Yes, you definitely run the risk of sounding lazy, especially to Princeton univ.
A little off topic don’t you think?
Yea i was thinking the same thing. UChicago’s interviews are by request?
I have only interviewed at Haverford and Mount Holyoke Colleges. I expect to have alumni interviews for Carleton and Bryn Mawr later, as well.
My first interview was at Haverford–I wish I’d been able to use Mt. Holyoke as a “practice,” since I’m far more interested in Haverford than MHC, but oh well. I wasn’t nervous. My interviewer was as current senior, and not particularly responsive–lots of nodding and saying “Mm-hm,” but it wasn’t conversational at all. That aspect almost put me ill at ease, but I suppose she was trained to keep somewhat of a poker face. She surprised me at the beginning of the interview by asking me about my high school. I hadn’t prepared for a question like this, and I kind of stumbled a bit and didn’t manage to make the points that I would have liked to make. <em>sigh</em> She also asked some questions about what I do in my free time (again, I didn’t manage to make all the points I’d have liked to make), what I’m looking for in a college, why I’m interested in Haverford, and such. At the end there were questions and answers, which was helpful to me, and my interviewer mentioned some programs that she thought sounded like something I’d be interested in. I think it was okay, all things considered, even though it was far from perfect.
My MHC interview went a great deal more smoothly. My interviewer was also a student, a senior, and she took down notes the whole time. She even took down at least one direct quote! She was very careful about the accuracy of her notes; for instance, she would read back to me what she had written and ask me to fill in some details she’d missed. She asked me the same sorts of questions that my Haverford interviewer did, about my interests and my high school (I was prepared, though, this time!). She also asked why I was considering an all-women college experience (a question I had NOT prepared for–I am, in fact, questioning how happy I would be in an all-female environment) and why I was interested in Mount Holyoke, in particular. An easier question to answer was the one about my current courses and specifically about the preponderance of math and science in my schedule this year. Then we got to talking about world literature, since I’m trying to get a world lit independent study credit approved by my school’s administration (as I haven’t got an English class this year), and at the end she gave me a list of Caribbean authors (since she’s Jamaican) to look into. 
She was very… affirmative. Even though I stumbled over the question about “Why a women’s college? Why Mount Holyoke?” (I confessed my doubts about an all-women environment, as well as my mother’s worries that at Mount Holyoke I would have trouble meeting men, and told her that, really, in my college search I have been looking for academically strong schools with campus character, activities, and opportunities that appeal to me; if it happens to be open only to female applicants, then so be it. It hasn’t been a criterion, though.)
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hey all, my interviews were last year, i’m a uroch freshman now…
but here are my interview experiences:
Brown - excellent - the alumnus is a cardiologist which is what i basically want to do - the interview was held in his house living room - we had a very casual interview with casual questions and stuff, and then later on, i started talking about my cardiology experiences (my shadowing) and we started talking cardiac cases and stuff, very interesting…in the end, he even offered me to come check out the group and do some shadowing or whatever.
UPenn - not so hot…held at Starbucks…this guy was given a list of questions and basically asked all of them and wrote down every single answer…some questions were so weird and harsh like why should we accept u…they asked me that directly…so i was caught offhand but i worked my way through…
Johns Hopkins - first interview therefore most unprepared…but the girl was an alumnus as well and working in a nearby hospital or residency or something like that…but she didn’t have many questions for me and i did’nt have too many for her either so it was quite short and meaningless…
I was supposed to have an interview for Uroch, but by the time they hooked me up with a guy, i had already been accepted so they just skipped that step…
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I interviewed for Harvard 2 years ago.
I remember talking about my main EC (marching band - drum major) for a while. What tripped me up was being asked about my favorite author. I was embarassed because I love to read forensics mystery novels… so my favorite author was Patricia Cornwell, not someone more “classic” like Hemingway. I was asked why I like her writing… and I rambled about her attention to detail. I don’t think my response was very good.
I did get in, most likely due to my excited responses in regards to music. If I had even considered preparing (which I should have), I would have looked up frequently asked questions and prepared (in general) my responses.
“love to read forensics mystery novels… so my favorite author was Patricia Cornwell, not someone more “classic” like Hemingway.”
There’s nothing wrong with having someone like her as your favorite author. Heck, I inteview for Harvard and have loved most of her books. I love her plots and the fact that her main character is a pathologist. I also have enjoyed watching her main characters’ personalities and motivations unfold over the course of her books.
What’s important for students to realize is that an interview is a chance to be themselves, whoever they are. What caused you to stumble in the answer was your belief that the interviewer wanted you to say that some kind of classic author was your favorite. Instead, what the interviewer was interested in was you – how you think, what you like, what your passions are.
From what you describe, I doubt that your interview tipped you in (which happens rarely as does the reverse). Your answers about music, however, may have verified what your recommendations and essay had indicated about your intellectual passions and ability to offer something to campus life.
I just read about the experiences missing your interviewer, and this happened to me for my interview. We were supposed to meet at the Coffee Shop in Union Square and so I waited for an hour outside thinking i’d see her(I hd come a little early too, and the place looked reservation-only). I finally left and emailed her asking what happened and she said that she was waiting inside!
