<p>@Ldreams
It’s a good sign but most of the applicants have good interviews. Imo interview doesn’t really mean that much in the whole admission process. It’s definitely considered, just not as important as your essay/grades/ECs.
Thought this might be useful:
<a href=“Alumni Interview Advice - Princeton University - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1068791-alumni-interview-advice.html</a> </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>So Princeton called my guidance counselor requesting AP scores…probably not abnormal, just didn’t know this was a thing colleges do.</p>
<p>I have my Princeton interview in a couple days! It’s at a coffee shop. So should I come ten minutes early and order coffee? Or should I come on time and order coffee and then find my interviewer? Or should I meet my interviewer and then get coffee? Sorry, I’m new at this…</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have tips? What questions did your interviewer ask you? And what were some questions that threw you off?</p>
<p>Arrive a few minutes early and wait for your interviewer and then place your order together with the person you are meeting. Also tips - my son’s interviewer asked the “why Princeton” question, as well as what my son was interested in studying and why. Then the interviewer mostly talked (“selling” Princeton) with my son asking him a few questions throughout the conversation. The interview concluded after about 40 minutes. I am not aware of any questions that threw him off - he was prepared to answer what the interviewer asked. </p>
<p>I’m not expected/supposed to pay for my interviewer’s order, right? Again, sorry for the dumb questions…this is my first interview</p>
<p>No. In fact, for one of my interviews (it was for Harvard actually), my interviewer stepped in front of me in line, asked me what I wanted, and paid for it for me.</p>
<p>@spoolman: hint for you (and others) – many times in your life, you’ll be in a business-type meeting (such as an interview). The senior always pays for the junior. When you interview someone, you pay. When you’re being interviewed, they pay. </p>
<p>Thanks! Any last minute hints? My interview is in 2 hours! :-SS </p>
<p>Finished my interview and it went well! 
Good luck to all others. </p>
<p>My interview is tomorrow <em>gasp</em>
I think I’m getting better at interviews (starting from super uncomfortable for MIT to very confident and relaxed for Harvard) so hopefully it goes well. Do you all know if the interview is as important in Princeton’s application process as it is for MIT, or is about as important as it is at, say, Duke? I’m sure it’s a little more than a glorified info session, but to what extent?</p>
<p>I got in SCEA and my interview went pretty well, but I’ve heard the interview really isn’t weighted very heavily at all for Princeton. I think it’s more significant if it goes especially poorly (sending up a red flag) than if it goes smoothly or very well. </p>
<p>@emeraldEvi That’s what I heard about all ivy league/ivy plus interviews! As long as you show up and not act like an idiot, it doesn’t matter that much. It’s pretty much just a marketing tool for Princeton.</p>
<p>I really don’t get where the misconception that these interviews are “glorified info sessions” came up from. At least from my own experience, I think that they’re ways for Princeton (or whichever college you interview with) to learn more about you. That being said, the method they go about doing this differentiates college to college and interviewer to interviewer. My princeton interviewer just read some Q’s off a sheet that we discussed and conversed over (Yes, they do have an alumni interview form) and my Duke interviewer just debated history with me for 2 hours (pretty unconventional). In any case, the interviews cannot and will not hurt you if they go poorly (as they have said, only the good things from the interviews are counted- everyone has bad days). So if the interview goes well or superb, thats great, it’ll help you a bit. Otherwise, don’t worry!</p>
<p>" In any case, the interviews cannot and will not hurt you if they go poorly "</p>
<p>Depending on the defintion of “poor,” I disagree. I interview for a PTon peer. If serious red flags arise, they will be reported and noted. Examples of red flags: boorish behavior, unmitigated arrogance, racism, prestige-chaser, shallow & extreme dimwittedness. </p>
<p>For my 20+ years, I’ve only encountered a few instances of the last two. The admissions office may note incongruities with the rest of the profile. </p>
<p>@T26E4 Yeah I should have clarified that. By poor interview I refer to panicking/being anxious/stressed not one of those serious red flags as you pointed out. </p>
<p>my interview was on the phone…and it was really bad at first because the connection sucked. It picked up after that, but I couldn’t even hear my interviewer’s name when he introduced himself, it was that bad. I think it went ok, lasted about 35-40 min. which isnt too bad for a phone interview.</p>
<p>My Princeton main essay was slightly “taboo”, talking about a traumatizing event (not about the event itself, just what I learned). I guess it was kind of risky but hopefully they like it!</p>
<p>@T26E4 Does being slightly nervous really send up a “red flag?” I can’t imagine many people being immediately comfortable with being interviewed, especially if it’s their first time</p>
<p>@Spoolman: If you look at the examples I gave, I think you’d agree that those behaviors would qualify as “disasters”. No where would simple nervousness or frankly, even a failure to “connect” be considered a “red flag” by me.</p>