<p>
[quote]
calmom writes: but the bottom line is an interview is supposed to be a way for the college to learn about the applicant.
[/quote]
Oh but they are!</p>
<p>Don't worry- I doubt it'll make a huge difference.</p>
<p>Not to mention that gorgeous likely letter you just got from Dartmouth- what is there to worry about? :)</p>
<p>I will agree with the idea that it is certainly fair, if asked "Where else did you apply?" to respond with "Why do you ask?" Indeed, I think it would show a good deal of college-readiness to get into a debate with the interviewer about unwarranted assumptions one could draw from a list of colleges. But what I would NOT advise is either </p>
<p>a) giving a partial list, that isn't the real whole list, </p>
<p>or </p>
<p>b) giving an imaginary list, that isn't the actual list. </p>
<p>What I emphasize to my children about dealing with adults is HONESTY. Don't cover up to look good: be straightforward and truthful in your dealings. </p>
<p>A possible truthful answer, of course, is to say, "I'd rather not say. I'm not sure it really matters for your purposes in this interview." That's a responsive, truthful answer that leaves the interviewer guessing. ;) </p>
<p>Let me tell a story about a PLAINLY inappropriate question I was once asked in an employment interview. Those of you who have been to law school know that it is customary for law students to interview during their second years for a summer job that will, if "fit" is right, become the student's career job after graduation. I interviewed for a summer job at an illustrious New York law firm, at which one of the "name partners" was an alumnus of my school. He always came to my school to personally interview the candidates for the summer jobs. He was an old man, and dated back to a time when there was no political correctness in employment interviewing. Upperclassmen in my law school told me that he would always ask illegal questions like, "Are you married?" Then, whether or not you indicated you were married, he would ask, "Do you have children?" At the time, I was already married, and as always I wore my wedding band on my left hand. When I went to the interview, I coyly covered the ring finger of my left hand or kept it out of view, and when the interviewer asked me, "Are you married?" I said, "I don't think you should ask that question." I replied similarly to the question about children (I had none at the time). For all I know, my answers were the "good" answers, the answers that showed I know about employment law, but anyway I figured I would have some fun in that interview having had the advice of my classmates. I got an offer to take a summer job at that firm, but went to the opposite coast for my summer job, so I know nothing else about that firm. </p>
<p>Moral of the story: give a truthful answer all the time, every time. If a question is inappropriate, say so in so many words. Be honest, not mendacious.</p>
<p>I've been asked this question in every one of my interviews and I really don't seem to find it as big of a deal as some of the other CC posters may make it out to be. I think the best way is to answer the question completely and truthfully, but with a sense of nonchalance. There is no need to stall and think, or be tripped up by this. None of my interviewers prodded further after I told the other colleges on my list. They simply nodded and moved onto another question.</p>
<p>I highly doubt simply stating where else you applied will make much of an effect on the interview. I do think that, however, it seems a bit rude to answer one of the interviewer's questions with "why do you ask?" (no matter how odd the question may be) and this might give the interviewer a bad impression of yourself.</p>
<p>All in all, interviews matters very little in the admissions process, and therefore one question in the interview is highly insignificant when taking into context the whole college admissions process.</p>
<p>
If only. :rolleyes: </p>
<p>Chocoholic, you go girl :cool:!</p>
<p>Calmom, I am not sure your advice to say you had not yet decided where else to apply, etc. would work in all situations. In my D's case, it was not an alum interview. It was with the faculty who were asking at the audition, AFTER all apps were in (they know that) and everyone is in the thick of "audition season". The question was ON a form one had to fill out before entering the audition. This happened at three schools so far. I had always heard that if asked, one way to go about it was to list schools you applied to but not all of them. One might choose to list the ones in the same ballpark as the school who asked, and ones "below" it. I don't think one is obligated to give every little bit of information as it is not necessary. I know someone posted that schools like to collect such data but that can be done AFTER April and in fact, many schools my other D turned down did have such a questionnaire that I think is useful to admissions offices. In my second child's case, this was not just that but part of an audition. </p>
<p>While I don't like an alum interviewer to ask, I don't have as much a problem with that because an alum interviewer is having a discussion and might even offer advice of their own. It likely is not getting recorded anywhere. </p>
<p>In my child's case, she was not in a lengthy interview. She was in an audition where the auditor's often ask one or two questions only after all the audition requirements. This was one of two questions. It was not asking where else did you apply because that was on the form she had to carry into the audition but they looked at it and asked why she did NOT apply to a well known school in her field. I would not have expected that to be asked. I think she answered thoughtfully and articulately because she knew the "cons" of that school that contrasted with the school she was at. Hopefully the answer shed light on what she DID like about this school, which to me, would be a more appropriate question. In her case, NONE of the schools are safeties for anyone and all are extremely competitive. I'll try to put a nice spin on this and pray that it was asked as "why aren't YOU applying to X college?" as if, given your talent, why aren't you reaching for the top or X competitor! LOL....that would be a nice reason to have asked! ;-)</p>
