<p>I had an interview today at the interviewer's house. My parents dropped me off because they had some errands in the area anyways and I can't drive, and picked me up at the end. </p>
<p>We disagree about something. My dad thinks that he or my mom should have walked me to the interviewers' door, and kinda introduced himself. I think it was fine for me to go the door by myself, which I did. I thought it would look bad for my parent(s) to come drop me off, not look independent, etc . . The interviewer saw their car and knew they were picking me up at the end. </p>
<p>I’ve interviewed high school students for my college many times and either way is acceptable and neither is frowned upon (so long as the parent makes a quick exit).</p>
<p>Yes, I realize that. The point I was trying to get across is that for a HS student interviewing for college, parental presence at interview is not necessary.</p>
<p>I’d say either way is fine. If your parents want to walk you to the door next time and say hello, my vote is to let them do so. </p>
<p>My son drove himself to several interviews. For the one conducted an hour from home on unfamiliar roads, we drove our son to the hotel site. The interviewer had a suite upstairs. He first invited us all up to discuss the college in general, and then he sent parents away for the actual interview. I was surprised when he came down with DS afterward. His last student had cancelled, so he spent more time talking with us all.</p>
<p>I am with Batllo that nowadays, it would be probably be ok either way. </p>
<p>However, be aware that there are a few alumni interviewers who may interpret what your father wanted to do negatively. Either the applicant is perceived as either lacking in independence/initiative or the parent(s) are of the possible helicopter variety. </p>
<p>That was certainly the case when I was a high school kid as I actually lost a potential summertime job as a high school sophomore because I happened to be accompanied by my mother to the venue and the interviewer instantly canceled it saying I demonstrated “lack of independence” because of her presence. :roll</p>
<p>I don’t think it matters. My oldest interviewed before everyone had cell phones and he didn’t drive, so I went to the door and asked the interviewer when I should come back. My youngest son usually called me when he was done and since his interviews were in more public places it was easier for him to hang around and wait for me, though I remember peering in the window of the Starbucks for one interview to see if he was still being interviewed (he was, great interview, but they still didn’t accept him!) The one interview for my older son where I also talked to the interviewer briefly upon picking up my kids was the one where my son was a legacy.</p>
<p>I vote for either way. In our area most kids drive by the time they are juniors so probably would have driven themselves. My #2 had an interview on the other side of the state and I drove. I dropped him off, shook hands and left so I wouldn’t be too concerned with what happened with you today as both “ways” are common. Now staying with the student during the interview…that’s a no-no.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t think it would matter either way from the interviewers perspective, but I still vote that the interviewer not see one or both parents. It’s not just the message you send to the interviewer or not, it’s the message you send to your kid. How many HS seniors want to be seen with their parents anyway?</p>
<p>No idea if it matters. I would guess it does not. But what is the reason a parent would think they should introduce themselves? </p>
<p>Would such parents also do this for a job interview? If you are dropping your student off for an interview for a part-time job, do you also introduce yourself? If so, I’m curious as to why and how you think it is helpful.</p>
<p>I think interviewers clearly understand an eager parent situation, but IMO it’s best to do a discreet drop-off. Mine never did interviews in a house, only in public places like hotels or coffeeshops, but I was never “visible.” if they werent able to get there on public transportation themselves, they would get out of the car a block or two away, and then not call me til they were out of the building (or we would meet at a prearranged spot). </p>
<p>I agree with starbright. You wouldn’t expect to meet someone interviewing your kid for a job.</p>
<p>First of all, this decision should be up to you, not your parents. They should do what makes you feel most comfortable.</p>
<p>With all 3 of my kids, I dropped them off or stayed invisible to the interviewer (one interview was in a large hotel lobby; I got a cup of coffee and paper and sat out of sight in the lobby, because it was cold out). I never even considered introducing myself, and my kids would not have liked that at all! I’m not saying what is right or wrong. It just didn’t occur to me at all.</p>
<p>I think that high school students really do need to build up the skill of “talking cold” to adults they don’t know. That comes with practice – for my D, a lot of that came through a volunteer and then paying job she had where she interacted with the public; for S, it came through a particular community program he was involved with where he was the only teenager. </p>
<p>And that lesson isn’t learned when a parent is around, since it seems perfectly natural (at least to me) that if I’m with my kid and we’re in an unfamiliar situation, I’m the one who then asks the hotel clerk where the rep is, or whatever. The best way to prevent that is to put yourself out of reach in the first place! Tough as it may be, the kids have to learn how to approach someone at the Starbucks or in the hotel lobby, ask, “Hi, are you the interviewer from XYZ College?”, smile, shake hands, engage in small talk, and be comfortable enough to get down to business. </p>
<p>It’s not so much that I think an interviewer will hold it against the kid if it’s a circumstance where it’s not unreasonable that a parent might have driven the kid (after all, it’s quite presumptuous to assume that every teenager has unlimited access to a car). It’s more that it’s a good way for the kid to practice this skill. There’s just a different dynamic between me/my kid standing in front of an interviewer’s house and the interviewer opens the door, versus my kid standing there and I’m a block away with my coffee and newspaper.</p>
<p>I have been surprised that a lot of the on-campus interviewers seem firmly to want to talk to the parent, too. My daughter is ready, willing and able to go 100% solo, start to finish, and I’m quite happy if I can take a long walk and stay out of it completely. But interviewers always seem to say – stay nearby, we will call you in at the last 5-10 minutes. Maybe they are just trying to be polite?</p>
<p>Mine never did any on-campus interviews – but I think it’s a different dynamic with an on-campus interview - where both the parent and students are “guests” of the college, in a sense. Colleges know that they have to extend courtesies / pleasantries to the parents along with the students. Alum interviewers really don’t need to interact with the parents, just the students.</p>
<p>The student should be alone for interviews off campus, no need to walk them to the door. That would make them seem somewhat childish. For an on campus interview, if the parent is there any way, it is okay to say hello then leave. At my daughter’s interview on campus, I saw several parents dominating the conversation either before or after the interview in a very obnoxious way. That could not have left a very good impression on the interviewer. Unless your parent is very, very charming, I’d say leave them in the car.</p>