<p>my friend had a princeton interview on saturday at starbucks, and the lady who interviewed him interviewed him in a very strange way. She asked him questions such as "What do you like to do?" and "Describe your typical day from the moment you wake up" but told him that he had to answer as fast as possible. She said that she wanted him to answer fast because a lot of people like to make up things. If my friend talked about something, she would immediately ask a question about it and expect a quick answer. Luckily, my friend wasn't lying and was able to answer all her questions with speed. So yeah, here's a tip: Don't lie in your interview.</p>
<p>Yes! I totally forgot to mention that (virtually verbatim):</p>
<p>Interviewer: "So, why should you be admitted instead of someone else."
Me: "Well, I think I've really shown a passion for learning beyond what is required. I haven't had a lot of external motivation, yet I've really had the drive to succeed and I've really taken the initiative to start things."
Interviewer: "Yeah, well, I'm not trying to make you feel bad here, but everyone's going to say that so I need you to say something else."
Me: (Falls over dead)</p>
<p>Mine asked me if I wanted her to write anything on the recommendation. I wanted to scream "TAKE ME PRINCETON," but... alas, I did not.</p>
<p>Praguer, I knew because he scheduled an interview with me on the phone first, and kind of rambled off about his teaching job at a college.. so I simply searched for his name on the college's website and learned his specific academic field of knowledge. I hope that wasn't stalker-ish of me to do so. :p</p>
<p>Even if I didn't do the searching beforehand, in the beginning of the interview, he told me his profession and major in college so that's how I knew.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Interviewer: "So, why should you be admitted instead of someone else."
Me: "Well, I think I've really shown a passion for learning beyond what is required. I haven't had a lot of external motivation, yet I've really had the drive to succeed and I've really taken the initiative to start things."
Interviewer: "Yeah, well, I'm not trying to make you feel bad here, but everyone's going to say that so I need you to say something else."
Me: (Falls over dead)
[/quote]
Oh man. That would suck.</p>
<p>The problem is if the interviewer didn't tell you that would you feel better or worse?</p>
<p>Mmm, good point. It did allow me to elaborate, but not without major stammering and blushing. Honestly, anything would have been better: My best friend interviewed the day after me and she had the same experience. Our interviewer was a wall of ice. There was no conversation. It was really intimidating.</p>
<p>Thanks icymoon.</p>
<p>What are you all saying specifically sets you apart?</p>
<p>Just had my interview and I can relate to what all of you are saying about bad interviews. It wasn't necessarily bad it was just kind of a one way conversation, and every time I attempted to have more of a convo than a Q and A session, they made this less than pleased face, so I stopped. And then to top it off, at the end she said "Well Goodluck with everything, I know you will be successful at whatever school you go to." (..maybe I am reading into this too much..but that "whatever school" part sounded like she was implying whatever school other than Princeton)</p>
<p>So..most of you all felt a bit intimidated and less "at home" in your interviews?? Darn...this could be bad...I have mine sometime soon. I heard similar things from a friend.....I hope this isn't an exclusively Princeton thing. Oh well, I'm hoping for the best!</p>
<p>jellybean, my Harvard interviewer asked me the EXACT same question.</p>
<p>"You do realise that more than half of the 20 000 other applicants would probably say the same thing as what you said. I need to know what sets YOU apart from that group."</p>
<p>My answer to that was: "Sir, there may be 20 000 applicants, but I can safely say that the experiences that have moulded me into what I am today, and the contributions that I can give to the Harvard community is unique. My achievements and experiences may not be world-class or record-shattering, but I am proud of them because they are unique and they add a different perspective towards me as a person. With all due respect, Sir, I am sure you will agree with me that if Harvard were to admit only world-class applicants, the campus would be a very dull place to be. This is where i wish and can contribute to the diversity of a high-powered institution like Harvard."</p>
<p>I felt so pretentious. But he was visibly impressed. Or pretending to be.</p>
<p>JadeRain05--my interviewer said the exact same thing at the end "Well Goodluck with everything, I know you will be successful at whatever school you go to." errr!</p>
<p>Well, misery loves company, so at least we aren't alone. I'm just curious, but does anyone know how much the interview counts in the admissions process for Princeton specifically? I know that interviews in general don't count much, but at some schools its practically worthless, is that how it is at Princeton?</p>
<p>Alyssa, at least you were far more eloquent than I was. I had a good reply. But the blushing and muttering got in the way.</p>
<p>my d had same experience..low key, dr, extremely nice. Gave her a good impression of the school. On the other hand her interviewer at MIT totally turned her off to the school and she refused to apply, which is a shame b/c the school would have liked her. He was nasty and had an attitude. I think the schools should interview the interviewers before they do their job.</p>
<p>would you suppose that it would matter who interviewed you. for eg.if someone who was very well respected in the ivy community interviewed you and loves you to death for the place and ,lets say he knows the admission folk and tells them personally or through his notes about you do you think that could tip the scale in your favour as opposed to if the interviewer was just another princeton alumni???</p>
<p>What are you supposed to respond when they ask you that?</p>
<p>lol........</p>
<p>I had my Princeton interview on Sunday. We talked for 2 1/2 hours and I think it would have gone longer if I had not made another appointment that I had to leave the interview for. It was great! We talked about Princeton, my high school experience, and then "stuff" in general. It really felt more like a first date than an interview. Another guy from my school interviewed with the same woman. He found it a painful experience. They only talked for 50 minutes. I think that you "click" with some people and you don't with others.
I really clicked with my Yale interviewer and the one from Princeton. I had to work at it but it wasn't unpleasant at U of Chicago and Brown. The Harvard interview felt forced. I had trouble finding a comfort zone. On the other hand, Harvard was first interview. The other guy from my school had not interviewed anywhere else and took a type written list of questions with him that he filled in during the interview!! I cringed when he told me, but it was too late to warn him off. The interview is really just a conversation. You can not control who you are assigned to have this conversation with. You just have to try your best to be yourself. I was really nervous before the interview with Princeton (Feb 28) but being so nervous turned out to be a waste! If everyone at Princeton is like my interviewer, Princeton would be a great place to go. </p>
<p>I have to say that I am not really thinking about Princeton. The new grading policy seems like crap. I certainly don't want to go to a school where study groups are war camps or worse nonexistent. I also think the idea that a room full of people who ALL averaged 1500 on their SAT's and graduated in the top 10% of their class should be limited in the number of available A's and couldn't ALL possibily deserve an A is pretentious crap. SAT scores have been going up NOT due to grade inflation but due to a generation of students who are busting their chops, stressing themselves out and working like dogs to get those scores and those grades! I did talk to my interviewer about this topic, but only briefly. She did ask which other schools I had applied to and whether or not I had early actioned any where else. I answered truthfully, but not completely. Saying NONE of your business is awkward, and even though I thought, NONE of your business, I said "I applied to 16 colleges worrying that at a 10% acceptance rate I needed to maximize my odds." The Yale admissions counselor said that the information they are mainly interested in from the interview is, "Would I want this kid as my roommate?" They are looking for "nice" people.</p>