I am horrible at interviews and speaking in general. I am very shy and I feel like I may not do well in an interview. It seems like most ED applicants for Penn do interviews though so I don’t know…
If you are offered one you should do it. It will look bad to decline one.
Perhaps take this as an opp to confront some of your issues? Maybe meet w/your GC and seek his/her advice. The interviews are not meant to grill you. Imagine if an older cousin, whom you’ve never met, came to visit your family. One afternoon, it’s simply the two of you and she starts a conversation to get to know you. How would you handle that? I know it’s rather simplistic to ask you to pretend that that would be similar but really, the interviewer is mostly your advocate and is wanting to convey any additional thoughts you might have in regards to your Penn candidacy. Best of luck to you.
I don’t know how the interviews are counted at Penn, but at some schools, MIT for example, the primary importance is that the student participates in the interview. Not participating is viewed as a lack of interest in the school.
Typically he write-ups only count more significantly if there is something unusual about the candidate. One example if you tell the interviewer that you don’t want to go to the school at all but your parents made you apply. Or if you didn’t mention a significant life event in your application.
Remember that these alumni interviewers want to help you. They are primarily focused on capturing any additional positives that may help you.
Having said that, you do want to display some base level of knowledge and don’t get caught lying to the interviewer. For example, don’t tell the interviewer how much you enjoyed your visit to UPenn, how impressed you were with the West Pittsburg campus, how you you think it is cool that the school was founded by Thomas Jefferson, how Drew Faust is an excellent President, and that you saw Mr. Faust speak when you were there. That would not be good. lol
You can do this!
Agreed. It will reflect poorly if you do not accept an interview, if offered.
You should definitely do the interview but definitely do not stress about it. Penn interviews almost every applicant in an effort to get a different perspective on a student’s application. As has been said, unless you do something absolutely terrible (like really, intentionally insult your interviewer or something like that), the interview will only help your application. Also, don’t think of this as an interview. It’s honestly more of a conversation between you and an Alum who is excited to share their experience of Penn as much as they are trying to evaluate you as an applicant. Just consider the interview a conversation with a person who’s network you are considering joining. It’s not like a job where the interview will be a deciding factor between you and another applicant. It is just one other layer to your application that will add context to you as a person. Pretend you are just going to chat with your parent or best friend about why you want to go to Penn. And finally, the best part about this 'interview" is that you already know all of the answers to the questions! You are just talking about your own life and your own experiences. No one is going to ask you to do a problem set or philosophize about Shakespeare if you don’t bring up problem sets or Shakespeare yourself! Just be honest and friendly-- those are the hallmarks of a good interview. And at the end of the day, it’s not the most important part of your application. Good luck!
When will Penn contact me? When do interviews start? Also, is it in person, over the phone, or through skype?
Once all of the ED applications are submitted, Penn will notify their interviewers of their interview assignments. The interviewers will reach out to you during the month of November. If you live in an area of the country/world with a lot of Alums, it will likely be in person. If you live in an area of the country/world with fewer alums, you might have a Skype interview.
OK I get you are shy. So was I and I did get in. I definitely see myself as your advocate. Some kids at the end of the interview say I am like their grandmother - that is I am warm and easy to talk to. The key word here is easy… My questions really stem from your responses - in other words it is a conversation. Penn stresses that to the interviewers - we are conducting a conversation not a grilling from a CIA agent.
I ask questions about you. You are the expert about you so…
Denying an interview demonstrates lack of interest. While Penn says an interview is not mandatory I think it can be a small black mark.
Above all don’t insult the interviewer. Don’t be arrogant. I get that you are smart. So is everyone else.
How much weight does the interview have? Most say none - that it is to pacify alums. I disagree. Usually it has little i weight unless the applicant exhibits rudeness, insults the interviewer, is an awful person. Would you want someone like that as a roommate?
Finally the interview serves as a means to give Admissions additional info not easily expressed in the application.
There is room for all at Penn tho the purple people with pink polka dots are the best and have the biggest hook.
Good luck.
OP,
Go for it. Interviews don’t seem to carry a lot of weight. My son is an introvert, and I think his Penn interview wasn’t great-only lasted like 20 minutes. He was admitted anyways.
How much weight does interview carry? The interviewer for my son will be his 8th grade math teacher. I assume she is going to put great words in for him.
In general, close to none. Short of being abusive to an interviewer, a bad interview is unlikely to tank an application. On the flip side, even a fabulous interview won’t push a so-so application to the acceptance pile.
If you are shy, then preparation is important. Be sure you can answer a few basic questions, like why you want to go to Penn. Be prepared to talk about your visit to Penn, or how you learned about Penn if you did not visit. Be prepared to discuss which school you applied to and why.
Most importantly, be prepared to ask the alum some questions! They lived the Penn experience, and want to help you.