<p>How are interviews (with alumni)? i need to make my appointment soon (applying ID). im scared. o_O</p>
<p>Before you get to worried you first have to make sure that there is someone that does interviews in your area. When I got the interview information i found out that it was geographically impossible for me to have one.</p>
<p>they do, thats not a problem. but how are the interviews themselves?</p>
<p>Oh, I imagine they're not too bad. I'm an alumni interviewer. The interviewers are just regular alumni... people who went to Rice who like to see good people end up at Rice. Just talk about something you love, show your character, your passion for life and learning, and who you are as a person, instead of just as a student. Be relaxed! They just want to see that you're an interesting person and not just an SAT score.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>My interview was really relaxed. The interviewer just asked me stuff about what I like to do in my free time, what my favorite books are, hobbies. I brought a little resume and a photo album of photos that I took in Thailand. I guess you just need to talk about your hobbies and show some of your interests. The woman I interviewed with had a son that played volleyball and I do too so that gave us something to talk about as well. I don't think that you should be worried at all. When I chose my interviewer I googled their names to see what they are doing now. So one of the guys came up as a teacher of geology at the local university and I thought that that would be kinda boring and I stereotyped him as a boring guy so I didn't want to interview with him. There was another guy and I don't remember what he did. But I figured that I had the best chance of being able to talk to this stranger for an hour or two if she was a woman so I chose the only woman on the list and it worked out well. I didn't dress up too much. I think I wore slacks and a polo, and I just got out of work like ten minutes before the interview (I did the application process very late) so you know that I wasn't looking that spectacular.</p>
<p>Never EVER stereotype geolgists! We have the most exciting job opportunities and can travel all over the world for free to learn about the earth and earth processes...Geology isn't rocks alone!</p>
<p>I hope you learn this at Rice...it has an excellent geology department and one of my mentors was a founding professor of it!</p>
<p>Pitt alum. '04
UNC-CH grad student</p>
<p>=)</p>
<p>Yup, that's kind of what I was thinking... Rocks are pretty cool! I'm a fan of geology. Generally, if a person's really enthusiastic about their field, they can make anything seem like the most fascinating thing on the planet.</p>
<p>Heck, get me started about dirt and I'll talk your ear off about how cool it is. Generally, I end up getting people to believe me, too!</p>
<p>ROFL...dirt...ahh dirt...I was a field assistant to a friend of mine doing geomorphology in the Mojave Desert this past January...dirt doesn't fascinate me as much as metamorphics...but it still has its place in my heart</p>
<p>Pitt alum. '04
UNC-CH grad student</p>
<p>Sorry guys! I guess what I meant to say was that I didn't want to interview with this geology person because I didn't think that I could relate to him.</p>
<p>aibarr, i was wondering how much a good interview can help. In other words how much does the interview weigh in the process?</p>
<p>Well, it won't make or break you. Oftentimes, if you really convince the interviewer that you're a good candidate, you'll have the interviewer on your side, and it's good to have a Rice alum enthusiastically endorse you. It's not a guarantee of admission, though. If the interviewer really doesn't get the feeling that you'd be happy at Rice, they'll say that, too. Eye contact is good. Enthusiasm for what you do is good. I like to see when people really get into talking about something that they love... That's always thrilling for me, as a Rice alumna, to be able to endorse someone with passion and enthusiasm.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>