the issue as it comes and in stride does not amount to berating a member. The difference should be pretty obvious.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of interviews happening in the student’s home, but I did have two interviews at the interviewer’s home (and one at an interviewer’s office) and didn’t think of it as at all odd. In fact, I found it more enjoyable to go to someone’s home than to a “neutral” location. I would think that interviewers would rather stay at home simply because it’s more convenient for them.</p>
<p>The oddest thing that happened at one of my interviews was that the man wanted to talk to my mother. She had driven me over to his house, and since it was very far from our home, she stayed and made herself scarce, but the interviewer called her back over to talk to her for a bit. Looking back, it was pretty much just general amicable conversation, but at the time it unnerved me.</p>
<p>My son applied for NROTC some years ago and the interviewer did come to our house, asked specifically to do so. That was the only instance where that happened, but two interviews were conducted at the interviewers homes for one of my other kids, and one was done while the interviewer was packing his car for a trip. I did report and complain about it, but the guy is still having interviews at his home 10 years later. </p>
<p>If it’s a problem, just show your son some of the CC members’ replies. For us it was not a problem because I had French doors put on our dining room which has a real door to the kitchen, so we do have a room that can be pretty much shut off from the rest of the down stairs.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s considerate for interviewers to make the request, by the way. One has no idea what kind of a home environment someone has, and it might not be something the family wants to share with an outsider. The house could be a mess, close quarters will little privacy, some one ill or with problems as a family members, a tense family situations, etc, etc. Not elements that some families want to share with an outsider.</p>
<p>Xiggi - The issue is not whether I am right or not, and I have no idea where you got the idea that I thought my opinion had more value than anyone else’s (and I was not even giving an opinion, I was simply relaying the instructions from my school). My point was that it was a valid question, and more than one person seemed to imply that the OP was being inflexible or not willing to adjust for the good of her son, just because she asked the question. If it had just been “suggestions” I wouldn’t have said a word, but many of the posts were pretty harsh in tone, and I’m not the only one who noticed that. I’m not sure what about my post seemed dramatic or judgmental to you - I was merely stating that I hoped that the OP could distill some useful advice from this thread, because I do think that many people had helpful suggestions and insights for handling in-home interviews. </p>
<p>Again, I have watched more than one thread on these boards degenerate into nastiness, and I just think it’s a shame. But since you have been a member of CC much longer than I have, you are undoubtedly more qualified to evaluate the tone of a thread than I am. If you think that this one merely had “suggestions” and no judgments or harsh words, then I stand corrected.</p>
<p>My Dd had an interviewer from Brown ask to interview in our home, several years ago. He lived in the neighborhood. I thought it unusual at the time, but I didn’t express that to my daughter and didn’t want her to be more anxious about it than necessary. Yes, I vacuumed the living room and swept the walk and was a little nervous that we’d “measure up.” I don’t remember if we offered anything-maybe water. After initial introductions, Dh and I went into another room for the half-hour. The interviewer was very friendly, he chatted with Dh and me briefly after the interview and seemed to like and be impressed with Dd.<br>
I wouldn’t worry too much and agree that very little weight, if any, is given to the interview. Remember that the colleges have diverse students from all walks of life. As long as your son is polite and confident, it will be fine. He should be himself and be comfortable
and gracious. And be sure to thank him for coming out. Thank him for his time. He’s a volunteer, trying to help kids like your son.</p>
<p>The point being made is that the op and a few others think 8pm is late. It isn’t. My ds in middle school had practices that started at 8pm. We had school plays that went until 10 or 11. Gasp week nights. Many other activities end late. Rehearsals. Decorating for school events. And these kids got up at 6. </p>
<p>College is going to be even more erratic schedules and the ops son needs to get used to the idea that the vast majority of college kids won’t be in bed at 9pm no matter what they have in the morning. It’s something to mentally prepare for now, because if one interview at 8pm is going to throw a whole family out of wack, well, it won’t get easier in a dorm.</p>
<p>And I agree with Beantowngirl that after all of this is done, at the end of the college app season, that a note should be sent to the college, suggesting that interviews not be done at homes, if that is what you believe. I would, because of the reasons I stated, even though in my personal case, it’s not an issue, and I don’t particularly care about the flaws of my home anymore. It took a lot of years, kids and real problems before my hide grew thick enough, and I don’t think that colleges should make this any more stressful than it already is. Also, for safety reasons, i don’t like an interview at the interviewer’s private home. A public venue is what I think cuts out a lot of concerns. These days, it’s just not a good idea. </p>
<p>I do agree that the 8PM time is reasonable and it is possible that the interviewer has obligations till then. One interviewer I know, teaches in her home (music) and isn’t done till then. (And yes, I know a lot of private lessons are done in private homes)</p>
<p>Interview at the house? </p>
<p>First thing that popped into my head was the movie “Risky Business” and Joel’s interview…</p>
<p>Lisa, your post included this line “So to berate her and call her “dramatic” and “frantic” is totally unnecessary” and I believe I was the only one having made a comment about drama. My comment was that I did not understand all the drama, including the earlier replies. I also clarified this in a subsequent post.</p>
<p>My comments could not be elevated to the level of scolding someone angrily, which is what berating means. </p>
<p>Perhaps it was accidental that the word dramatic was quoted, but it was that quote that prompted my reaction.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing alumni interviews for decades, and used to invite students to my home. That stopped several years ago because we are now told we must have them in a neutral setting.</p>
<p>This year, I’ve done four interviews already, all in crowded noisy coffeeshops (I recently moved and haven’t figured out the best place to hold the interviews). Just had one today – I could barely hear the student for all the noise. I constantly felt awkward that I was asking this student personal questions for all the world to hear, and that everything I said could be heard by the person at the next table. At the Starbucks, there weren’t even tables and chairs – I was perched on a stool. Also – I don’t drink coffee or tea, don’t like to eat pastries, so in general I feel awkward at these places because I’m taking up space but not spending a penny.</p>
<p>While I understand that the world has changed, I really wish I could have these interviews at my house again, where it’s quiet and comfortable. I’ve got one more interview to do, and it’s already set up at another coffeehouse – but I plan to scour the area to find a more quiet and comfortable location. </p>
<p>It is unusual to have the interviewer show up at the student’s house, but frankly, I think I understand where he is coming from. He probably figures this is the most convenient, comfortable place for the student to have what could be a stressful conversation.</p>
<p>Fireandrain, yes, things HAVE changed. And if you are uncomfortable doing interviews in neutral settings and cannot find one that works well, please stop doing them. It’s the student whose comfort should be kept in mind, not yours. You are volunteering. The student is in a position where he pretty much feels he can’t say no. You are in the position of strenth. Not the student or the parents. This whole post is because a parent does not feel comfortable, and let’s outright say this, is afraid to tell the interviewer that she would prefer that this does not take place in her home.</p>
<p>Agree with the above post.</p>
<p>Also, as someone who was usually in bed by 9:00 p.m. as a student in a dorm, had a roommate who was the same way, and who has teenagers who also prefer to be in bed by 9:00, I understand that an 8:00 interview might be late for some families. Personally, if I were the interviewer, I would prefer a 7:00 a.m. time. Can you imagine someone NOT being up and ready by then? :)</p>