<p>Hello everybody.</p>
<p>Just wondering if anyone had their interview already. I was wondering if they’re really formal or informal . . . or somewhere in between. Or does it depend on who you get?</p>
<p>I applied ED to Brown (got deferred), and that was pretty informal. I just wanted a reference. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Happy early new year! :)</p>
<p>-Grace</p>
<p>I've never really had a formal college interview...</p>
<p>I did mine with one of the college admissions people/dean/counselors during the summer when I visited...</p>
<p>Maybe it's different between college admissions counselors and alumni? I know that some people had long interviews with alumni, but generally, I think with the actual college deans...they run anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour long. I had mine in her office...she asked me how my college search was going...etc etc. I actually can't remember much (except for the answers to the questions I asked) cause it was about five months ago.</p>
<p>In retrospect, I think I really should have done an interview with the college admissions people when I went to visit. I would have avoided a lot of stress (all I can think about is newspaper and yearbook deadlines ... and then we have a Quiz Bowl Tournament soon. and then midterms) in January.</p>
<p>Oh good, long interviews . . . short ones make me feel insecure and rushed. </p>
<p>Thanks for the info!</p>
<p>I didn't schedule an interview yet, and on their website it says that RD people should have done so before 1/1. Am I screwed? Are interviews required? Do you think they'll let me have one anyway?</p>
<p>Well, you can always try. I think it depends on your area too (are there a lot of alums, etc).</p>
<p>the interviews aren't required, but they're always a plus.</p>
<p>the woman who you e-mail is kind of rude though. I don't know ::shrugs:: maybe I e-mailed her on a bad day or something ... she told me it was late to be requesting an interview and that the alums would be booked (it was like a week before the deadline ... but it totally slipped my mind ... plus I was waiting for my Brown ED decision). We all have are bad days though so I think you should try.</p>
<p>Luckily my dad's girlfriend's brother (haha) is a bowdoin interviewing alum (he told me after I requested one) and I think I might get one there. </p>
<p>Lots of luck. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, philosophia. I think I'm just going to give it a shot. I think there should be an okay number of Bowdoin alums in my area. The rude e-mail lady is exactly what I'm afraid of, though! </p>
<p>If it was only that I forgot to schedule an interview, I wouldn't feel so bad, but I also have a problem with recommendations. One of the teachers who wrote mine taught me during sophomore year (but she knows me really, really well). None of the other schools care, but Bowdoin says they want teachers from junior or senior year. Gah! Do you think that will be a big problem? I have to call them tomorrow and ask.</p>
<p>They're going to think I'm an idiot who can't follow instructions. I just decided to apply to Bowdoin a few weeks ago (after being deferred from Princeton ED) and I didn't look at the application instructions too carefully. Stupid!</p>
<p>Agh, looks like we're in the same boat . . .and even though I like Bowdoin ... don't deferrals suck?!</p>
<p>I have no idea about the recommendation problem. I wanted my sophomore math teacher to write me a recommendation (she did one of mine for Brown), but decided against it b/c of Bowdoin's rule. But you never know until you try... especially if the teacher knows you really well. :)</p>
<p>Good luck and be strong on the phone (lol)!</p>
<p>Deferrals do suck. </p>
<p>Thanks again for your help--and I'll try to "be strong" on the phone! Good luck with everything.</p>
<p>When I visited Bowdoin this summer I asked the same question- was it ok for a sophomore teacher who knew me well to write the recommendation. They said it was fine as long as the other teacher recommendation came from a teacher who had me more recently- which is what i did.</p>
<p>I had an alumni interview, and it went so well that it was one of the factors that convinced me to apply ED 2. It was relatively informal and it went along with what seems to be Bowdoin's efforts to actually get to know applicants, rather than simply discussing school and extracurrics.</p>
<p>I had my interview at the college. At the interview, the admissions officer just wanted to get to know who I am. I had a fantastic interview.</p>
<p>I have my interview today since I had to push it back until my mother's surgery was over and done. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>Hope your mom's doing well and best wishes for your interview. My son's alumni interview went very well. He did get the tell me about yourself question - which he answered in both philosophical and tangible terms. Don't be afraid to go deep.</p>
<p>ohio_mom: thanks for the good thoughts for my mom and my interview.</p>
<p>It went really, really well. Thinking about it now, it was even better than my Brown interview. I didn't get the tell me about yourself question this time, but he leaped right into why I wanted to go to Bowdoin ... which was cool b/c I had unique reasons and it started the interview off nicely. </p>
<p>And we even talked a little philosophy. Exciting ... this interview really upped my Bowdoin excitement ... I'm so glad I applied. :)</p>
<p>Glad your interview went well! I loved the Bowdoin campus, and the chance to see JL Chamberlain's house and statue. It will be interesting to see where everyone ends up this fall. Only 2 months to go!</p>