<p>I was in sleep, my cell was ringing, and I answered and it was saying
"Hi this is columbia alumni representing"</p>
<p>Man, I was not prepared, he just called me and began the interview without warning me before ahead AT ALL. He seemed kind of in rush, because whenever I answered the question, he tried to ask the next questions even though my answer was not done, and I had only a chance to ask '1' question, yes, ONE question and that was all. He just said bye and hung up the phone. </p>
<p>It was only about 20 minutes long interview, I was kind expecting a 'formal' interview but this wasn't. Not sure if it was aiite but I was just being honest all I can tell now. </p>
<p>Questions that I remember now is
1. Why Columiba (obviously)
2. Where else did you apply?
I said I have not submitted any other applications yet but I am planning to UCLA.
3. Does UCLA have a core-curriculum?
I thought this question was quite ickky, but later he told me he was a professor at UCLA before :P
4. What's your favorite/least favorite subject
5. Any leadership roles?
6. What commons do you have with your frineds
7. What kind of group of people you are hanging out with
8. Favorite teacher, why?
9. Have you tried rowing (crew) - I put crew as my wish sport
10. Any film experience? (my major is film studies)
11. What do you do in peer counselling?
12. How did your SATs go (I freaked out because my scores weren't that good, but he said I didnt have to tell the score after I told him EVERYTHING :P)
13. Favorite book? and how has it affected you?
14. Favorite movie and why
15. What courses are you taking this year (it was the first question)
16. Do you think the diversity is important?
17. How do you manage your time when you have tons of work to finish</p>
<p>This is all I can remember now, man.. I was no nervous, my hand was shaking when I was doing it. I thought it would be better if I knew he was going to call me before. It wasn't that bad tho, hopefully I did well.</p>
<p>I had a much more difficult interview, in that I was asked about current affairs in depth (economics and stuff like that)..... I handled it pretty well (some questions better than others) but I was surprised because it seemed like a Harvardesque interview. Anyone else have something similar?</p>
<p>lol my interviewer introduced herself in a similiar manner.. I was asleep (taking an afternoon nap after 2 tests in a day and 3 hrs of tutoring) was first woken up by a friend asking some math questions.. just as I got back on bed the phone ran again and it was my interviewer.. I was half asleep at the time too. </p>
<p>but I didnt have my interview on the phone tho.. we set up a time and place and then she's like do you have any questions for me.. I just kinda froze lol. I think I managed to utter out " I'll save them for later".. ... half asleep + phone call = not good</p>
<p>During my interview the place we scheduled to meet at was closed and we had to go across the street to a small coffee shop. After that, the interview was pretty easy, he asked me questions like "Why Columbia and how did you make your decision?", "How would your parents and friends describe you?", "How do you differ from your friends?", interests - both academic and extracurricular. Basically, he asked the same questions that everyone else on this board has been saying. Right up front he told me that interviews aren't major factors in the application, and that he had people whom he really liked that didn't get in and there was people who he didn't like that got in.</p>
<p>Ruvgirl--No, Columbia wants in-person interviews. Phone interviews are only supposed to happen if you're really far away.</p>
<p>Ryker--Of course people won't get in that have great interviews. With a 10% admit rate, are most interviewers going to hate 90% of the people they interview? No. The interviewers will inevitably collectively like more people than Columbia has room for. It is very very rare, in my personal experience, that Columbia takes someone I don't like.</p>
<p>Lynda--don't sweat it. "Do you have any questions" was probably meant to see if you knew how to get to the interview or what to wear or something. It wasn't a substantive inquiry.</p>
<p>Suburb--There is nothing typical about a Columbia interview, given that there are 2,000 interviewers.</p>
<p>MetheMan--I think that's incredibly tacky for your interviewer to call out of the blue and make you interview. Did he not ask if it was a good time for you or anything? This sort of thing would go unnoticed because nobody's going to report it to the admissions office. It sucks.</p>
<p>My point being that interviews aren't really important and no one should spend a great deal of time worrying about them. Even if your interview went bad it's not going to hurt you that much.</p>
<p>Your point is wrong. A bad (or even a mediocre) interview can totally hurt you. Columbia is looking for ways to get rid of applicants. If a typo or two on your personal statement get you rejected, why would the interview (or anything else) not count?</p>
<p>I didn't say that interviews don't count, I said that they are not important factors. I'm just repeating what my interviewer said. Columbia is not going to throw out an application because of a mediocre or even a bad 45 minute interview.</p>
<p>suburbmania:
My interview was a lot like your's. It was fine, except I totally copped out when my interviewer asked me which leader I thought had had a significant impact in promoting peace..etc. I said Mother Theresa, because I went completely blank. The woman was def not impressed by such an obvious answer.</p>
<p>7andre7--The website doesn't say that anywhere, and that is completely untrue.</p>
<p>Ryker--Your interviewer was either mistaken (unlikely) or was just trying to be positive and take the pressure off you and make you more at ease (more likely). I tell kids that the interview isn't that important and just to relax. Of course Columbia will throw out an application because of a bad interview. Same thing with a bad letter of rec...or a bad answer to the why Columbia question...</p>