<p>should i take one of my parents to the interview? (ivy league interview at a local cafe). </p>
<p>or is it my choice?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Good question...I won't be taking most likely but I'd like to hear some input from others.</p>
<p>The parent might drop you off at the interview, but then they are supposed to sit in the car and read a book or go do something else while you talk to the interviewer. Except for the drop-off and pick up, a parent should not be part of the interview.</p>
<p>excellent!!!</p>
<p>I am an alumni interviewer for Harvard. Don't take your parent to the interview. If your parent accompanies you, you run the risk that your parent will take over the interview or the interviewer will assume that you're extremely shy or lack independence. If at all possible, also transport yourself to the interview. Since you'll be the one who may go to Harvard, the alum interviewers want to get to know you, not your parent.</p>
<p>No, no, no, no, no.</p>
<p>To add to what NSM wrote, college is one of the most major steps on the path to adulthood and independence. Start off on the right foot by handling the college process (applications, interviews, contacting the school, etc.) independently.</p>
<p>thanks for all the responses. My mom's definitely not the person to intervene during the interview (I planned on introducing her and letting her read or something at another place), but looking at your responses, I'll drive to the interview by myself. Thanks again.</p>
<p>YES!!! Have them there, they can wait in the waiting room. I went to interview at USC and the admissions lady took note and made a comment that they were here to support me, then she scribbled something on her mysterious notepad of hers, the one I was trying to sneek a look at during the entire interview.</p>
<p>Keep your parents out of your application process as much as you can. Applying is about you, not them.</p>
<p>Not the part of the interview that has anything to do with talking to the interviewer.</p>
<p>
[quote]
YES!!! Have them there, they can wait in the waiting room. I went to interview at USC and the admissions lady took note and made a comment that they were here to support me, then she scribbled something on her mysterious notepad of hers, the one I was trying to sneek a look at during the entire interview.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you don't know what she wrote down....how can you say it was good?</p>
<p>Why would it be bad? Besides she was glad that a parent was there, in fact all of the kids I saw had their parents there. It shows you have some home support. Although I recognize the admissions process is all about you, having them in attendance (not actually in the interview, doh) shouldn't be detrimental in any way.</p>
<p>Matador,
The type of college that one is applying to may matter. When it comees to places like HPY, the colleges are looking for students who are very self-directed and independent. </p>
<p>The student would not get points for having demonstrated parental support by having a parent accompany them to the interview. In fact, a student who went to the interview in the face of not having parental support (such as if a student drove themselves 2 hours through the snow to go to an interview) would get points for being so independent.</p>
<p>For that reason, Harvard tells alumni interviewers to do their best to avoid having the parents with the students during the interview.</p>
<p>Should students interview on campus at a place like Harvard, the interviewer may possibly speak briefly with the parents, but that is out of politeness, not in order to assess the student.</p>
<p>When I interview students for Harvard as an alum, I have no interest in meeting the parents. In fact, I would find their presence, even just to say "hello" to be an intrusion as what I'm concerned about is the student and how well the student can present themselves in an interview situation. I would be concerned that a student who appeared to need parental support to handle an interview would not be up to the rigors of a college like Harvard.</p>
<p>ur damn right northstarmom!!
parents are negative markings during the interview and the application process.</p>
<p>matador, since you went to the actual school to interview, kids probably had their parents with them because they were out of state and their parents came with them to visit schools. so obviously your parent is going to want to come and look at the school with you if they're already on the trip, and wait for your interviewer with you.
but for interviews that take place in your hometown, there's no reason for a parent to be there.</p>
<p>This was recently discussed on another CC thread. I think it is best if the parent is nowhere to be seen for the interview. Sometimes it's unavoidable - for interviews far away, out of town, etc. parents sometimes wait in the reception area - but even then I think it is best if the the parent ducks out for a cup of coffee somewhere.</p>
<p>Is your mommy going to come to class with you too?</p>
<p>Come on, were you REALLY considering taking one of your parents to a college interview?!?! </p>
<p>This isn't child daycare, this is college.</p>
<p>Not that this is an appropriate comment concerning the OP and his/her parents, but the whole "Helicopter Parents" issue where the parent hover around college students has been discussed in the news and national magazines. In one magazine, I remember where one professor was astounded that when talking to one student about their grade, the student handed the professor a cellphone and said "Here, my mother wants to talk to you." It is important for parents to back off at least when the children have to deal with the real world. Even the Boy Scouts of America makes it clear that the scouts are on their own when it comes to testing for rank advancements.</p>
<p>I interview students for Penn and thankfully none of them have brought a parent with them. If they did, I would ask the parent to leave. and I would have no problem doing that. NSM is right - this is NOT about your parents, it is about YOU.</p>