Hello. Looking for any advice from anyone who has experience with an admissions interview (undergrad, Newhouse applicant). Any tips for how to best prepare, types of questions they typically ask, any other general advice on how to do well in the interview? Thanks very much!
My daughter is a senior dual at Whitman and Newhouse. It was a while ago, but she brought copies of her resume and her transcript to her admissions interview. She wore a dress but was herself as she always dresses well even when casual.
She was asked about the person she admired most, what time period she would choose if she could live in another time, and other questions about her interests.
She was very honest with her answers, some of which were a bit humorous, but she was always herself. Her 20 minute interview ran almost 40 minutes. DD was admitted ED and absolutely loves Cuse! She could not picture herself anywhere else. Good luck.
You may have already had your interview, but this can help others as well so I’ll still answer it. I had an interview in the last few days at Syracuse, and it’s incredible laid back. Dress nicely, but they tell you it will be laid back. I was interviewed by a student in the admissions office, some people get interviewed by seniors who intern in admissions or admissions officers. I personally enjoyed having a student because he’s been in the shoes of the student interviewing and he’s been a student at the school (it worked out well as I had a lot in common with my interviewer, as he was a Whitman student and that was my school of interest). They ask a lot of different questions. My questions were:
Tell me about where you grew up, and how it influenced you as a person.
Tell me about your high school, how big is it? (Which was followed by “What leads you to Syracuse coming from such a little school?”)
Why Syracuse?
Where would I find you outside of school?
What was your favorite class (which lead to talking about how many AP classes I’ve taken)
What was your hardest class/most difficult teacher?
And then he joked “Now are the questions everyone hates”
The questions seemingly are really random, but are incredibly hard. Just be prepared to think on your toes.
The first question was “You’re having dinner with three people, dead or alive, not in your family. Who are they?”
And then “Two bands, dead or alive, are coming together to write a song about you, who are they?”
After that he pretty much asked me if there was anything he should know that we didn’t talk about (I talked about my GPA being low and more or less an explanation), and then asked if I had any questions for him. It ran about 45 minutes even though it was supposed to be 20 minutes. I’m applying ED, so we’ll see. I brought a copy of my resume and he appreciated it a lot as he has to take notes on my answers and who I am all around. I definitely would say try to just be comfortable and have a conversation, and be honest. Look up some stuff about the school so you can know if you have questions that aren’t answerable on the immediate website. (I asked if there was anything he thought I should know a Syracuse) Good luck 
This was helpful. Thank you for describing your interview. I also have a low GPA & am trying to get a Syracuse interview.