GAH COLLEGE INTERVIEW

So I was kind of "pushed" into getting a college interview from Princeton.

I have a feeling that this is my deciding factor. I mean, why would they request me to get an interview if they were absolutely going to reject me, or if they were absolutely going to accept me?

This is it. Sunday at 3 at Panera's Bread. Casual dress with some Greek dude who graduated in 1988

Only thing is, I'm screwed.

Greek guy: So, what did you do this weekend?

Me: Uh..study.

Greek guy: I mean, in your free time.

Me: Uh....read?

Greek guy: REALLY!?!?

Me: NoNotReallyIJustPlayedBattlefield3UntilIThrewUpOhGodKillMeNow.

...any advice?

Ignored everything but the title.

Tell them you went to Havard.

It's like when I go to the dentist, I tell him everything is fine and to just clean them, and tell him I'm a doctor so I supersede him.

Seriously, don't be nervous lol. If you had an extracurricular activity you'd be fucking set, browsing Southperry or video games don't count.

>>>Hey Princeton, I went to Harvard. Suck it, noobs.

hahathat'sfunny.jpg

Don't got an extracurricular activity, that's the problem. I spend my time either studying, doing homework, procrastinating on Southperry/Cracked, or splurging on video games during the weekend.

Lie.

What are you interested in?

Lie like you've never lied before.
Make up a completely new person.
But make it have some basis on someone you know so that you're not just pulling things out of your ass.

Tell him what he wants or needs to hear for you to be accepted. Massage the truth into something workable, like "I spend my free time researching area of passion x" where "x" isn't something you actually research, but know enough about to pretend you do. Just a general example, of course you'll come up with something much more brilliant and appropriate.
Not having an extracurricular activity... in my area of competition everybody is expected to have a lab job, volunteer at a hospital, have an internship, and be the most active member of twenty different clubs. On top of our 4.0s. It's more likely than not that eventually you'll have to take on something out of a necessity to appear "well-rounded".
If only "I'm still smarter than everybody else" was a valid reason to be accepted places =/

Well, I do have a job and volunteer, and I tutor kids at school quite often. But that's not my "free time."

Well, I do have a job and volunteer, and I tutor kids at school quite often. But that's not my "free time."

Volunteering is in your "free time" almost by definition.
TELL HIM!
And throw in some hints about how poor and troubled the kids are at the school.
Embellishing isn't lying.

Well, I do have a job and volunteer, and I tutor kids at school quite often. But that's not my "free time."

Adopting the perspective that you do indeed spend some of your "free time" tutoring would help you though, wouldn't it? I mean, if you weren't tutoring, that time would most likely be "free", wouldn't it? And so using it to tutor is in fact something you do in your free time.

Volunteering is in your "free time" almost by definition.
TELL HIM!
And throw in some hints about how poor and troubled the kids are at the school.
Embellishing isn't lying.

Actually, embellishing IS lying. If it was true, you wouldn't have to embellish. Just sayin'...

That being said, I agree with those saying that you tutor kids in your "free time". I'm not sure what universities look for nowadays, but what do you expect to be a legit "hobby" to have in your free time that will impress someone?

playing Video games?
watching Tv/anime/whatever?
playing cards?
partying it up all weekend?
Astronomy/gazing at stars every night?
fixing/modding cars?

If you think about it, there aren't very many things that people do in their free time that will actually impress (least I cant think of any). There just isnt very much productive happening during free time these days, unfortunately. I haven't gone through any of these interviews, so I probably wouldn't be the best person to take advice on, but why not go with the truth? "I tutor kids at school in my free time and play video games with whatever time is left." Wouldn't they find it more meaningful that a person uses their free time to help others instead of indulging it on themself? As I said, I've never had to interview anyone, nor be interviewed in this context, but you'd think after interviewing hundreds of kids about going to your school, you'd have heard the "made up excuses" enough times to know its bullpomegranate. I mean, I certainly don't see as many productive teenagers out there as I hear about. Also, nothing would feel worse knowing that you bs'd your interview, and STILL couldn't get in.

Ps. If you played an instrument, you can talk about that.

Actually, embellishing IS lying. If it was true, you wouldn't have to embellish. Just sayin'...

That being said, I agree with those saying that you tutor kids in your "free time". I'm not sure what universities look for nowadays, but what do you expect to be a legit "hobby" to have in your free time that will impress someone?

playing Video games?
watching Tv/anime/whatever?
playing cards?
partying it up all weekend?
Astronomy/gazing at stars every night?
fixing/modding cars?

