Wake Forest Interview, Before Visit?

Hi! My junior DS and I are visiting Wake in early June and I just learned of their interview recommendations. They do have on campus spots open when we are there, but due to the planning and timing of our visit he would have to interview either before the tour, or right after (as in leave the tour as it ends and go right to interview…which doesn’t seem like a good option due to clothing and weather). Thoughts? Or should we just schedule a web camera one? Figured since we will be there, on campus is better, but these are are only 2 options…only in the area that one day. PS The web site says you do not have to have an application started so there isn’t an administrative reason we can’t do this.
Thanks!

Why not right after? You learn a lot about the campus on the tour- a lot of people who tour say that that is the time that they fell in love with the school. Plus, the school will be fresh on his mind when he interviews. As for clothes- if what he wears is that important to you, he could always a) leave the tour a little early and change in the car or b) go with what he was wearing while walking around.

Members of tour groups I’ve seen and led on campus wear whatever they want. Most men wear the standard preppy look while on a tour: a pastel button down, khaki shorts, and some sort of slip on sperry-looking shoes. I’m sure he’ll be fine with that.

Oddly this question comes up a lot on CC, this one in particular. Interviewers aren’t going to dismiss your child just because they look “comfortable”. Let your kid wear what they feel most comfortable in to the interview, not what is going to be the most impressive to others. How can you talk about your strengths to a stranger when your shoes are pinching you and your shirt is too tight?

^ I agree. S did his right after the tour. Hot July day. Changed into long pants and a button down in the car. Had a great interview (and Freshmen yr).

Great insights @CarriesBakers and @rickle1 ! I was thinking the timing right after would be a negative, but you are right…he will be immersed and in “college mode” (as opposed to “summer mode” at home) and hopefully envisioning himself there so the timing could be perfect. And I would imagine if he mentions he came straight from a tour, that dress shorts instead of pants for example would be forgiven. Thanks for sharing your experience @rickle1 congrats! Glad to hear he had a great year!

^ Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

Hi all, well, I couldn’t make it happen. We cancelled (don’t worry, not a last minute cancellation). We left for this trip the day of the SAT2s and son wanted to have prep time before the interview. (Which by the way I’ve done more research and it seems like they ask a lot of tricky questions that you can’t prepare for, but DS needed mental/emotional prep time). Having this interview was putting a dark cloud on the whole trip, which I didn’t want! So we’ve scheduled a webcam one for August. Thanks though!

^ Just an interview FYI - Based on my son’s experience, this interview is nothing to “worry” about. It was more of a conversation style. They know your kid will be a little nervous. They’re good about calming them down. You can get some basic info off the website but the rest of it is really more about them getting a deeper feel then what’s on the application. So they’ll ask ?s about ECs and things like that. Some very basic questions like “tell me about a difficult time in HS. How did you handle it, etc.”. Nothing you really need to prep for.

It was S’s first. He was a little nervous (not knowing what to expect). Afterwards told us “That was actually fun”. The good thing about that was it sets the tone for other interviews. Once you have one under your belt, it gets pretty familiar.

I would focus on just being yourself. Whatever your natural you is, show it. That’s what they want to see. Otherwise everyone looks about the same on paper (at all these highly selective schools).

Thanks @rickle1 ! Then maybe I should move WF interview up so it’s first, since DS will have two more at colleges that are higher on his preference list…this one could be the icebreaker!

^ could be a good idea. The other thing to consider is that Wake has actual admissions folks do the interviews (not alumni) and place a fair amount of importance on the interview (as in they really want to know your kid). Some of the other schools will have alumni handle it. I’ve been told that they are not as big of a component to the admisisons process that way.

S had several interviews, 3 or 4 with admissions staff, 3 or 4 with alumni.

Either way, it will be good to get one under their belt.

Glad to read interviewing before a campus visit is fine. We scheduled an info. session/tour for late August and found out it is orientation week and there are no guided tours. So the plan is to visit in November.