<p>I thought another school that asked her to list her other colleges on the form in ORDER Of preference was nothing I had ever seen before. Again, she listed most of them but left off the very top schools. I don't see this as not being truthful but I see it as giving out about as much information as necessary. I don't think schools NEED to know this information. I think what they DO need to know is why you want to go to that particular college and what criteria you are using in selecting colleges....what matters to you in a college, in other words. I ask this as an alum interviewer myself for a selective college. These other questions of where else you applied or did not apply are going beyond that and also, as I said, was not in context of an alum interview and in fact, was in context of only asking the candidate two questions. When there is so much one could share, I wish this was not what was chosen but you do what you gotta do. They hold the cards. Let me add that we really do like the program! Just thought this was unusual but now am seeing it at more than half the schools she has been to so far and so it isn't that unusual! I don't worry about it but am just commenting. I don't think it will have an effect on the outcome (would hope not) and in fact, one such program admitted her. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>All of this makes me hearken back to a comment jamimom made on another thread - that there are some students she recommends do NOT interview. For my S, it is irrelevant as he is already into a school he loves EA and is waiting only on Stanford, which does not permit interviews.</p>
<p>But I wonder if the interview is not such a great idea for more than just a few students. It has always seemed to me to provide a "leg up," but maybe visiting the school, attending info session etc. is enough to "check off" and show serious interest, without the interview?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Tokenadult, so I should have mentioned Harvard and Princeton? I always left those off because I didn't want them to think i was a prestige-whore
[/quote]
This is exactly the reason such a question is inappropriate. It sets the applicants, under enough stress already, into a whole tailspin of worrying how their plans come across in the "game" of admissions. Encomium and all of our other S/Ds really don't need this added and ridiculous pressure.</p>
<p>Some of the supplements to the common app wanted this info. My D wrote something like "a variety of excellent small liberal arts colleges in north east and mid west..."</p>
<p>I think when an interview is offered, one should take it. It is a chance to show a personal side that is not the same as the black and white information on an application. An interview is an added opportunity to show about yourself. There are very few incidences when I would discourage someone from doing an interview. I think if a kid is just really poor at relating to new people or super anxious and what not, it might not go well but I think almost all kids can be worked with to prepare for an interview. I don't see the choice to do an interview is so indicative of "showing interest" (though one should certainly show interest within the interview) but the interview is one component of gathering information about a candidate, to let the committee know the person behind the written information. Everyone has something to offer. Some are more adept at sharing it than others but all can prepare for an interview. Jamimom is right that there are SOME kids where an interview might be a negative thing but I think this is not the norm. If an alum calls to offer an interview, I would not take it too positively to have it turned down unless for logistics and even then, it is not that great. I guess I have yet to find a kid who has turned down my offer to interview them. As an interviewer, I am cognizant that some kids are more adept at opening up and talking and some have to be drawn out. I think this just reflects their personality and I realize the shy ones have good stuff behind the shyness. Granted, those that are more dynamic come across better but I try not to take too much away from a kid who is very reserved and try hard to probe. I have never had a rude kid or anything like that in an interview. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>soozievt - I agree with all your points. I hadn't been thinking of turning down an interview offer. More thinking re whether to take the initiative to seek out an interview on campus or regionally. It definitely is an opportunity to show more of yourself than you can on paper. And, although it doesn't seem fair to suggest the interview is potentially filled with "minefields," what I think this thread is illuminating is a use of the interview by the college which can be adverse to the students' best interests.</p>
<p>JMMom, I understand. In my D's case, it was not an option, lol. I mean she HAS to audition at every school and in fact, the majority of her admission decision rides on the audition. Each audition tends to have one or two interview type questions. This was one of two oral questions she was asked at one school. But I was also mentioning that there was a form that asked "where are you applying?" AT the audition too at a few places already. So, uh, unavoidable! I don't know quite what to make of the question about "why haven't you applied to X?" but I think this is not a big part of the decision. The audition...THAT is!