If you think about it, there aren't very many things that people do in their free time that will actually impress (least I cant think of any). There just isnt very much productive happening during free time these days, unfortunately. I haven't gone through any of these interviews, so I probably wouldn't be the best person to take advice on, but why not go with the truth? "I tutor kids at school in my free time and play video games with whatever time is left." Wouldn't they find it more meaningful that a person uses their free time to help others instead of indulging it on themself? As I said, I've never had to interview anyone, nor be interviewed in this context, but you'd think after interviewing hundreds of kids about going to your school, you'd have heard the "made up excuses" enough times to know its bullpomegranate. I mean, I certainly don't see as many productive teenagers out there as I hear about. Also, nothing would feel worse knowing that you bs'd your interview, and STILL couldn't get in.

Ps. If you played an instrument, you can talk about that.

It's not lying.
It's improving the truth.
okay yeah it's completely lying I just want corn to think he's in the clear morally

Lie like you've never lied before.
Make up a completely new person.
But make it have some basis on someone you know so that you're not just pulling things out of your ass.

As a compulsive and borderline psychopath liar, this is a bad plan unless you plan to keep track of each lie you've told to build on it. More effort than it's worth.

Volunteering is in your "free time" almost by definition.
TELL HIM!
And throw in some hints about how poor and troubled the kids are at the school.
Embellishing isn't lying.

Embellishing is lying...

It's not lying.
It's improving the truth.
okay yeah it's completely lying I just want corn to think he's in the clear morally

so basically you're going to add to the problem instead of solving it ok

so basically you're going to add to the problem instead of solving it ok

...yeah!
Sounds about right!

Lie like you've never lied before. You think no one else is going to turn in to a potent mix of Mother Theresa and Chuck Norris as soon as they step in to that interview room?

Volunteering is in your "free time" almost by definition.
TELL HIM!
And throw in some hints about how poor and troubled the kids are at the school.
Embellishing isn't lying.

Yeah, don't do that. You're going to sound like an ass if you compare yourself as better to other students in your school or other applicants elsewhere.

Actually, embellishing IS lying. If it was true, you wouldn't have to embellish. Just sayin'...

That being said, I agree with those saying that you tutor kids in your "free time". I'm not sure what universities look for nowadays, but what do you expect to be a legit "hobby" to have in your free time that will impress someone?

playing Video games?
watching Tv/anime/whatever?
playing cards?
partying it up all weekend?
Astronomy/gazing at stars every night?
fixing/modding cars?

If you think about it, there aren't very many things that people do in their free time that will actually impress (least I cant think of any). There just isnt very much productive happening during free time these days, unfortunately. I haven't gone through any of these interviews, so I probably wouldn't be the best person to take advice on, but why not go with the truth? "I tutor kids at school in my free time and play video games with whatever time is left." Wouldn't they find it more meaningful that a person uses their free time to help others instead of indulging it on themself? As I said, I've never had to interview anyone, nor be interviewed in this context, but you'd think after interviewing hundreds of kids about going to your school, you'd have heard the "made up excuses" enough times to know its bullpomegranate. I mean, I certainly don't see as many productive teenagers out there as I hear about. Also, nothing would feel worse knowing that you bs'd your interview, and STILL couldn't get in.

Ps. If you played an instrument, you can talk about that.

I agree with this post the most. Just think to your personal experience and think of personality traits that will contribute to a college campus or classroom. It doesn't have to be all academics, all volunteer work, all extracurriculars all the time; just think. If there's really nothing, just be honest, but don't sound like a bum in how you tell him.

Yeah, don't do that. You're going to sound like an ass if you compare yourself as better to other students in your school or other applicants elsewhere.

I meant the kids at the school he tutored at.
How he was devoting his time to these kids so that they could break the cycle of poverty.
Y'know, heartwarming stuff.

How old are you again Raul? What experience do you have doing any sort of professional interview?

Retalion's post pretty much sums up my thoughts.

How old are you again Raul? What experience do you have doing any sort of professional interview?

Retalion's post pretty much sums up my thoughts.

I don't see why you're taking what I'm saying seriously.
I'm 14, however. I don't know if interviewing with the Dean of Students for the school I was applying to (and am currently attending) for financial aid counts. Managed to get $10k of aid, essentially 50% off annual tuition. No big deal.

I don't see why you're taking what I'm saying seriously.

This is not a Shenanigans thread, so you really should be serious in more than half your posts.