<p>TBOL3 - The troll was Oscular. His (her) post was put up just to get a reaction. "Don't feed the troll" is telling you and others to disregard the post.</p>
<p>My D's MIT interviewer came to her school and did the interview. That was nice and I didn't have to worry about it. However, my D did have one college interview a few weeks ago where it was at a hotel in a city about 100 miles away. My husband drove my D there and he said the situation was awkward for him since the interview took place in the admission officer's hotel room (the officer happened to be a man). My D said they sat at the desk in his room. From what they said my husband went as far as the elevator door with my D and then waited in the lobby. He ended up saying hello to the officer when they came out.</p>
<p>Wow, I would think the colleges would spring for a conference room or a public/semi-public area, if for no other reason than appearances and potential liability issues. Wonder how many young people have gone to interviews, were faced with going into a hotel room alone with a stranger, and left? How many interviewers would be comfortable with applicants coming into a hotel room, and subsequently being falsely accused of improprieties by a student?</p>
<p>^^Yea that hotel room story sounded rather risque. I certainly hope there aren't many college interviews being conducted in a grown person's hotel room...</p>
<p>Okay, my point is just that it MIGHT not be taken well by the interviewer. Also, I certainly don't mean to accuse anyone on this thread (especially since I don't know any of you!) but trust me, I've been reading these forums for awhile and answering questions through the admissions blogs from parents, and a lot of you guys are CRAZY. =) I mean, you might think you're just saying hi when you're really saying, "Hi, this is my kid, I had to drive him/her here because she hasn't gotten her license yet because she doesn't have time with all the studying she does!" I'm exaggerating, but it happens. I've seen it. Also, the crazy ones never seem to know they're the crazy ones either. haha. I guess I'm biased, it's just after seeing a lot of things like that, I tend to overreact on the side of parents staying far, far away from the admissions process.</p>
<p>It's a judgment call, but I don't think it would ever work in your FAVOR to have the parents come in and talk to the interviewer, so if it's not necessary, why open that door?</p>
<p>I'm sorry to argue, but I disagree. It may not help us get ADMITTED, but if it is held in someone's house (or hotel room), then it is good for your SAFETY. Which is the only reason my mom came with me.</p>
<p>I disagree that a limited parent involvement is necessarily a negative. In some cases it may actually have a beneficial effect, reinforcing the student's interest in the school. </p>
<p>A major role of the MIT ECs, in addition to interviewing applicants, is to promote the school and help recruit exceptional prospects. Interviewers are not naive and know very well that a decision about college is generally a family decision. As an EC, I actually welcome meeting the parent if they show up to drop off their S or D for the interview. Sometimes, just exchanging a few words with the parent may help me better understand the family dynamics and true level of interest of the applicant. The more I know about an applicant, the better I can make a case as to why they should be admitted.</p>
<p>I'm amused at the lack of judgement by the MIT interviewer to have it in his hotel room. He could have scheduled it in a conference room. </p>
<p>But it's a good lesson for you kids. Similarly, if some guy leans out of a van with tinted windows and asks you to come inside to do an MIT interview, turn around and go get your mom.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, the crazy ones never seem to know they're the crazy ones either. haha. I guess I'm biased, it's just after seeing a lot of things like that, I tend to overreact on the side of parents staying far, far away from the admissions process.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I agree with all of this. :)</p>
<p>A parent who shows up to drop off a kid is one thing (though, did nobody else here without a license walk or take the bus to their college interviews?), but it's very easy to go too far beyond that.</p>
<p>I would have taken the bus, if my EC had it in a public place. But, as I said, he had it in his home.</p>
<p>I got this information from the MIT admissions</p>
<p>"but at that point you have to step back and let the child perform. You would never run up on stage and start playing the piano if your child missed a note"</p>
<p>Everyone else seems to be saying the samething. Its his application to college, not yours. Try to prepare him before hand and not give him that same ol' 1000 pound pressure down his shoulders. If he got through those 13 years of school (k-12) then im sure that he will succeed.</p>
<p>I would have taken the bus too, but we don't have public transportation where I live.</p>
<p>I think there's a serious misunderstanding that should be nipped in the bud here. </p>
<p>Message #28 says:</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <blockquote> <p>I'm amused at the lack of judgement by the MIT interviewer to have it in his hotel room.<<<</p> </blockquote> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Whoa! Where did this idea come from? Check message #22: That's the original mention of the "hotel room interviewer" -- and the way I read it, it's clear that this interviewer was NOT representing MIT, but, rather, another college (that the poster -- rather diplomatically, I thought -- declined to name).</p>
<p>(Quoting aforementioned message #22) -- >>>> My D's MIT interviewer came to her school and did the interview. That was nice and I didn't have to worry about it. However, my D did have one college interview a few weeks ago where it was at a hotel in a city about 100 miles away. My husband drove my D there and he said the situation was awkward for him since the interview took place in the admission officer's hotel room <<<<</p>
<p>Just saying...</p>
<p>I made the original comment about the hotel room interview. No, it wasn't MIT. It was another "techie" school and the interview was not with an alumni but with an admissions officer who was traveling around our state doing visits and interviews. I think I may wait until the admissions decisions are made and then mention something to the admissions people there about the hotel room interview being very awkward. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>dsultemeier: I think that's a great idea.</p>
<p>For the record, I was never saying that having the meeting in the hotel room wasn't sketchy. But the original question was "should I stop into the Starbucks to say hi to my child's interviewer?" which I answer with an emphatic, "no." But to each his own.<br>
Also, it's interesting to note that I'm sure part of my answer has to do with the fact that I would HATE for my mother to do that to me, but I recognize that other families may feel differently. So I think if your kid wants you to let him/her handle it solo, you should respect that.</p>
<p>My daughter's MIT interview occurred in a Starbucks, a very public place. However, like dsultemeier, I also drove my daughter to a Doubletree Hotel for another interview with an admissions officer from Harvey Mudd, who took her up the elevator to a hotel room for the interview. I did not accompany them, and when they came back down, he asked her if a parent was nearby, said he wanted to meet me, and he did come over to shake my hand and speak with me. Still, I agree that is a practice that Harvey Mudd (and any other school doing this) should discontinue. It's simply bizarre. If MIT can interview in a Starbucks, surely Harvey Mudd can interview down in the hotel lobby or in the hotel cafe.</p>
<p>So, as a parent, why didn't I accompany my daughter up the elevator to the hotel room? I let her go because I trusted her to leave if she became uncomfortable. I trusted her to let me know immediately if anything awkward happened (and after all, I had the guy's name and knew his institution). I viewed her as a young, independent adult fully capable of kicking a guy in the balls if necessary to defend herself. I mean, if I'm willing to let my daughter travel across the country from California to attend school in Boston, in a state where we have no relatives nearby, where she might be walking across campus on any given night in the dark, or facing who knows how many awkward situations, I figured I could trust her to take care of herself.</p>
<p>To the original poster who asked the question, a parent who asked if he/she should come in to meet the interviewer, I still recommend keeping out of the picture.</p>