<p>I'm going on a Tufts interview this Saturday (it's my first interview!)</p>
<p>My interviewer just called me tonight. </p>
<p>I'm extremely extremely worried...during the end of winter break, I still had no optional essay topic that was interesting. I was having a really hard time coming up with a good essay, especially after writing so many for other colleges already, that I decided to take a risk and did NOT send in an optional essay because I didn't want to send in a half-hearted essay. </p>
<p>I'm thinking I made a huge mistake. The interviewer will probably see that I didn't send one in. On top of that, my stats are borderline...1400 SAT, 700 on several SAT IIs...ack. </p>
<p>Should I see if I can still send an optional essay in? I turned in everything already.</p>
<p>If not, what can I do during the interview to redeem myself?</p>
<p>i think? academically, i'm in their middle 50 percentile range for SAT/ACTs. too embarassed to put up a detailed list tho, since this is CC and 750+ is the norm.</p>
<p>He's not safe, but he isn't subpar either. Just don't worry. A lot of interviewers go in blind about your stats. Sometimes they don't want to hear about your academics, they want to get to know you. I'm not exactly sure since Tufts didn't give me an interview when I applied.</p>
<p>Sure, I have an opinion, mostly because I have an opinion about everything... but also because I'm an alum interviewer. :) </p>
<p>Quick background: I graduated from the engineering school in 2003 and did alum interviews last year; I'm doing them again this year (although I moved and very few people apply from my rural hamlet, mostly because there really aren't very many people here). </p>
<p>Alum interviewers get the following information about you: name, address, phone number, email address, high school, prospective major (if you listed one), school applying to (engineering or liberal arts), ED/RD, legacy status, and extracurriculars or interests (that you listed on your application). We do NOT get SATs or GPA. We don't get even a list of courses you've taken.</p>
<p>Honestly, the interview is not about (or should not be about) your academic numbers. The whole purpose is to get to know you as a person and go beyond the numbers and the dry lists of extracurriculars. It is the "why" that will really help you in an interview - the "why" you stopped being in marching band to start a gay-straight alliance. It doesn't have to do with your prospective major, just getting to know you as a person. We all know the people in high school who do things because Mom and Dad make them do stuff; we all know the people who really like what they do outside of school; and we all know the people who took a while to find what they like to do outside of school. The interview is a great mechanism to separate those people out. </p>
<p>I generally ask across a few categories: family, favourite courses, extracurriculars, what you do with your summers, and why Tufts/what you would like to know more about it (which is really another purpose of the interview). Come prepared to discuss what teachers you like, what courses you like, all of that - you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Past tense: I'm no longer an engineer but an aspiring lawyer (aka went from bad to worse in the social-skills and respectability department). </p>
<p>I did chemical engineering at Tufts and worked from '00 to '04 in the field, doing nanotechology. From my perspective (and, when I catch up with my old chem-e friends), the job field for Tufts grads is fine. While it's not MIT (think being chauffered to an interview in a limo and offered obscene salaries - actual story), all of my engin. friends are employed in engineering or in grad school. There is a lot of respect in MA for a Tufts grad - everyone knows that it's a good school.</p>
<p>that's awesome, ariesathena! thank you for all your input! i am going to send in the optional essay with a cover letter, and for the interview I've calmed down a little bit and am focusing on how to answer some regular interview questions.</p>
<p>Hey Tanx a ton for the info. I had another question, if you were doing chemical engineering, how come you worked on nanotech? I thought only computer and electrical people worked on that. THanks!</p>
<p>Nanotech is really broad. You're probably thinking of the push to make computer chips smaller (as we are approaching the limit of how much can be stored via conventional means). As a lot of what I did has some level of classification, I can't mention it here. Our nanoteam had chemical, mechanical, and electrical engineers, as well as physicists. That's roughly in decreasing order of who was there.</p>
<p>I received a letter yesterday saying I am not able to have an interview beacuse there is not an interviewer in my region. Can I travel to another region? I called the admissions office but it was closed... =(</p>
<p>Elysse: I'm not sure about that. If you don't interview, it really won't hurt your chances of getting in. I take it that you are in Western Pennsylvania - probably aren't many interviewers out there. You could always ask and say that you are willing to travel x number of hours.</p>