It depends on what kind of interview you’re talking about: on campus, with an area rep, with an alum. My D has had all 3 types and they’ve all varied. The area reps may only be in your area during very limited times and you might be setting something up over a month later. With an alum, it depends on your mutual schedules. On campus, well, see what’s available. Yes, you should call back ASAP so you can get a better shot at having something that meets your schedule as well as theirs.
Three days on campus is a great way to know if the school is a good fit. Olin and Webb Institute, both highly selective small engineering schools, require multi-day visits before offering admission.
Hi guys! I have an alum interview tomorrow afternoon at Starbucks and I’m a bit nervous (and very new at this). Can anyone share any general tips/advice? What would be considered appropriate dress for the setting?
Thanks a lot in advance! Good luck to anyone interviewing 
be yourself…if you give an interview that reflects the idea that you wouldnt’ fit in at whatever school the interview is for, view what happened from all angles…
for them: ok they might reject you because they see you as not fitting in at their school…which isn’t a bad thing but keep in mind different schools look for different things, so rejection doesn’t automatically reflect any imcompetency on your part
for you: ok you have just been given a reason to be quite thankful…its hard to realize now but rejection might also save you from ending up in a place where you don’t fit, which you of course wouldn’ t enjoy
and on the flip side, you might just walk in and give the best interview they have ever seen…its a win win situation
Okay, thanks. So it wouldn’t reflect badly if he suggested a date, and I couldn’t make it because of work/extracurriculars? I get nervous thinking what if he suggests like Tuesday, and I say no because I have to work, and he thinks I’m too picky or that the interview isn’t my top priority or whatever haha. College apps are nervewracking 
I don’t see what’s so nervewracking about this. Find a time when you could both meet. It’s really not that hard.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with saying that you can’t meet at a particular time (as long as you don’t reject every time he suggests).
I just had my Tufts interview today. We met at a tiny coffee shop, and I got there about 30min early and got a coffee while I waited. The interview lasted about 30min, and was pretty good. It was very casual, and we just sort of talked… no hard questions at all. She asked me a little about my extracurriculars and volunteer work, some stuff about my school, what I looked for in colleges, why I was interested in Tufts… we talked a little about travel then, and some about Greece (because we’ve both been). I mentioned my family was from Russia, so we talked about that, too. Then I asked a few questions (mostly about housing, study abroad, and campus life), and it was over.
All in all, it went pretty well and was really casual. It was my first interview, so I was really nervous at first, but I relaxed right away.
I’ve interviewed on-campus at Kenyon, Swarthmore, and Bryn Mawr. At Kenyon, it was with a recent graduate, with a senior at Swat, and with an older admissions lady at Bryn Mawr. I’m currently trying (somewhat in vain) to set up a local one for Wellesley.
I say if you can get an interview, you should. I like that in an interview you get a chance to explain yourself. You get more than just that little box on the Common App. In my Swarthmore interview I talked about why I quit Spanish after sophomore year…I explained to my interviewer why I wasn’t a huge fan of the curriculum (not enough emphasis on conversation and verbal fluency) and how I was able to take a lot of interesting classes because it opened up more room in my schedule. I also mentioned that I intend to take foreign language in college. It’s so much better than just sending a transcript with only three years of Spanish and leaving the admissions folks wondering why.
I liked that the Kenyon guy asked some weird questions, like “What’s your favorite food?” and “If you were trapped on a desert island, what would you bring with you?” I don’t think you really need to worry about how your answers to these questions reflect on you…don’t overanalyze. And the Swarthmore guy also asked me, “If you were a muffin, what kind of muffin would you be?” (Cranberry. Obviously.)
Dress nice but not like you’re about to walk into a business meeting. I’ve seen people at interviews wearing everything from suits to jeans and t-shirts. I wore a sundress to my Kenyon interview and nice jeans (i.e. not ripped, frayed, or baggy, and also dark-colored) with a turtleneck to Swat and Bryn Mawr. I believe that first impressions do count, but that smiling and being friendly and speaking clearly matter a lot more than clothing–and that if a school rejects you on the basis of what you wore to your interview, it’s not the right place to go anyway. I think with on-campus interviews too they realize that you might also be taking a tour or spending a lot of time in a car at some point during the day and don’t really want to do all that in stuffy clothes.
