<p>^ This occurred to me, too. Perhaps if the weather is nice and there are tables outside, D2 could sit and wait there until D1 comes out to get her.</p>
<p>Agree with most. Don’t stick around, drop off and leave.</p>
<p>When D2 is done interviewing, wouldn’t she just shake hands, thank her and leave Starbucks. If you are in the parking lot, she will come to your car. I don’t think interviewers are going to be waiting around with a 17-year-old who probably goes to the Mall, movies and Starbucks without mom.</p>
<p>Both interviewers my son had were interested in talking to me when I came to pick my son up. Just a few minutes of - do you have any questions sort of chit-chat. Since at that point we didn’t have enough cell phones to go around, I asked the interviewer when I should come back to pick my son up.</p>
<p>I would plan on NOT expecting to return for your ‘goodbye’. If it’s the interviewers last appt, s/he may shake D2’s hand and just leave.</p>
<p>fwiw: when S had an inteview last year, there was never a mention of a parent tagging along, so I just dropped him at Starbucks and went and got some gas and read the newspaper. Son called me on his cell when they were done, and, although I was only a block down the street, the interviewer was gone before I arrived.</p>
<p>We live over 2 hours from where the interview will be taking place. That’s the reason I am driving. Ds are Juniors who have been driving less than a year and, beside being illegal for them to ride together, I am reluctant to have them navigate the distance in an unfamiliar area. </p>
<p>Chedva, the interviews are slated for an hour each. I just assumed that they would last that long and felt like since each girl had her own specific appointment time it would be best for the other to not be there. I understand your point though and think we will have D1 call when she finishes so that she doesn’t have to sit through any awkwardness.</p>
<p>We arrived early so DS could sit at table by himself waiting for interviewers to show up (he had several at Starbucks. Seems to be quite the thing.) I stayed far away (we have a large Starbucks) with nose buried in a book because I’m too lazy to do errands. Interviewers had no idea who I was.</p>
<p>Nice touch: DS stood up to identify himself when “likelies” walked in and offered to get everyone something to drink. Ladies accepted, gents declined. </p>
<p>Interviewers left before DS retrieved me at my obscure little table.</p>
<p>if you know its going to be an hour, be back within a minutes walk to Starbucks, even if you have to stand around the corner, when there are about 8 minutes left</p>
<p>an hour is a realllllly long time, btw, I never had a job intterview that lasted that long!!</p>
<p>also, double check which starbucks- heard stories of two starbucks within a block of each other and student going to the wrong one</p>
<p>Both times the interviewers asked me to return in 45 minutes. (Maybe the interviewer wants some time to pee between interviewees - that’s a lot of coffee if he’s interviewing all day!)</p>
<p>Our D interviewed last spring for a summer internship and I faced this question then. I opted to make myself scarce but then got entangeled in downtown traffic and was a bit late picking her up. The interviewers were waiting with her on the curb when I drove up in my dirty somewhat aged honda. I felt as if they might have viewed me as a little negligent. Yes, go away from the interview site but stay close. (And she did get selected, btw)</p>
<p>CGM and mathmom good points. Just bc the appointments are 1 hour apart doesn’t mean that the interviews will last the whole time.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Maybe that was viewed as a good thing! No helicoptering…;)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not less stressful if the interview is REALLY long and there’s nowhere to go to the bathroom.</p>
<p>Anyway, in this situation, I didn’t go into the coffee shop with my daughter. I simply waited in the parking lot and read a magazine in the car. I wouldn’t have been there at all if my daughter hadn’t been so tardy in getting her driver’s license.</p>
<p>My S always drove himself unless it was in a strange part of town or if it was tight on time getting there ( I was more comfortable driving “quickly” through traffic, than a somewhat stressed kid who didin’t know “exactly” where he was going ). Occasionally I would meet interveiwer/auditioner, but mostly I just waited in the car.</p>
<p>The smartest thing I did during my S’s college search was staying the heck away. H flew with him to the college tours and went on walks around the neighborhoods while S was doing the tours/interviews. We wanted this to be his decision and we figured the less involved we were in the process, the less likely we’d be to give our two cents or accidentally influence him. I’d probably sit in my car with a book or Sudoku and wait till they came out after the interview.</p>
<p>My children always met their interviewers by themselves even if they had to drive an hour or more to meet them. If I had any questions for the school, I told my children to ask their interviewers, I certainly did not need to meet them. There’s really no added value for the interviewers to meet the parents and one wants to give the impression that the student is ready to handle college on his/her own, starting with the interview.</p>
<p>I don’t believe shaking hands and saying “nice to meet you” before leaving would qualify as hovering. This woman is traveling 1/2 way across the country to meet my kids and personally I think it would come across as rude if I didn’t acknowledge that. </p>
<p>It’s nice to get the feedback and you have helped me understand how this may play out. But, while I understand where everyone is coming from re. “Do I stay or do I go now” and meaning no disrespect to those with different opinions, I have decided to say “Hello” and then excuse myself. I’m not looking to “add value” I am just looking to be me.</p>
<p>Always the perfect solution IMO.</p>
<p>Historymom - My son’s interviews were a little different than your situation. All of the interviewers were local alumni and most of the interviews were in the interviewer’s home. They were not travelling half way across the country to do the interviews.</p>
<p>One thing I always did before my son’s interviews was encourage him to come up with a few questions about the college or the interviewer’s perspective on the college, esp with alums. He had a little notebook he’d write them in, in case he drew a blank–though he never did–and also could take notes in if he wanted. Before the first few, I came up with questions to ask him and we practiced. Kids these age may not be used to answering questions about themselves. Of course, once they’ve written their application essays, they are totally self-aware!</p>