College Interview and Middlebury

Show up on time, wear clean clothes and a friendly smile. Don't try to impress the admissions representative by being a smart aleck. You'll come across as arrogant, a definite no no.

The on-campus interview may be with a student, with someone the college has hired because all of its admissions representatives are very busy or with the admission rep for your region. Of course, this person is extremely important for you because he or she reads your application first.

All three Middlebury photos were made and provided by Oliver Weisser. (Abitur 2008)

www.middlebury.edu

 

"Batell Beach." Our main lawn for freesbie and homework, the "Chateau" further back, for French classes and the Adirondacks in the background.

The admissions rep just wants to get to know you. Therefore an easy conversation is the most likely scenario. Questions about your favorite subject in high school usually lead to a lengthy conversation on the German School. Be prepared to know your favorite sports and books, but you don't have to know what you will study! Liberal arts colleges don't even want you to know what you would like to study, just indicate an interest in natural sciences or languages or music or literaure or politics or whatever your first love may be. Remember that this openness is very different from applications in Germany and the UK where you need to know why you want to study a particular subject.

In applications to US colleges that specialize in certain subjects such as engineering schools, you also need to indicate a strong preference for these areas of study.

 

College Street mit Mead Chapel im Hintergrund und zwei Vorlesungsgebäude im Vordergrund.

Check the website and literature on the college where you are having the interview because the rep will ask you whether you have a question on the college. You need to ask something (maybe about exchange programs, volunteer opportunities, specific housing options, the theater group, choir etc). If you say that you have no question, it comes across as "I am not really interested."

 

McCardell Bicentennial Hall, the science building

Weirdest question in an on-campus interview: If you were a shoe, what kind of shoe would you like to be? (Happened to Martina, Abitur 2007)

Weirdest situation in an off-campus interview with an alumnus: The seat across the desk was taken by a large doll. Interviewer did not say anything about it to the student. (Happened to Peter, Abitur 1989)

College Interview 101

The OFF-Campus Interview


You need to call the college to get an interview!
Some colleges require interviews!

Call after May 1 of the 11th grade, during the summer between your junior and senior year and in the fall of your senior year. Avoid application crunch times such as after November 1. (early decision deadline)


Feel under pressure? Do not worry, most college interviews are easygoing conversations. Many are off campus interviews with alumni who are proud of their school, successful, and like to give information rather than squeeze you like a lemon.

Such conversations may be at their home or office, but more often the alumnus/alumna will invite you to Starbucks or some other public place. Some prattle on and on about their own achievements.
Go with your gut feeling when it comes to interrupting them to ask your own questions about their alma mater. If you are the quiet type, let them talk. Nod, smile, and say 'great'.

Colleges place greater value on on-campus interviews than on alumni interviews. So stay cool, be polite, friendly and behave like the nice young woman or man you are.

Do not forget to write a short thank you note!

Cool Info

Check this out for volunteering.
http://www.volunteer-center.org/index.shtml

Check this out for college essays and interviews.
http://www.squidoo.com/College-info

University of Richmond

http://www.richmond.edu/
The Spiders are national champions in 2008.
The University of Richmond is ranked among the top liberal arts colleges as best value, as hottest choice for international studies, as innovative.
Check out this website created by a student: http://experience.richmond.edu/easterisland/
The University of Richmond is a private university in Richmond, Virginia. It is located in a beautiful residential area with stately homes and trees. Its campus must be gorgeous in spring when the cherries bloom.
SAT scores range from 580 - 690. ACT from 26 - 30. Most of its students rank in the top 10% of their high school class.Early decision deadline is November 15, notification is December 15, deposit due January 2. Second early decision is January 15, notification Feb 15, deposit due March 1. Regular decisions is also Jan 15, notification April 1, deposit due May 1.Student Center on the pondInside the student centerThe website literally mentions the Abitur, something I haven't seen in while. The University of Richmond gives financial aid to international students.You may never have considered a southern university except Duke, but the University of Richmond is a gem that you should consider. On the winter day when I visited, it was warm enough for shorts.After classDormsGymnasium

Goucher College

http://www.goucher.edu/
Goucher is a liberal arts college in Towson, just outside of Baltimore and very easy to reach via I-695. Its entrance reminds me of a corporate headquarters with the parklike setting and a long winding driveway.
Almost all of the buildings are in the same style and covered in light granite.
Goucher makes the SAT/ACT optional. SAT subject tests are not required but desirable in subjects that you ahve identified as strengths. Students whose first language is not English need the TOEFL.
Non-binding early action deadline is December 1 with notification by February 1. Regular decision deadline is February 1, notification by April 1. In both cases, you need to respond by May 1.
Goucher is in the lsit of "Colleges that Change Lives". It is proud to offer many interdisciplinary courses of study.
Dorms above and below
Student Center
Theater
The new Atheneum, an impressive building clad in copper and glass

Goucher is very close to downtown Towson which has nice stores and a mall. You can also take a zipcar to go to Baltimore. If you plan to visit Johns Hopkins right after Goucher, go back to I-695 and take I-83. Driving through city streets directly will take a looooong time and you get to see the run-down neighborhoods of this part of Baltimore. I did it twice and got lost only once.

Johns Hopkins University

JHU is a large and famous research university in Baltimore. It's best known for its medical school and hospitals where advanced techniques are used. JHU is the perfect place for serious students.http://apply.jhu.edu/facts/facts.html
All photos were taken on the Homewood Campus, home to the undergraduate college.
In addition to its first rate science programs, JHU also boasts one of the five best programs for creative writing. But there is no doubt that many students choose JHU because of its engineering and natural sciences.Rumor has it that its pre-med students enjoy cutthroat competition.The admit rate is surprisingly high at 25% compared to Yale at 7%. Colleges with strong engineering and natural sciences programs have a relatively high admit rate because they are self-selective, which means that only strong and highly interested students apply - there is little of that liberal arts undecisiveness.
Your ACT scores should be above 30 and your SAT scores above 660 for each category.
Expect a whopping $ 50 000 per year all expenses. Half of the students receive financial aid in some form.
JHU is located in Charles Village, a Baltimore neighborhood of traditional row houses and a village center with restaurants and shops.
The name of the university is Johns with an s Hopkins. Johns Hopkins was a successful enterpreneur, banker and investor who bequeathed money to found a unversity and a hospital. He led a simple life and spent much of his money to help others which includes the baling out of businesses in a financial crisis to keep them and the city of Baltimore from bankruptcy.
Mergenthaler Hall
The Library

University of Delaware, Part 2

The LibraryThe only Greek house (fraternity) I could see.
The free shuttle bus
Some of the newer buildings

I wondered if this was the place to refill your student credit card for the cafeteria, the university shop etc.