<p>Hi there, our daughter did two interviews today at two separate colleges that are part of a family of competitive liberal arts schools. Both interviews were with current seniors in the admissions office. </p>
<p>She connected strongly with the first interviewer. It went over time... almost an hour instead of the 30-45 minutes it was supposed to be. They discussed everything from school and her interests to eastern philosophy and potential of profound experiences in nature. DD asked her question and he thought carefully, answered and ended up in a long tangent about it. It felt totally natural. Even if she doesn't get in, DD felt the interview was worth doing just for the quality of conversation.</p>
<p>Second interview, polar opposite. The interviewer seemed hostile. Her questions focused heavily on what DD did with her friends.... seemed perturbed that DD didn't spend much time at the beach. She mentioned a couple times how at the school the "work hard but also party hard." When DD mentioned what she was interested in, the interviewer said "oh, I don't know anything about that" and closed that line of conversation. She was snobby about DD's extensive community college credits even though they are challenging courses and DD is 16... not an actual college student. Interview wasn't even 30 minutes even though she said it would be about 40. When DD asked this interviewer the same question she asked the first the response was "Oh gosh, I don't feel like thinking." DD left feeling like she'd been stuck in a room with a character from "Mean Girls."</p>
<p>Based on the second interviewer, DD has decided not to apply to the school.... not because she doesn't think she'll get in because of it but this girl was exactly the sort that drives her nuts in high school. She went from really liking the school to feeling it would be a terrible fit.... and maybe it is. Still, I'm not sure I want her to give up a school she was enthusiastic about all year because she thought one interviewer was obnoxious. </p>
<p>I know it's possible to ask for a different interviewer but we're reluctant to do that. It's a top notch school but if that girl is the chosen representative of the school then maybe it's really not worth it.</p>