Aha
@ Aha 2022
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College admissions is a quicker process than you might expect – in some situations, it’s only days after pressing submit on your application that you’re brought face-to-face with a representative of your dream school in the daunting step known as the alumni interview. As a high school senior, it may feel like a dive into the deep end of the postsecondary pool, as this is quite often the first experience of its kind you will encounter. However, we have tips to help you learn to swim. Read on and master your alumni interview!
First, what does an alumni interview do? The effects of alumni interviews are similar to those of teacher letters of recommendation in that they have a small but significant impact on a student's likelihood of admission to a university. However, a poor alumni interview or an unimpressive teacher's recommendation letter might significantly lower an applicant's chances of being accepted. Negative letters or interviews have a greater impact than favorable ones.
Alumni interviews are given slightly greater weight by Ivy League admissions offices than by other universities. According to schools like Brown, Dartmouth, and Harvard, alumni interviews are "considered" as an admissions criteria. Some universities, like the University of Pennsylvania, give interviews even more weight, seeing them as a crucial factor. In any case, it's a great chance to learn more about your school of choice and make a good impression.
Okay, so you understand the process… now, how can you prepare? Your interviewer gave up their free time to speak with you. There can be a lot of diversity because every university has a separate set of guidelines for their alumni interviews, but it's mostly just a casual discussion between two brilliant people. The interviewer aspires to represent you, get to know you, and highlight your greatest traits. They are also prepared to assist you in learning more about the possibilities at their alma mater.
The interviewer will have some background material about you in the form of a report and some questions for you that will be integrated rather naturally into the conversation. You can anticipate being questioned about your time in high school, your personal and social life outside of the classroom, as well as your goals and expectations for your time in college.
You can be asked for an example of your personal development in high school, your extracurricular activities (and the reasons behind them), and what you're most looking forward to in college. Your potential major will also likely be brought up. There will typically be an opportunity for you to ask questions once the interviewer has heard your responses to their inquiries.
Now, let’s look at some tips to help you master the specifics of your upcoming interview.
Educate yourself on the university. Alumni interviewers want to know if you are interested in the interview and your alma mater enough to do your study.
"We want to be sure that [the students] have completed their assignments and are familiar with the campus. If they can show that they have thoroughly researched the [school] website, that is always a plus," explains interviewer and University of Pennsylvania alum Mickey Metzman.
Metzman adds that he wants to discover something new about Penn as he listens to the candidate, such as a new major or concentration. He claims that if pupils can provide him with that kind of information, it shows they have done their homework.
One of the easiest, and quite often unknown, life hack for interview preparation is not only to be familiar with the school of your dreams, but to have some extra inside knowledge on your interviewer themselves.
Don’t be afraid to take a peek into their experience at and beyond their college – find something you can connect with them on, and put all your energy into pursuing it. This more personal level of knowledge will likely give you the upper hand in the intense process of individual vettings, and make for a more entertaining interview.
Parents may or may not be permitted to attend alumni interviews at different schools, but in either case, Georgetown University alumnus Ray Esposito says, "It's for you and the interviewer; it's not for the parents."
Esposito's point of view is shared by Georgetown senior Matthew Bakios, who participated in an interview with an alumna as part of his application.
That's what makes the college application process so wonderful, he claims. It's actually the first time that everything revolves around you.
Also noted by Bakios is the need to "clearly express that you're an adult and that your parents aren't holding your hand."
Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni interviewer Jonathan Cohen said the rule is in place "so kids can be honest" and that parents are not permitted to attend interviews.
"Discussing topics that can embarrass [the students], topics they don't want their parents to know about, or even just their heart's desires can help them make wise decisions. Not that it's a secret, exactly. We want them to be open and free from undue pressure so they can ask any questions they need to in order to obtain the necessary knowledge, "Cohen says.
Just as you would make an effort to look your best for a job interview or special occasion, it’s important to dress sharp for college interviews.
The MIT alumnus Cohen advises students not to always dress professionally for interviews. According to him, it's OK for students to appear "neat but relaxed," as if they were presenting a presentation in class.
"If you look sloppy or untidy in your attire, that is a bad first impression. That gives the appearance that, for some reason, you don't care,” He claims.
Even if you’ve never been interviewed before, keep common courtesy in your mind.
Since he graduated from Georgetown in 1978, Esposito, who serves as the program's chair, has interviewed alumni on behalf of more than 150 prospective students. He swiftly lists some simple yet crucial advice: Be professional, arrive on time, and remember to thank the interviewer before you leave.
Even while practicing for an interview is crucial, remembering your responses will not allow you to reveal your true self to the interviewer. The interview should not be scripted because it is a conversation, as many alumni emphasize.
"Genuineness is the most crucial quality in a person. I can hear if you have a prepared response. You can hear me when you give me lines," Cohen says regarding the MIT applicants he spoke with,.
The Penn alumnus Metzman agrees with this statement.
"Do not attempt to be what you believe we want. Be who you are, and we’ll go from there," He claims.
Answer questions honestly and in detail because this is your chance to show the school who you are outside of the application.
Anu Reddy, a Duke University graduate and interviewer, claims that if students are merely saying "yes" or "no," it is difficult for her to gain a sense of who they are, their intellectual curiosity, or what excites them.
Esposito, a Georgetown alumnus, continues, "The more you tell the interviewer about yourself, the simpler it is for the interviewer to create an insightful report."
Answer questions honestly and in detail because this is your chance to show the school who you are outside of the application.
Anu Reddy, a Duke University graduate and interviewer, claims that if students are merely saying "yes" or "no," it is difficult for her to gain a sense of who they are, their intellectual curiosity, or what excites them.
Esposito, a Georgetown alumnus, continues, "The more you tell the interviewer about yourself, the simpler it is for the interviewer to create an insightful report."
Instead of repeating your application, use the interview to augment it.
"Your SAT scores, GPA, and academic standing are all known to the university. We want you to tell us more about yourself in the interview. What motivates you? Why do you wish to visit this place? What do you enjoy? What interests you?" Esposito says.
The interview is also a chance for you to go into further detail about any portions of your application that might need clarification. Metzman recalls, for instance, that one of his Penn applicants had a very limited list of extracurricular activities on her application. The student stressed during the interview how busy she was supporting her family by working three jobs.
The alumni interview is a "two-way street," says Cohen of MIT. Through the alumni, both the students and the alumni can learn more about the school.
Regarding her Duke applicants, Reddy adds, "They will learn why we selected Duke. So that's one area where I can speak about my experiences at Duke as an alumnus. What went through my mind when I was in their position once?"
Though it may feel like it, your interview is not over with the second you step out of the door. Keep in touch with your alumni interviewer – who knows the good that might come out of that extra effort!
Always remember: the alumni interview is not a time for you to be judged by someone more academically accomplished for you, nor is it an opportunity for a humiliating personal rejection. Rather, it’s a more intimate way of familiarizing you, the potential student, with your school of choice and a representative of that school with you. Your university is looking for the perfect fit, and the decision they make to accept or reject you is quite often in your best interest. Keep in mind that you are always enough, and you’ll end up where you need to be. Good luck!