So I've got this Swarthmore interview on the 30th...

Applying to College
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And I’m kind of nervous, considering this is my first interview for college admissions. I’m kind of feeling like I don’t know what to expect, though I’ve been trying to look up hints on the whole interview process. I had some questions, as well:

  1. If/When interviewer asks me where else I’m applying, out of these schools, which should I mention? I don’t want to be counted out of the running because my answer makes Swat look like a safety, which it is not for me.

UMD- College Park
Morehouse C
Haverford C
Temple U
U Penn
Howard U
St. Lawrence U
Penn State U- Univ. Park
Oberlin C
possibly Davidson C

  1. Should I bring along a short brag sheet to give to the interviewer and refer to if I am asked a question?

  2. Should I take notes on a pad of paper during the interview?

  3. Are khakis and a solid-colored long-sleeve button-down with dress shoes underdressed, acceptable, or overdressed for a college interview?

  4. please give me any other help, hints, or tips you have to offer. I would be eternally grateful if you could shed a little light on this whole process. I feel so unprepared. I don’t want to screw up.

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<p>bump, I need help please. Anything at all would be appreciated...</p>

3

<p>Your interviewer probably will ask what colleges you're applying to, so be honest. Your list doesn't make Swarthmore seem like a safety school, so don't worry. The things to really focus on are yourself and why you want to go to Swarthmore--the interviewer will care more about your fit at Swarthmore than anything else. I wouldn't bring paper if I were you. All of the interviews I did were fairly casual. They want to get to know you a bit, but in your own words. Don't worry about mentioning every single thing that you've ever done, but instead talk honestly about the things that you enjoy and all that good stuff. I guess you could bring paper to jot down notes about what your interviewer has to say about the college, but it seems a bit unnecessary to me. </p>

<p>Your outfit sounds perfect. I did interviews at Swarthmore and Haverford on the same day, and Haverford specifically said casual so I wore something similar to what you wore and it worked at both. My interviewer was just wearing pants and a nice shirt.</p>

<p>Just be yourself! You can't screw that up. Be honest about what you like and what you do and what really makes you happy and what you think really makes you an interesting person and what you think about the college. And, now is your perfect opportunity to ask any questions about the college that you may have, so make sure you don't leave there wondering about anything. I think it's also nice to email your interviewer when you're done (he/she will give you a business card) thanking him/her and following up. Swarthmore is a friendly school, so don't worry. Good luck</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>just mention a few of those</p></li>
<li><p>whats' a brag sheet... bring a resume</p></li>
<li><p>*** no, thats the interviewer's job</p></li>
<li><p>yes thats fine</p></li>
<li><p>relax, interviews can only help you unless u f up majorly</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>woo hoo! as a future swattie (class of 09 baby) it makes me very happy to see other bright young people looking at this wonderful school. i had my interview a looong time ago but ill give your questions a shot. you might want to try the swarthmore board...lots of super helpful parents on there.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>be honest!!! dont not mention something because you're afraid of how it'll look. lying or omiting stuff will come back to haunt you.</p></li>
<li><p>no. before the interview they'll give you a paper to fill out with all your classes/activities/hobbies/etc. and then the interviewer will look at that and ask questions</p></li>
<li><p>umm, you COULD. i didnt and i dont know anybody else who has done that, but i guess it couldnt hurt. it could make you look a little over zealous, but if you honestly want to take notes go for it. dont do it just to impress them though.</p></li>
<li><p>acceptable. i always like ties on guys though, but i guess its not really necessary.</p></li>
<li><p>umm..RELAX!!! this interview probably will not make you or break you unless you are terrible. for me, the interviewer was a senior at the school so it was more like a conversation and i felt comfortable joking around and i left feeling like i had made a friend...(but be careful, if you get like someone important dont act goofy) swarthmore wants to see that you're genuinely interested in the school and that you are passionate about some of your hobbies/clubs/interests/whatever. just be natural, dont stress it. hope that helps, pm me if you have any questions</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Wear an eyepatch, then allude to an injury sustatined while you were heroically fighting crime/composing your eighteenth opera/defending an old woman on the street. </p>

<p>No, really. They're expecting to meet a polite, intelligent, ambitious teenager. And you're in luck because I'd bet twenty bucks (if I were inclined to that sort of thing) that that is just what you are. So just be genuine -- no acting like a pretentious ass. And your interviewer knows that teenagers don't take notes out of anything but a sense of obligation, so leave the notepad home.</p>

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<p>Stunt:</p>

<p>Relax. Your interview will just be a conversation with someone who is as interested in talking about college with you as you are in learning about colleges. I am assuming that you are an Af-Am male. Trust me, Af-Am males are highly sought after at Swarthmore and other elite colleges. It won't be an interrogation. They'll be just as interested in "selling" you as you are in selling them. </p>

<p>I believe school will be back in session, so you might want to e-mail ahead of time and see if you can get together with with a student from the Af-Am students group if you want to learn more about that particular experience at Swarthmore.</p>

<p>You should view the "interview" as an opportunity for you to ask questions about the college and how it would be a good fit for your individual interests. Conversely, the interviewer will be interested in learing about what gets you excited and whether you would be a good fit for Swarthmore. Forget the admissions game, the goal here is for you and the college to figure out if you are right for each other. If not, you don't want to get accepted anyway. If you are right for each other, then you'll have a great shot at getting in. I strongly believe that's the ultimate question the Swarthmore admissions office tries to answer.</p>

<p>As a general rule, discussing other colleges you are considering isn't a great idea. However, in your case, I see absolutely no reason not to if they ask. In fact, I think your ideas about the pros and cons of an historically black college could be a interesting topic for an interview discussion. If it's something that interests you, then you might even steer the conversation in that direction if you feel like it.</p>

<p>It's not a bad idea to do a little homework about Swarthmore beforehand so that you have a feel for what makes the place special. That's something that they really like to see and might give you something to chat about. If you want to throw 'em a slow hanging curveball out over the plate to hit, ask about Af-Am faculty and deans. (Swat is a leader in faculty diversity).</p>

<p>Another good idea would be to spend a little time thinking about a couple of your activities or interests that you would like to "feature" on your application. Those would be another likely conversation topic and can help start building an admissions "identity" which is a good thing.</p>

<p>You can bring a brag sheet if you want to, but I don't think it's necessary. It's mostly useful so the interviewer has some clue where you are coming from academically and maybe to trigger a discussion about your ECs. If you have specific questions ahead of time, jot 'em down on notepad if you like. But, honestly, I would just approach the whole thing as a conversation.</p>

<p>The people at Swarthmore are quite friendly and unpretentious. Just be yourself and have fun. Showing a little personality and some humor is a good thing. Kakhis and a long-sleeve shirt are perfect for an interview -- although it might be a little "overdressed" for a class!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
So just be genuine -- no acting like a pretentious ass.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes. Yes. Yes. This piece of advice is definitely worth repeating. Being pretentious probably shoots more college applicants down than anything else.</p>

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<p>anyone else notice that I spelled "sustained" as "sustatined"? Yeah? Well... if your interviewer asks you to spell anything... don't make that mistake.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Well... if your interviewer asks you to spell anything...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>"Could you use it in a sentence, please?"</p>