<p>I was told by an admissions person that the vast majority of the UChicago student body didn't have an alumni/on-campus interview. So now I'm wondering whether this is because most applicants decide not to interview or because most interviews end up hurting applicants more then helping them. I can't think of any unobvious reason (obvious reasons being interviewee arrogance, mean-spiritedness, etc) why the interview would hurt anyone, but who knows? Just wanted to know what people thought, as I am probably going to have my interview sometime soon-ish.</p>
<p>Interview is awesome; mine was anyway. I talked for an hour and a half or so with an alumnus and we definitely had a great time relating what she did there to what I want to do there and so on. It was definitely positive in 2 ways: 1) showing my interest in the school and 2) hopefully helping me come across as a good match for the school.
Definitely do the interview!</p>
<p>I second that. I actually think the interview might have been the deciding factor for my acceptance. I've noticed that Chicago really wants to see if you love the school and what it's about--if you "get it," if you will. The interview gave me the chance to convey that I understood some of the aims of the school and liked it for the right reasons (by "right," I mean that I didn't see it as just another good school or a safety school), not to mention show my enthusiasm for the school. I really feel the adcom got to know me, got to know what my school was like, what I do. She even ended up talking to my mother and I for around an hour after the interview ended, and got to know my family a bit. At the very least, by scheduling the interview, you show that you're taking time for the school. I don't think it could harm you unless you do something foolish. If you really want to maximize the effect, do an on-campus interview, as you'll probably get an adcom or a current graduate student and get extra brownie points for getting out there. Have fun and good luck!</p>
<p>do you have to contact the admissions office to recieve an interview? or do the alumni get a list and then contact the student? I haven't been contacted yet, so I was wondering if I should call.
thanks</p>
<p>Chicago interviews are great! I've had my interview already (I was originally an EA applicant, but I didn't finish the essays in time). My interviewer was a Chicago alum (Davidson College professor). He asked me why I wanted to attend, what other colleges I was considering, if I had ever been so cold my teeth ached (not joking), about the Core/major, etc. Most of the interview was actually about my questions for him. It went very well. </p>
<p>Yes, you have to request an interview. There is an option on the application.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info...I think I'll try and shoot for an on-campus interview since it seems to be really worth "it" (aka the price I'll have to pay for my airplane ticket + hotel room). Sarahbara, did you have your interview with your regional adcom or someone else? Could you request an interview with a specific person?</p>
<p>As I'm from Manhattan, Dean O'Neill happens to be my adcom, and I don't think he does interviews. I don't know how I got the particular adcom I got, but here's how I scheduled my interview. I emailed my adcom (Dean O'Neill) letting him know my real interest in the school, that I was coming all the way to Chicago for my interview, and asking if he thought my interview date was okay, as it was sort of late. He said it was fine and wrote me a nice email, so I called the school with two dates in mind (that's what they tell you to do), and they gave me one and sent a confirmation letter. And I happened to get my particular interviewer, whether it was by design on somebody's part or not, I don't know. So my advice is email your adcom and tell him or her that you're coming out there and show them that you mean business (which I think you do, as you're willing to go out there--my interviewer said they really like it when students do it, if they can, so if you can, do) and that should alert them you're coming. Then call the office, don't just wait for that box you checked on the app to work. None of it can hurt. Btw, I know two other Chicago applicants, one from the early nineties and one from last year who had grad student interviews on campus that were both fun and quirky and obviously memorable and they were both accepted. So I think whoever you get, you should be fine. Good luck!</p>
<p>I did an interview and it was fabulous. It was on-campus and I spoke with a woman who was working on her doctorate in political science and we had a fantastic discussion on literature, patriotism, and chicago and urban life. I thought it went well and would be in my favor, mainly because she spoke with my dad afterwards and said I was a very bright student and the kind they were looking for :). she even gave me a sci-fi booklist, something i'm going to work on over the summer.</p>
<p>i think i had a pretty terrible alumni interview this saturday. the guy probably thinks i have no idea what chicago is about, i guess i was just nervous but that's uncharacteristic. is it possible to set up an on-campus interview and redeem myself? should i just email my guy and tell him how much i know about chicago? hmm, i think i messed up pretty bad</p>
<p>E-mail your interviewer a thank-you, and include (to a reasonable extent) the information that you wish you conveyed during the interview. You can mention that you were thing about the interview, and blah blah blah occurred to you. Obviously, give this a careful proof before you send it on!</p>
<p>Apparently it's too late for a campus interview ( I think). My friend wanted to get one but couldn't. The last date was Jan 17.</p>
<p>Call them</p>
<p>You're right. I called them and they said no. I also called my regional admissions rep., and she said no. She said that most of the applications had been read through already. Oh well, I guess at this point all I can do is wait till March/April. Good Luck to all of you who share my situation (and also to those of you who were luckier/smarter than I was and did manage to get an interview...though you'll definitely be needing less of it than the rest of us).</p>
<p>I think that I will send them something extra about my running career in high school. I know that this should have been covered in the original app, but I was too busy writing an absurd mustard-monument story and a semi-schizo mustard dialogue to think about how I was presenting myself (incompletely) to the adcoms. I'll add a note saying that they don't have to read it (I don't expect them to but, hey, why not try my luck?). Jeez--if only I could go back, right? Has anyone else sent out extra post-deadline material to Chicago? I'd appreciate some insight.</p>
<p>I have to think that interviews are not terribly important at Chi, but I think this because we 1) visited on Prospective students day and they did not have time, 2) they said alumni interview was just as good and they said they give guidelines/training, 3) DD was accepted without interview. btw, "they" is her regional rep.</p>
<p>However, interviews can be a big plus if you are up for it and it goes well. OTOH, I don't think they will be taken negatively, just neutrally if they don't go so well. Supertouch, what went so wrong. Did you two just not hit it off?</p>
<p>here's hoping my interviewer will like me.</p>
<p>i'm driving 80 miles each way next sunday to have my interview.</p>
<p>I had an on-campus interview in December and found it very worthwhile :).</p>