I know quite a few people who have gone to people’s homes, staples.
I had my Columbia interview last week at the Coffee Bean 
I actually enjoyed it. The guy just had my name, school and email address from my file; I don’t think he knew my SAT score or anything else from my application because he asked me what I intended to major in, etc. He asked me about my activities and stuff and it was awesome because he had been to THIMUN too (and I’m going in January for the third time) so we even discussed the crappy countries we got! I learned a lot about the school and I think he learned a lot about me, so I think it went well. FINGERS CROSSED!
At Hamilton, I was there for my first ever college visit and my dad forced me into seeing if there was any availability for interviews; there was. I was soooo nervous. But then, I got interviewed by a Senior intern to the admissions staff, and it turned out that was her first interview too. It was really great. And my second, I was more prepared and all. The best part was that I had this book with me that I was reading, in Spanish, (that I had 'cause my dad left me at Kenyon for 8 HOURS to go see a customer) and it turned out that was the guy’s favorite book!
I was so nervous at first at the idea of interviewing. And now that’s my favorite part of applying.
Oh, mp153, I’ve actually worn jeans before. With a realllly nice, long sweater thing. But maybe just nice, semi-fancy pants and nice sweater. lol, sorry, I’m not great at fashion.
This was very helpful to me! I have my Yale alumna interview on Sunday and I’m preparing right now…super nervous!
Hi! I’m a new collegeconfidential member, even though I’ve been looking at this site for quite awhile and have always found it incredibly helpful
I have my Harvard alumni interview next week, and as you can imagine I am extremely nervous! I was wondering what kinds of questions would be suitable to ask the interviewer (ones that wouldn’t seem like I only know the basics about the school).
Hope you guys can help ! Thanks
I had an interview a couple of weeks ago, with a young-ish alumna…we went to Starbucks and she asked if we should get drinks, and I said thanks, I’ll pay for myself, so we each paid for ourselves with no problem. The interview itself went much better than I expected (it was my first), since I had brought along a resume (she asked for it beforehand) and she just started asking about my ECs and and what I learned from different experiences. I was expecting her to ask about why I chose that college and more in-depth questions about what I planned to major in, but I guess I either covered that while we were talking or she already figured out what my answers would be from my answers to other questions!
I tried to ask “good” questions (like you’re thinking about, whitebicycle) - and so I asked about how important undergraduate research was at the school, do most people participate in research and when they start, and also questions about the relationship between the surrounding city and the school. I also asked whether it was a bike-friendly school, since I’ll not be driving, most likely. Ask what you’d like to know, basically, and I would say don’t get too worried about whether it sounds impressive to the interviewer. Of course, don’t just ask about facts that you could find on the school website. But don’t be too worried.
Anyone had a Georgetown interview recently?
If you have an alumni interview, do they have access to your application? I’m just afraid that my essay topic might be brought up which is kind of personal and not something I can talk about face to face with a stranger.
I don’t think they have access to the application, but maybe that was just in my case. The interviewer didn’t seem to know anything about me beforehand.
^chelsea: I had a my Georgetown interview about a month ago.
Savs
was it pretty casual, or where they very GPA, SAT/ACT oriented?
I feel as though the interview will hopefully be one of the key components to my application
I have a Northwestern interview this Sunday and a Smith interview soon
Anyone had one with either?
Chelsea:
My Gtown interview was extremely casual. She asked me about ECs that were important to me and then we talked a little about what I wanted to get out of college and what I wanted to do afterwards (I’m planning to go premed and one of my dreams is to work with Doctors Without Borders). I talked about a service organization I am involved with and told her I’d heard service was a big part of the school… she seemed to appreciate that, and described some projects. Then I mentioned that I love to travel and talked about a few places I’ve been, and luckily hit upon a country that she had visited, too, so we had a conversation about that.
My interview lasted about 45 minutes, and my grades/scores were never mentioned. And, hey, I ended up getting in EA (even though I was ten minutes late due to a misunderstanding!).
Good luck with your interview!
apologies, I know this has been discussed earlier in the thread but there are 40 pages!!
For diner interviews~
- If I get there early, I should get a table, right? Not just stand and wait?
- Is it okay to order very little? And shoudl I offer to pay? or…?
[Sigh, I really wish more alumni did home interviews :P]
Thank you
Congratulations Savs!
And thanks for the advice
kjj17 - If the restaurant you’re going to fill fast, then I would grab a table and call the interviewer so they can find you. You should go at least 5 minutes early or so just to get settled, and it would be a good idea to walk in together.
Yes, offer to pay (9/10 times they offer to pay themselves though). Just make sure you pay your part. I would get something easy to eat, I think. Like not a measly salad and soup, or a big steak. Something in the middle that won’t take too long to eat.
QUESTION: Is it okay or inappropriate to address the interviewer by their first name? Most of my interviewers are recent graduates, and all of the alumnis have been addressing themselves by first.
I addressed my first interviewer by her first name after asking if she minded (she didn’t), but then again, they wouldn’t say they would…
So, what have you guys been doing at your interviews?
Junine- If the interviewer distinctly refers to him or herself by a first name in say, an email, or tells you directly to call them by it, then go ahead and refer to them that way. If they introduce themselves with a first name, ask them if they mind if you use their first name. However, if they introduce themselves as Dr. X or Mrs. Y, then call them that.
junine, thanks so much! I always go by mr/ms anyway, even if they use their first name in emails, and none have done the “please, please, just call me __” so I decide to err on the side of caution. but that’s just me
I haven’t interviewed yet but I wonder if anyone’s interviewer said anything encouraging/discouraging about your chances of admission?
re: Smith: I don’t know if you’ve had your interview yet, xoxo_pr0ud, but mine was totally chill. It was on-campus with one of the admissions officers (who I already knew a little because I had been hanging out in the office for a while the day before waiting for my overnight host to pick me up… sigh), and it was mostly things like “what do you do for fun?” and “why Smith?” Very stress-free.