<p>We didn’t do any interviews on first visits…once we decided to apply, Ds either went to interviews later or did local alumni interview. After one tour, admissions guy spoke with D and me in office for a few minutes and asked some questions. Frankly, he gave my D some excellent advice about essays and being competitive and it was great…even though she didn’t end up going to that school the essay topic he encouraged her to use got several personal responses from adcoms at other schools. Something like that I would encourage y’all to do.</p>
<p>Interviewing is a skill people need to hone. Job interviews, apartments, roommates…being shy shouldn’t be an excuse to not practice interviewing and when it’s not a deal breaker then that’s the best time!!!</p>
<p>Seahorsesrock, if you don’t think getting into the college of choice for my kid is a “deal breaker” situation for her, then I am not sure what is. She can gain practice in interviews for summer jobs this summer, apartments, campus jobs, etc. But this is a bigger deal than that, and she is not going to risk blowing it. Of course she needs to learn this skill long term. But it doesn’t seem fair to have her interview at colleges she knows she is not interested in, which is the only “risk free” way to have her do real interviews in the college application process.</p>
<p>My son found the campus interviews very easy to do. At some, the admissions officer did most of the talking, trying to convince him to apply and attend if accepted. Not stressful at all.
Interviews with alumni were more variable.
Here is a blog entry from a Tufts Admissions officer on the topic of interviews (they only have alumni interviews there). It should make you feel better about not interviewing if you really hate the idea -
[Nailed</a> It! Interview Tips from ED · Inside Admissions · Tufts University Admissions Department](<a href=“Nailed It! Interview Tips from ED · Inside Admissions | Tufts Admissions”>Nailed It! Interview Tips from ED · Inside Admissions | Tufts Admissions)</p>
<p>In case it adds to the discussion, here are the colleges he plans to visit: St Olaf, Beloit, Earlham, Kalamazoo, Cornell College, Augustana, Monmouth, Carthage. He says now that he is going to do the interviews if offered, and I will be able to reassure him with the advice in this thread. Thanks, everyone!</p>
<p>Why is it not fair to interview at safeties or maybe schools? When do young adults start this process? I know people that didn’t get jobs, apartments, etc becuase they didn’t know how to handle themselves. These interviews for colleges are to freak kids out. Colleges don’t have that in mind. </p>
<p>Jeesh</p>