<p>My daughter has a regional interview soon and the confirmation email states that 'parents are welcome to attend.'</p>
<p>I'm brand new to the process, but expected to be completely hands-off for the interviews -- transportation if needed and nothing else. Reading that I am 'welcome' was unexpected and feels like a trick, lol. </p>
<p>Any thoughts on what I should do? This is for her #1 school, so I don't want to goof it up.</p>
<p>Was I right in assuming that parents are generally uninvolved in the interviews? She has her first interview tonight. It is in a meeting room at a large hotel. I thought I'd wait in the lobby and not even go with her to the actual room to meet the admissions officer -- that this was her experience, and the more independent the better. thoughts?</p>
<p>I’d ask your daughter how SHE feels about it. It seems it may be the colleges expectation that some parents will participate. I think my daughter would want me there if it were an option. I’d probably remain quiet unless asked a question. Sometimes these “interviews” are more of a conversation/get to know you session than an actual interview in the formal sense.</p>
<p>I think it’s an extraordinarily bad idea for a parent to go along if it’s a one-on-one interview. If it’s just an info session, or a meet and greet, it might be OK. But I can 't think of a single good reason for a parent to be present in an actual admissions interview unless the student has some dire problem (i.e., needs an interpreter/caretaker present at all times).</p>
<p>I do too. I think your plan of being hands-off (transportation and nothing more) is the right one. I think staying in the lobby (very unobtrusively) with a book or at a nearby coffee shop is the way to go.</p>
<p>Wait in the lobby–send her up. If she finds out it’s not so much an interview as something less formal, and if there are a bunch of parents there, she can come get you or text you to come up.</p>
<p>My H went along to the one where the school said that a personal interview was mandatory but that parents were welcome. Good thing he did! Here is what the “interviewer” said, “Well, you’ve been admitted. Do you have any questions?” Had Son been alone, he would have said “no” and the “interview” would have been over in 18 seconds.</p>
<p>We are the transportation for son. He is looking at many schools across the country. </p>
<p>The off-site interviews he has had have been welcoming to parents to an extent.</p>
<p>My experience, the AdRep greets us, takes student away for interview, returns and asks us if we had any questions re the school or process. Much nicer than being regulated to sitting in the car.</p>
<p>We also did on on-site visit and met with a few Deans. I remained seated when son was led into the office and then had the Dean state I was encouraged to come in. Though not official interviews, I bit my tongue to not join too much of the conversation.</p>
<p>I think a large part of all this has to do with cost. Kids today really can’t fund their own education. The Admissions folks know the school needs to be sold to the parents as much as the student.</p>
<p>Most of the on-campus interviews my kids did had a similar format–kid would go in alone for 20-30 minutes and then parent was invited in to ask any questions he/she had. Interviewer made this clear up front. I think your instincts are good, though–only come in if asked.</p>
<p>In an on campus interview, if the parent comes along he/she should wait in the waiting area during the interview, even if invited to come in. Often, the interviewer will walk back out with the student at the end of their interview and ask the parent if there were any questions. My observation was the same for the regional interview held at a hotel - the interviewer invited me to join and I politely declined. When the one on one was over, the interviewer escorted my child back to the lobby and asked if I had any questions.</p>
<p>Maybe it depends on the school. I will say that for the schools my kids interviewed, it would have been extremely strange for a parent to join the interview. These were mostly off-campus alumni interviews, though. I still think that no matter what the scenario is, it’s better for the student to show independence in this situation.</p>
<p>I’m gone to some (when it felt like I was expected to come) and I’ve not gone to some. Some I sat with my son while he was interviewed, others I’ve been involved for 5-10 minutes then “excused.” Some I was merely the driver and sat in the waiting area and read a book. Every college handles these different.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. The interview tonight went well, parent-wise and student-wise. The way the set up worked, I did meet the admissions rep before the interview just for introductions. After the interview, they returned to the lobby together for a few minutes of nice chatting with me about our campus visit this summer.</p>
<p>The interview before hers, the dad came out of the conference room with his daughter. I was politely asked to have a seat in the lobby, which, of course, I was happy to do. It made me wonder if he was asked to wait outside, but accompanied his daughter anyway? </p>
<p>For the parents-welcome one coming up, I like the idea of politely declining. I did ask my daughter what she’d prefer, and she said she’d be more comfortable on her own. From your comments and what I experienced tonight, I’m assuming the ad rep will just fold me in at the end if it is something that s/he wants to do.</p>
<p>I know a parent who accompanied the student and it didn’t go well. The parent, who was an alum, did not have rapport with the interviewer and it was obvious. Kid did not get admitted. Who knows if this contributed but the parent blames herself for accompanying the kid and for not knowing when to shut up.</p>
The way the set up worked, I did meet the admissions rep before the interview just for introductions. After the interview, they returned to the lobby together for a few minutes of nice chatting with me about our campus visit this summer.</p>