<p>I feel like I should contribute a little to CC after it and its members have given me so much advice. So, here it goes.</p>
<p>I had my Rice interview this weekend. For being my first interview, it went swimmingly (very well). My interviewer was a recent graduate, and her enthusiasm was infectious, to say the least. I mean this in a very good way. After a good 90 minute conversation, I felt like I just had to go to Rice, or at least give my all during the application process. </p>
<p>In addition to talking about her experiences at Rice and my experiences in high school, she gave me really good advice about what to do if I do end up going to Rice, and what to do after college. I don't think I would have been able to get such advice from many other interviewers. Further, she seemed like such an amazing person that I would want to go to Rice simply to be friends with people so diverse and interesting. </p>
<p>At the end of this fantastic conversation (it was more like a conversation than an interview), I felt like I knew more about what Rice was like and what it was like to be there for four years (truly). I was so excited about the university, that even my parents, who don't want me leaving the East Coast to go to college, said that going to Rice would be a great experience for me if I get in and decide that it's the right choice for me. It is always amazing when I manage to sway my parents on any topic, so I viewed this as a good omen.</p>
<p>I hope my brief thoughts help some of you with the tension/stress for your upcoming interviews, and those of you high school juniors, sophomores, and freshman who are already thinking about college admissions. I have definitely gained a lot of insight into what a good informal interview is like, and I will use my experiences in all my future interviews.</p>
<p>What a treat! This should be mandatory reading for all applicants before their interviews! Can’t help but guess that your interviewer had a great time meeting you, too!</p>
<p>Haha yeah my alumni interview was very relaxed too, basically a conversation. Funny story, I told her that I did an overnight visit and she asked me at what residential college. I slipped up here because I couldn’t remember and even worse I used slang. I said “I know it wasn’t Martel because they were bagging on that college.” Lol instead of noticing the slang, she replied, “Yea everyone knows Martel is not a college!” The interview was more fun than anything.</p>
<p>My interview’s on Monday and I’m more excited than anything. My friend interviewed with Yale, Princeton, and other top name schools and the interviewers apparently grilled her. But everyone here apparently had a really good experience with Rice.</p>
<p>We’re interviewing at a vegetarian/vegan place that she chose. Since I’ve been a vegetarian for almost three years, I’m thinking that she may be one as well. It’d be something interesting to talk about, or atleast break the ice, but how could I inquire about it without being…awkward?</p>
<p>Yayy vegetarians! my Rice interview has been my best one yet (I’ve also had Yale, MIT, and Georgetown), my interviewers really sold me on Rice! :D</p>
<p>My interview was in the Washington, D.C. area. </p>
<p>That vegetarian story reminded me of something that happened during my interview. My interviewer and I got on a topic that was discussed on NPR. I was so happy to find that I could also connect with someone else who supports public radio! It was one of those little things that just makes you feel more relaxed–the fact that your interviewer is someone who has qualities like you. </p>
<p>I have also interviewed with MIT, and it was definitely a grill session. The interviewer wrote down each and every word I said, looking up at me only once. I’m not looking forward to the Ivy League interviews. I can only hope that some of them will be as friendly as the Rice interview.</p>
<p>Probably not. I do like the Rice way because we are, after all, college students. Grilling someone when you are going to pay them 60,000 USD a year and have job expectations is one thing, but grilling someone who is going to college where they will learn, grow up, make dumb decisions and have fun is not really a good idea.</p>
<p>I don’t think most Ivies grill applicants. Or, at least, it’s not their intention–the schools don’t have a huge degree of control over their alums, some of whom may overstep their bounds and misunderstand the purpose of the interview.</p>
<p>Anyway, my Yale interviewer was equally as nice and open as my Rice one. :D</p>
<p>My Rice interview was awesome! My interviewer was extremely friendly and cheerful, and it helped lighten the mood considerably and allowed me to say everything I wanted to say. First interview also :)</p>
<p>My interview had to be rescheduled because of a giant snowstorm in New York. Just my luck huh? But I emailed the alumni interviewer the day prior asking if we could reschedule due to the weather. She was so nice about it and actually seemed impressed that I e-mailed her first, as she was just about to ask me to reschedule herself.
Now it’s on Thursday, and I’m still just as pumped! Ah!</p>
<p>I just got home from my interview at 12:16 in the morning. All of you were right- it was completely relaxed and honestly, I had a really good time. At first she asked about how I became interested in Rice, what I was planned on studying, research I’ve done in high school, etc etc. We started talking about the Texas stereotypes (ex. rednecks, super conservatives, country singers) and how friends and family assume Rice is gonna be just like that when it’s really not. Then we talked about family and friends, and I was able to tell her about how my sister went to Virginia for school and how she’s always supportive, even though my parent’s aren’t the same way. The last topic we ended up talking about is what we enjoy doing in our free time. I asked questions about the residental college system and she did a great job of covering everything. We literally sat there talking until the cafe kicked us out at closing time. Afterwards she walked me to Grand Central and we had a conversation about how people are addicted to their phones, Snapple cap facts, and YouTube. It was so chill, we were both joking around and kidding pretty much the whole time. And like cyborg said, if Rice produces people like my interviewer, it makes me wanna go there that much more.</p>
<p>My Rice interview last fall was the most pleasant and relaxed conversation I had throughout the entire process. I still communicate with him to this day, and in a shocking turn of events, I was placed in the same Residential College he graduated from. The #1 thing to do in a Rice interview is be yourself!</p>
<p>^ I agree.
I just saw this thread now, but I loved my Rice interview My interviewer was so friendly and welcoming, it was impossible to feel nervous, and it made me really want to go to Rice haha.</p>
But I emailed the alumni interviewer the day prior asking if we could reschedule due to the weather. She was so nice about it and actually seemed impressed that I e-mailed her first, as she was just about to ask me to reschedule herself.
My interviewer was so friendly and welcoming, it was impossible to feel nervous, and it made me really want to go to Rice haha.</p>