I posted this question over at the Columbia board too (since it’s for a columbia interview), but hopefully, a broader audience will equal more responses.
So yeah, I’m scheduled to have an alumni interview for tomorrow afternoon, and I’m meeting the interviewer at…his apartment? Has anyone else gone to their interviewer’s apartment or house to be interviewed?
Basically, is this normal?
<p>I was interviewed at homes for Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, Smith, and Wesleyan.
It's normal. If you're not comfortable with it (as I wasn't for my first interview - Wellesley - call and most interviewers will be glad to meet you in a cafe, etc)</p>
<p>Darkling, I have heard of a few interviews in people's homes, so it is not 'abnormal'. But I do wish that alums would take into consideration the fact that they are interviewing 17 and 18 year olds, and stay within a comfort zone of cafe, library, etc.</p>
<p>My own child has only had interviews in coffee shops. If my child had a 'home' interview, I would accompany her to the door, introduce myself, shake hands, and then tell her where I would be waiting. Don't be nervous, a nice couch and Bach in the background is more relaxing than Starbucks. And maybe the guy just does not want to step out into the cold.</p>
<p>Good Luck!!</p>
<p>Most imterviews I am aware of take place either at a public location (starbuck's, hotel lobby) or the person's place of business. As the mother of a daughter, I would not be comfortable with my daughter arriving at the home alone. Maybe if I was in the next room, or waiting outside (in nice weather) I wouldn't mind. There are so many other places to hold an interview, that I think unless you are familar with the interviewer, I would go someplace more visible.</p>
<p>My first interview was in a private home. It was also a team interview- 3 men. Luckily, the head interviewer had a son who had graduated from my school the year I was a freshman. I hadn't known him personally, but I know kids who did, and they all said that it was a perfectly nice family. I'm not sure how comfortable my parents were with the location, but they let me go. His wife was there when he answered the door, so it wasn't like we were totally alone, since there were also the additional interviewers. I prefer interviews in more neutral locations (this guy's annoying dog wouldn't leave me alone- this was a common complaint from the other kids I know who interviewed with him).</p>
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this guy's annoying dog wouldn't leave me alone
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<p>That is ridiculous. He should have had the dog locked in a room, unless that was a part of the litmus test. I cannot imagine your discomfort, and distraction, Elizabeth.</p>
<p>before i had a home interview, i had had three interviews at public places, and frankly i was nervous about having an interview at a private place. but it turned out to be the best interview. my interviewer's wife was upstairs so we weren't alone. it was really nice to sit on comfy seats instead of hard wooden/metal chairs (or the floor of barnes and noble's kids' section once, lol, that was pretty fun). plus, it was really quiet, there were no acquaintances we were running into, so we could really concentrate on the interview. great time.</p>
<p>Yeah, the dog was horrible. It was small and kept yapping and jumping up on my lap. Not to mention that all three of my interviewers were sitting on a couch while I sat in a straight backed chair facing all of them. It was like a tribunal.</p>
<p>Luckily the others were much better :).</p>
<p>Oh yeah i completely agree with elizabeth22. I (boy) had my upenn interview at my interviewer's (woman) house (i know it isn't the same thing) and she had her 6 month old baby right next to her with which she was preoccupied all the time. There i am talking about my interests etc and there she was cuddling the baby all the time, even doing funny noises and stuff. I felt so damn ****ed, i completely lost interest half way through, though i tried not to show it. Then she was like "hope my baby isn't distracting/disturbing you" and i was forced to say "oh not at all, he's so cute." I even had to stop sometimes before saying those important things that i want her to write on the report to make sure she was paying attention. </p>
<p>Moral of the story: House interviews can get a little irritating sometimes.</p>