Parent sitting in on a college interview.

<p>Hello there, CC'ers! I'm interviewing with an alumni from Kenyon College today, and I happened to notice something strange when we were setting up a meeting time.</p>

<p>First, he asked "will you be with your parents?", to which I answered yes, as I don't drive. He then mentioned something about my parents actually sitting in - the interview is at his house, and there is nowhere else for them to go. I've never heard of or experienced anything like this. Is it normal, and if so, what should I do differently?</p>

<p>No it isn’t normal. If I was going to drop my daughter, I’d either go for coffee or sit in the car. Most interviewers would not want your parents in the room. I can see being kind and putting them in another room or something. Are both your parents really going with? I’d just have one do it and I would ask them to decline to sit in. Have them drive somewhere else and you call for pickup so the interviewer doesn’t feel bad they are sitting out in the car. Awkward, could cramp your style. Worst comes to worse, have parent bring a book, say hello and make small talk, then sit aside.</p>

<p>Even if it is optional, I would leave the parents behind. The interview is for YOU not your parents. Have them wait in the car or something.</p>

<p>I had to drop my D off at an interview that was too far from our house for me to drive back. So I went to a bookstore and browsed while she had her interview, then just waited for her to text me that she was done. I would not go into any interview with my kid!</p>

<p>I agree with others especially with an alumni interviewer – though every college interview my D had, at the end the interviewer had me come in and asked if I had any other questions (which I typically didn’t since it was my D’s process…)</p>