<p>My interview for princeton is at starbucks today. Usually, for these locations, does the interviewer let me pay for my drink, or does he pay? (or I pay?)...</p>
<p>I would not offer to pay, in case they feel you want to "buy" them. You never met this person before, if anything they should pay because is refundable, and they invited you to interview with then, so you order your own drink, and see what the rep does.</p>
<p>In general, alumni interviews tend to be well established middle aged people. Especially for a Princeton interviewer, I think we can assume that the interviewers is at least not poor and most likely above average in wealth. Therefore, from a simple outsiders standpoint, it would make more sense for the interviewer to offer and purchase in drink for you. The interviewer would probably use the same logic.</p>
<p>You may be wondering whether or not to accept if the interviewer offers a drink; although it probably doesn't matter, it is definitely safer not to accept a drink.</p>
<p>
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it is definitely safer not to accept a drink.
[/quote]
is that better than saying "yes" and then changing your mind and saying "no"?</p>
<p>Go with the flow...if the interviewer offers, go ahead and accept...just don't order the Venti Mocha Frappachino.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>if they offer to buy your drink, i would take them up on it. you're not being any more polite by declining their offer</p>
<p>Thats funny. I have my Princeton interview in a Starbucks today as well. And I live in New York too.</p>
<p>I was so nervous about the prospect of offering/being offered a drink that I made sure to get to Starbucks ten minutes before the interview so I could buy myself a drink before she got there... :)</p>
<p>lol would you pay for a drink for someone you just met? i dont think so. For both my interviews at starbucks, and several others in other random cafe's, i just opted not to drink anything, or take a water in with me. I'm not a big coffee guy anyway.</p>
<p>For my Duke interview (at a Starbucks), we introduced ourselves, talked for a few moments, and then my interviewer asked if I would like to get anything before we started. We both went up and paid for our own drinks...the drinks we ordered also ended up bringing about conversation, as I mentioned that I worked as a barista all last summer and it taught me to work in a fast-paced environment blah blah blah.</p>
<p>If I invited someone to Starbucks to an interview, I would expect to pay. There is no reason to either accept or not accept the offer to have a coffee other than desire. If you'd like one, go ahead. If not, don't worry about it. I do my interviews in my office but always offer the students coffee or water.</p>
<p>My Yale interviewer offered me a drink; I declined.</p>
<p>If you need a drink, arrive early and order your own and just wait patiently for your interviewer.</p>
<p>shawbridge hits it on the nose. This applies to other social and business situations too. If you're invited to meet someone, especially someone who is either older or has more seniority than you, he or she should know that the tab belongs to them. It's nice for the junior to offer but it's completely unnecessary. Accept if you want one, decline if you don't. </p>
<p>Give a firm (but not crushing) handshake too.</p>
<p>Agree with raffles
You should be showing up early anyway. Just buy yourself a drink and sip it while you wait.</p>