<p>My junior ds and I are visiting in mid-February. Interviews for juniors are allowed at that time, though I think senior year is preferred. This is our only opportunity to head out there, so we are hoping he gets one. Can anyone tell me what they are like? Who conducts them, about how long they are, etc.? Also, should he have some sort of resume' about himself to give to the interviewer? Would that be "too much"? Although we have visited a few other campuses and done information sessions, tours, sat in on classes, etc. the interview thing is new to us. Just not sure what to expect. Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>I can’t say anything about campus interviews but if they’re anything like alumni interviews it’s very casual. My interviewer is a professor at SMU and we met at Starbucks on that campus. We basically had a relaxed conversation and I wore a sweater with some nice jeans. Nothing fancy at all and I think it really reflects the laid back attitude at Pomona. I learned a lot and really fell in love with the school! Good luck to your son.</p>
<p>My S had an interview on campus, it was with an Admissions Officer who had just graduated. It was pretty casual, he did wear a shirt with a collar which is dressing up for him. He came out having really enjoyed the conversation. It was mainly to get to know you and understand what your interests are as well as to answer questions you might have. He did not bring any kind of CV, though you fill out a questionnaire (he can’t remember whether online in advance or there on the day) but nothing tricky. You see kids in the waiting room dressed all different ways, but I think it is better for them to be relatively comfortable.</p>
<p>My son is a Pomona sophomore and I think he had a pretty low key campus interview. I do have a story to share about taking his older brother to Pomona for and interview. The older son is 7 years older so this was 9-10 years ago. He told me that he wanted to see CMC and Pomona. At the time I was pretty much a helicopter mom so I arranged interviews at both schools. My son announced that he had not planned on interviews and in the typical adolescent way decided to get even. He went to the campus in shorts and a tee shirt. The interviewer for his CMC interview was dressed in a 3 piece suit. The Pomona interviewer was a very attractive young woman with a perfect figure dressed in a short red dress.
My son did not apply to either school but his Pomona interview was his favorite college interview. (he does not recall what they talked about but he did enjoy it)</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you! I’m sure it will be fine - I just sort of have a fear of the unknown. And, I worry a bit too because ds really doesn’t know what he wants to study in college. Hoping that won’t be a strike against him. </p>
<p>@PALMOM - that’s a cute story! Maybe I should hope ds gets a male interviewer so he isn’t distracted! ;)</p>
<p>My daughter interviewed on campus in September of her senior year. She met with an admissions staff member who was pretty new to the job and a little nervous, but it went well and was fun and not pressured or anything… just a talk. Showing enthusiasm is good - doing it after a tour so you have things to talk about might help. Lovely campus. Enjoy the visit.</p>
<p>I had my interview a few months ago (I’m a senior). It was with a current Pomona senior, very low key. He mostly just asked me about my classes and extracurriculars.</p>
<p>I am a senior in high school, and I had my on-campus interview at Pomona in November. I had been expecting a senior to interview me, but it turned out to be a middle-aged volunteer alum. She was wearing a nice jacket, blouse, and a skirt; I wore boots, jeans, and a nice peacoat because it was raining outside. No one was dressed extremely formally, so I think nice casual clothes should suffice. I had my resume with me because I wasn’t sure what to expect, and she seemed pleased that I had brought it. She based most of her questins on the activities on my resume; we basically went down the list and talked about each one. She never wrote anything down. Overall it was very casual, not as nerve-wracking as I’d thought it would be. She told me at the beginning not to worry and not to be nervous, which was really nice and surprisingly calmed me a lot! Just talk sincerely about your interests and your activities. Good luck!</p>
<p>Not to make your child nervous, but my D’s interview last summer with a senior student was quite stressful for her. She was expecting a casual conversation as her other interviews were, but was asked very specific questions about classes she had taken a year before and papers she had written for those classes! She got flustered and her mind went blank when she was talking about one paper. She likes the school very much, but was concerned that might count against her in admissions.</p>
<p>My son had a very nice, friendly low-key interview on campus in October. The day before, someone from Admissions actually visited his school in NorCal and told the students if they come for an interview to be relaxed and wear shorts and flip-flops or whatever was comfortable. The kid who interviewed him was an English major and a senior and came across as very friendly and interested (and he was wearing slacks and white shirt ;-). Our son said they had a great time chatting. The interviewer did not take any notes, so we figured that the purpose of these on-campus interviews are more like a ‘thumbs up’, ‘thumbs down’ type of thing and that the only thing the interviewer will do is make a note to that effect afterwards. Best advice: be yourself and don’t sweat it.</p>