I was quite embarrased, but I apologized and we rescheduled the interview 2 weeks later.
I interviewed though not everyone does. We met at Starbucks after school. My interviewer was a people person. He was out going and polite. He asked me about my school and he knew some of my teachers. We talked about my interests which included politics.
I don’t know whether he was a Republican or Democrat and still don’t, and for a second I wondered if I should just play it safe, for a second. Then I launched into my beliefs and passions and the reasons for them. I had some anecdotal stories but I knew all the issues, had worked on my party’s platform, had campaigned for several candidates and knew exactly why I believed what I believed. It’s my passion and I think/know it showed.
I guess what I’m saying, maybe in response to Patricia Cornwall, is that if you have a reason for what you love and can be articulate about it, do it.
After about ten minutes he was really smiling and suddenly I felt self conscious. I apologized for rambling and he said, no, that’s just what Columbia wants, someone who knows what they believe and why they believe it.
Another point I want to make and it was unintentional == but by speaking on my passion there was not a lot of time for other questions after the general what do we have in common and why do you want to go there was out of the way. They give you about an hour and after the interviewer introduces themselves and you do the same and the small talk gets going then there is not a lot of time left.
That’s my story anyway.
ok…well one thing to avoid missing your interviewer that the upenn guy did was mention how he looks like…he was like i’m white, short, bald and i’m wearing so and so shirt or something…and i made sure i had their cell phone number just in case…
I just had my first interview today, and I really am clueless as to interpreting whether it went well or not. My interviewer often laughed even when I wasn’t being funny…which was a little awkward. But he was very responsive and encouraging.
are all interviewers nice to you? i’m having an interview with MIT alumnus in a week, i honestly don’t know what to expect.
How would you guys compare it to a job interview? (for those who have done both)
dima-
There is no reason an interviewer would be unkind to you that I can think of, unless you threaten them or something.
jrinhs-
why are you interviewing now? Are you really a jr in HS? Most schools are wanting to save their interview time for current srs, until admissions apps deadlines are met. then they typically interview the juniors. Hmmm…
lol, sorry. I’m actually a senior. I just never bothered to change my sn here, because I wanted to save all my “subscribed threads”.
ahhhh… makes sense now…
What kinds of questions should we ask the interviewers? Their personal opinions on the school life/academics/etc? Specific questions about the school?
I just had my UofC interview this morning. I asked her if she liked their Core and how her basic undergraduate experience was.
i had an interview for middlebury lastyear. im pretty sure that this along with my essay is what got me in. my grades and sats were like likwer end of their average. but it all worked out. be yourself. my alum interviewer and i foudn liek a million things we had in common from like her knowing my grandma who owns a video store in town, to the fact that we both played the bassoon in middleschool lol. its quirky its fun but it makes theinterviewer have fun while talking to you… its not as simple as asking som eboring question and them answering. ask questions as they com eintot eh conversation. ask open ended questions that will lead into conversation, not simple yes or no or a sentence answers haha. i asked questions like ‘so hows the mountain on campus’ which led to her asking me if i skiied and us talking about a local mountain whihch we both knew which led me saying how much i liked the chili in a breadbown they serve in the cafeteria there. hich led to hows the cafeteria food at middlebury… you know? it can be fun. pretend like its your older wiser cousin or aunt or someone youre slightly familiar with but havent seen in a while so you make sure youre respectful etc.<br>
im sure this made no sense, but im pretty sure it was the interview that got me in.
This post could be very long…so I will try to condense. D received grey card from G-town with alumnus name/#., instructions to phone within 5 days to set up interview. D tried twice, left 2 messages.After one week (if you are unable to contact interviewer please advise the chairman)D does procrastinate on some things so I said by all means call. Chairman of the local committee said so and so was busy traveling …but she was sure she would get with her. Finally the date is set…The Wednesday before the interview, alumnus calls the house in a panic…she was not sure if she had missed the interview the previous Sunday. Being the Mom I’am thinking …oh my gosh…but the tone of the lady let me know that she thoght she had missed it.Key word SHE. She races thru her email…tells me to have D confirm for the next Sunday. Needless to say…D tried to phone/email/left messages…Never could get ahold of interviewer D plans to go to alumnus house without ever being able to talk to her…D thought they had already iced up appointment. Of course you know the rest…alumnus was not prepared because D did not confirm…gave D condensed version because she had a dinner party to attend. D was dropped off thinking interview would be an hour…or at least 30 minutes… she got 20 minutes. Alumnus told her it was just a numbers game to get in and…is this normal for interviews or just arrogance? D was disheartened …this was her first interview. Oh…and since D had to wait on her ride …alumnus had to leave for dinner party but she told D she had Spanish speaking help working on her house…that D could kill time by practicing her Spanish on the guys working on her house!
^^ yikees… that’s terrible!
Oh, I’m interviewing with Reed tomorrow. First interview ahhh – will try and remember to mention something afterwards. It’s only 30 minutes. Have to make it good. Wish me luck ^^