Many “elite” colleges use “alumni interviewers” to meet with applicants. In those cases, the admissions office may already know the school, or the alumni interviewer provides insight into where how much of a standout the applicant might (or might not) be. We encountered a couple of alumni interviewers. One was something of a know-it-all jerk who talked mostly about himself and apparently took it upon himself to speak with teachers or others at the school. The other was an interesting individual who engaged the applicant in an interesting conversation.