<p>I haven't had any interviews yet but I have three scheduled for the coming week. Two are the typical coffee shop interviews. For the third one, the interviewer said in his email that he "usually conducts these interviews at [his] home." </p>
<p>Is this unusual? I don't think I would be comfortable at a stranger's house, especially if I'd be alone (should my parents come? I know parents typically aren't supposed to be there...). But this is one of my top choice colleges and I don't want to inconvenience the guy or seem unprofessional, especially since it seems he's done a bunch of interviews before. At the same time, I don't want to feel uncomfortable either. Should I make up an excuse to meet somewhere else? Or is this totally normal and I'm overreacting?</p>
<p>It’s weird and you are right to have reservations. What do your parents say? Maybe if they went with you and walked up to the guy’s door and introduced themselves, then said they would be back in an hour…</p>
<p>Have your parent(s) walk you to the door, and greet the interviewer. While your parent(s) is/are present, enquire politely about the estimated length of the interview because your parent(s) is/are going to run errands in the neighborhood, and will be returning to pick you up.</p>
<p>This interviewer may have limited mobility or another good reason to conduct interviews in his home.</p>
<p>Likely it’s an older alumnus and this was standard fare back in the day (at the alumnus’ home or his coming to yours). If you have concerns follow the suggestions above. In 20+ years, I had to once last minute switch two consecutive interviews to my house b/c my wife was called into work and I had little kids. I offered to reschedule but both students (one male, one female) chose to come to my house. I clearly communicated the reason and that my kids would be around. Neither seemed to have any issue.</p>
<p>From what I found from a quick google search, he doesn’t seem to have any mobility issues, and I feel like he would have mentioned it. He graduated in the 80s so he’s only in his mid-late forties. And we haven’t set an official meeting time or place, so would it be a bad idea for me to ask/suggest meeting at a Starbucks or something? What would be a realistic excuse?</p>
<p>Actually, if he graduated in the 80s, he’s going to be 60/70. (22 at time of graduation, +40/50 years since depending on early/late 80s).</p>
<p>If you or your parents are not comfortable with it, just say so. Or ask if anybody else will be in the house. You don’t need an ‘excuse’, I would just be polite about it.</p>
<p>I had an alumni interview at my interviewers house(most of my friends have.) While coffee shop interviews are probably more common, house interviews are by no means uncommon. My mother tried to come in and see the house and I refused - I felt that the interviewer would see it as unprofessional that my mom wanted to come in and survey the scene to make sure that nothing shady was going on. However, my interview wound up lasting over an hour and my mom had decided to run some errands while she waited and when the interview was over the interviewer said “why was your mom waiting outside? She should have come right in!” And proceeded to walk me to the car and have a convo with my mom. So it all depends on your interviewer but don’t be skeptical- many interviewers just prefer to survey the applicant in the comfort of their home and try to make the interviewee feel more at ease. Good luck!</p>
<p>This is weird. I would request to meet at a Starbucks or nearby library, if he didn’t give you ANY reason at all why you should meet at his house. Let’s see what he responds, and if he gives you excuses, then have your parents drop you off / pick you up.</p>
<p>“so would it be a bad idea for me to ask/suggest meeting at a Starbucks or something? What would be a realistic excuse?”</p>
<p>It is never a bad idea to meet in a public place. It is common sense. I’m older than you but I remember when it was unheard of to ask a stranger up to your hotel room. I still don’t do that and will always meet them down in the lobby. I never allow a stranger into my home when I am there alone, nor would I go inside a stranger’s house. You don’t need a realistic excuse, just say you would prefer to meet at a coffee shop. If you feel you have to give an excuse, you can always say your parents require that you meet strangers in a public place.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. A few of my friends thought it was unusual as well so I think I’m just gonna ask to meet at a nearby Starbucks instead. Any advice on how to word it??</p>
<p>And @ purpleacorn; he graduated in the late 80s so assuming he was 22 at the time, he was born in the late 60s, making him in his mid forties today…</p>
<p>Its a little unusual, perhaps, but not incredibly strange like it would be if they wanted to meet at your house. Think of it this way: you have an email with his address so it isn’t as if he is an untrackable stranger. I can’t imagine how anyone could think they could prey on kids coming for a college interview and not be caught. I think he may just prefer the quiet of his house to the noise of a coffeeshop, and perhaps he’s cheap and doesn’t like buying a dozen cups of coffee for the kids he interviews Or maybe he sets them all up in 1 or 2 afternoons and doesn’t want to spend a few hours hanging around in a coffeeshop. Personally if I was interviewing for my college I wouldn’t want to be inviting random HS kids into my house, so I guess it all depends on your perspective.</p>
<p>So I should just keep the interview place? I’m not worried about the guy necessarily, just the situation. I would probably be reassured if there was someone else in the house though, like his family members or something… But would requesting a different location make me look bad? I’m probably over thinking this…</p>
<p>If you are unfomfortable, request that you meet in a starbucks or something you need to be as comfortable as you can be for these interviews, and that cant happen if you’re too worried about being in some stranger’s house. Talk to your parents as well :)</p>
<p>Maye you should discuss with your parents, school counselor, or even call the college admission office. I don’t think changing the location will make it look bad. If you already don’t feel comfortable now, it may affect your interview later. I think you have the right to request another interview place.</p>
<p>I teach my teens that when they are alone with an adult inside a room, they must insist to have the door left open.</p>
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Or maybe he sets them all up in 1 or 2 afternoons and doesn’t want to spend a few hours hanging around in a coffeeshop. Personally if I was interviewing for my college I wouldn’t want to be inviting random HS kids into my house, so I guess it all depends on your perspective.</p>