In all of my interviews there have been questions about why I like the school in question. I’ve also talked about my extracurriculars–mostly the literary magazine, because I’m really dedicated to it, but also the bowling team a little bit because it’s sort of a weird thing about me. I think I had the easiest conversation with the Bryn Mawr lady (which is kind of weird, because she was so much older than my other interviewers) and she was really impressed that I’m taking Physics C…not a lot of Bryn Mawr applicants take Phys C.
None of mine have asked for a transcript or a resume. Most haven’t talked about academics at all beyond what I’m taking (and not that in-depth) and what classes I find interesting. I’ve always brought issues of the literary magazine to show because it’s a gorgeous mag, I daresay, and they always seem impressed by how professional it is.
I’ve interviewed at RPI and WPI so far.
This last interview was very cool and a lot less stressful, it was with a senior instead of an adcom. I told her how I play guitar and my favorite song to play was Dust in the Wind… just so happens there was a guitar in the admissions building so she let me pick up and play for her 
Is there anyway to get an interview with NYU besides alum?
i had an interview with Barnard it was pretty casual the rep was super nice, so i guess that helped. think i was abit incoherent cos my nerves refused to settle down!! but she remarked “very good” to almost everything i responded. is that a good thing - or like something they would normally say to be encouraging? also, even after telling her how bad my grades were and if i even stood any chance, she still convinced me to apply and said i was an ideal candidate. but after reading posts about those applying to Barnard i realise the competitive is too fierce. am having second thoughts
I have an interview with Georgetown scheduled for Monday… eep! Though I’m a bit more relaxed with this being my second interview…
I just had my Rice interview, and it went pretty well on the whole. Overall, I would advise you guys to be prepared to talk about your personality, both strengths and weaknesses. I kinda tripped over myself for those questions, but you should prepare for those.
I have a yale interview soon…
THREE QUESTIONS:
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Hair down or up? It’s not messy down… half?
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Can I wear black jeans? My interviewer said that it would be a casual interview…? I hate my corduroy pants, but I can do that I guess. Skirt w/leggings? GAH! So confused.
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We are meeting @ Starbucks: do I buy the drinks/food? Or do I let him fend for himself? If he offers to pay for both of us?
Don’t know if anyone will see and reply to this but:
Where were your interviews held?
I, personally, will not be having any interviews with the schools I’m applying to. But my friends have had interviews all over the place- from libraries, to houses, to starbucks!
Mine have been in coffee shops so far, but some of my friends have had them at houses/offices.
I’ve only had one so far and that was at a Starbuck’s but like fhg, I’ve also had friends who’ve had theirs at houses and offices.
To Jessica–
- I think either way is fine since as you said, your hair isn’t messy. I don’t think the interviewer will really care, honestly, as long as you don’t walk in there with like spiked up hair in fifty different colors. (And even then, she/he can write that you have a unique sense of style and you’ll stand out to adcoms :D)
- Black jeans should be fine if the interviewer has already said it’s a casual interview.
- When I had my interview, my interviewer had already ordered a drink so I ordered one for myself. I have heard of some interviewers offering to pay for you so if your interviewer does that, just politely accept.
yamcxoxo–NYU doesn’t do any sort of interview, I believe. There is just too big an applicant pool to hold individual interviews.
Ok im panicking… I just got my interview scheduled but its a phone interview. Do you guys have any suggestions? Has anyone ever had a phone interview?
Also the big question. … When the interviewer asks you why you want to go to their college or university is there a typical answer that most people say or should it be more pinpointed… I mean especially if you are planning on going into something like medicine where many large universities have great research facilities and medical programs how can you really convince them that their school is the best for you? You couldn’t really BS this in my opinion…any ideas?
I have my first interview soon and it’s going to be at a coffeehouse. If I arrive and my interviewer’s already there, should I go sit down at her table and just not order anything? Should I sit down then excuse myself to go order something? Or just see her, but order something first and get my drink before going to sit with her? Ahh, I find all of the possibilities so awkward.