Susan</p>
<p>Yes, for the performance-related programs, the audition and accompanying interview are obviously key.</p>
<p>For everyone else, it remains a question of how to handle the "minefield" or whether there is or isn't an argument for more applicants to opt out of this part of the process when it is optional. I'm not advocating one way or the other, just wondering. Tough/how do you handle stress questions are not out of place in many job interviews - but college admissions? I don't really think so. And this type of loaded/damned if you do-damned if you don't question is bothersome imo.</p>
<p>I've been "interviewing" for Cornell for about 15 years. They have long since discouraged us from asking this question. See the "do not ask" section here:</p>
<p>Also, see these Statements of Principles of Good Practice (specifically Section II.A.4)</p>
<p>Wharf</p>
<p>PS - I do however at the end of the interview ask the question "off the record", just becuase I'm curious, but I don't include the answer in the report I send in and I tell the student that.</p>
<p>I'm a newly minted alumni interviewer for my alma mater also, and this is not a question we are encouraged to ask. I don't plan to ask anyone whom I interview.</p>
<p>Hi, Wharf Rat, are you referring to </p>
<p>"College and University Members agree that they . . . . 4. will not require candidates or the secondary schools to indicate the order of the candidates
college or university preferences, except under early decision plans" in the NACAC document </p>
<p><a href="http://www.nacac.com/downloads/policy_spgp.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.nacac.com/downloads/policy_spgp.pdf</a> </p>
<p>or to some other part of that document? </p>
<p>(Thank you for sharing the link, by the way. That document has good information for several of the threads here on the Parents Forum.) </p>
<p>The Cornell document is interesting too. I attended the joint Brown-Cornell-Dartmouth-UVA information meeting in my town this admission season, and found the facts presented about Cornell quite interesting. I note that the Cornell information session guidelines don't ban learning about an applicant's school preferences, but simply say not to initiate asking about that. Maybe that is to allay nervousness about all the considerations mentioned in this thread, or do you think there is some other reason for that policy?</p>
<p>!0 years ago when my nephew applied to college, the question did not come up, or if it did, I did not hear much about it. 5 years ago, S1 was asked at some interviews, but I don't recall any talk on it being on the applications, so if it was, it was not on many that he used. My D never mentioned the subject. This year it was the question bandied on many apps and asked at every audition for my son. I thought it was a MT thing since it is the natural query when the kids are together waiting for audition times, and the parents do discuss the schools as well. But I do believe they did all ask him where else he applied, and it was right on the audition sheets as Susan noted. </p>
<p>I am told they ask the question so they can compile a list on what their rival schools are, but I don't believe the info they are getting is complete or accurate. They would do better asking those who matriculate and pooling the data with other schools. I know that at the parent night for senior college counseling at our school, the question came up so it isn't just auditioning kids being questioned. Our counselors' advice is to just name several schools within the same type so it does not look like you are all over the map in picking schools. </p>
<p>I don't think it is a fair question either, but my kids did not seem to have any trouble answering it, but I know someone like S3 would be thrown unless he were prepared.</p>
<p>One interviewer asked my S this year where else he applied and after S told him, the guy got all enthusiastic about his other choices and told him he'd be a fool not to go there instead. (?)</p>
<p>Token,</p>
<p>Yes that was the part of the document that I was refering too. My take from the Cornell Admissions people is that they regard the question as a part of higher pressure tactics employed by other schools and instead prefer a kinder more laid back approach.</p>
<p>I thought this thread was telling:</p>
<p>perhaps the HYP schools get to their destination by being predatory. Who knows? My wife is a alum from one of them and her school mates seem to always focus on where the various kids are applying.</p>
<p>Like the Cornell guide recommends, I tend to focus on an applicant's particular interest and familarity with Cornell and the program they are applying to.</p>
<p>Hope that helps,</p>
<p>Wharf</p>
<p>Re: message #37: well, then the interview was an informative process for the applicant, which is what it's supposed to be, right? ;)</p>
<p>Precisely correct: in fact, after being accepted EA to one of those "other schools" the interviewer raved about, S elected not to submit the application to that guy's school.</p>