Northwestern Bienen school interview

[Anonymous]

DC sent a video of her singing to Northwestern, passed the prescreen and was invited for an interview.
Well, just finished the interview and I think it was the shortest interview she has ever had. Wierd!

Just asked about why she wanted to come to school there, basically. Instead of the allotted 5 minutes, I think it took 3. Sheesh.

Is this common that the interviews are so short? What are they looking for in these interviews? Are the decisions of who gets in already predetermined and that’s why the interview is only 3 minutes long? They could have just as easily not invited her,

DC just assumes likely not in. Wierd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC sent a video of her singing to Northwestern, passed the prescreen and was invited for an interview.
Well, just finished the interview and I think it was the shortest interview she has ever had. Wierd!

Just asked about why she wanted to come to school there, basically. Instead of the allotted 5 minutes, I think it took 3. Sheesh.

Is this common that the interviews are so short? What are they looking for in these interviews? Are the decisions of who gets in already predetermined and that’s why the interview is only 3 minutes long? They could have just as easily not invited her,

DC just assumes likely not in. Wierd.

Interviews of any kind usually vary in length based on how they are going. If it’s going well and there is a good rapport, the interview often lasts longer. If it’s not going well, it might be cut short.
Was the interview to determine if they want to invite her for an in-person audition?

[Anonymous]

I think the focus will be on the audition. I would not worry too much about the interview. How did the audition go? Has she done and voice lessons with any faculty? That is a good way for them to see how she is as a student. Getting past the initial submission is great congrats!

Did you post earlier about back up schools? If so, I was the poster who had a kid admitted to NU. Please let us know (even if you are not tgat poster) if she gets in. Rooting for her!

[Anonymous]

HI NU MOM. I've been looking for you on here! Thanks for your kind words. Yes, she has requested a voice lesson with faculty but hasn't had it yet.

Actually, due to personal conflicts, DC sent in her audition - a good audition video we thought! Just couldn't get her there in person due to a previous important school commitment.
The interview was originally scheduled virtually for 5 minutes - yes, just 5 minutes. It was wierd. Hardly enough time to get to know anyone. 5 minutes?

We just assumed they had many, many applicants to interview.

I know it is super competitive, but kind of depressing. Have other options in mind.

[Anonymous]

NU mom. WAS there a similar short interview for MT at Bienen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HI NU MOM. I've been looking for you on here! Thanks for your kind words. Yes, she has requested a voice lesson with faculty but hasn't had it yet.

Actually, due to personal conflicts, DC sent in her audition - a good audition video we thought! Just couldn't get her there in person due to a previous important school commitment.
The interview was originally scheduled virtually for 5 minutes - yes, just 5 minutes. It was wierd. Hardly enough time to get to know anyone. 5 minutes?

We just assumed they had many, many applicants to interview.

I know it is super competitive, but kind of depressing. Have other options in mind.

I wouldn't sweat it then. They may have been behind.

My kid is at a different school. Is a serious musician but didn't want a conservatory program full of ensemble requirements. (Decided this after applying to UMD as a performance major, so she went through that process there). She actually applied and was accepted for Theatre at NU. We spent a lot of time with Bienen people (& Theatre people) at accepted student day and after trying to figure out how to get lessons and proper music theory, even as a music composition minor, and it seemed impossible. She ended up at a school with more flexibility, but has a friend dual majoring in music performance at Bienen.

FWIW, mine never got an admissions interview. From what I know about the various audition based admits, I don't think the interview would be that meaningful. I would definitely try to get some lessons with faculty in, though!

Hoping for her!

[Anonymous]

Also, there was no theatre dept interview.

One other thing. Is she doing any competitions? Applying for any competitive summer training programs? If there's anything you can add, send that in to dept contact and AO. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC sent a video of her singing to Northwestern, passed the prescreen and was invited for an interview.
Well, just finished the interview and I think it was the shortest interview she has ever had. Wierd!

Just asked about why she wanted to come to school there, basically. Instead of the allotted 5 minutes, I think it took 3. Sheesh.

Is this common that the interviews are so short? What are they looking for in these interviews? Are the decisions of who gets in already predetermined and that’s why the interview is only 3 minutes long? They could have just as easily not invited her,

DC just assumes likely not in. Wierd.

It appears that your daughter's response was convincing. Congratulations !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC sent a video of her singing to Northwestern, passed the prescreen and was invited for an interview.
Well, just finished the interview and I think it was the shortest interview she has ever had. Wierd!

Just asked about why she wanted to come to school there, basically. Instead of the allotted 5 minutes, I think it took 3. Sheesh.

Is this common that the interviews are so short? What are they looking for in these interviews? Are the decisions of who gets in already predetermined and that’s why the interview is only 3 minutes long? They could have just as easily not invited her,

DC just assumes likely not in. Wierd.

It appears that your daughter's response was convincing. Congratulations !

Assuming, of course, that she didn't wear a competing school's hoodie to the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC sent a video of her singing to Northwestern, passed the prescreen and was invited for an interview.
Well, just finished the interview and I think it was the shortest interview she has ever had. Wierd!

Just asked about why she wanted to come to school there, basically. Instead of the allotted 5 minutes, I think it took 3. Sheesh.

Is this common that the interviews are so short? What are they looking for in these interviews? Are the decisions of who gets in already predetermined and that’s why the interview is only 3 minutes long? They could have just as easily not invited her,

DC just assumes likely not in. Wierd.

It appears that your daughter's response was convincing. Congratulations !

Huh? OP here. We took it more that she wasn’t a candidate for admission compared to others, and they just wanted to hurry the interview to get to others.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't sweat it then. They may have been behind.

My kid is at a different school. Is a serious musician but didn't want a conservatory program full of ensemble requirements. (Decided this after applying to UMD as a performance major, so she went through that process there). She actually applied and was accepted for Theatre at NU. We spent a lot of time with Bienen people (& Theatre people) at accepted student day and after trying to figure out how to get lessons and proper music theory, even as a music composition minor, and it seemed impossible. She ended up at a school with more flexibility, but has a friend dual majoring in music performance at Bienen.

FWIW, mine never got an admissions interview. From what I know about the various audition based adits, I don't think the interview would be that meaningful. I would definitely try to get some lessons with faculty in, though!

Hoping for her!

Thank you for the interesting perspective on the school and your DC experience . Thanks for the advice about getting a faculty lesson - good advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC sent a video of her singing to Northwestern, passed the prescreen and was invited for an interview.
Well, just finished the interview and I think it was the shortest interview she has ever had. Wierd!

Just asked about why she wanted to come to school there, basically. Instead of the allotted 5 minutes, I think it took 3. Sheesh.

Is this common that the interviews are so short? What are they looking for in these interviews? Are the decisions of who gets in already predetermined and that’s why the interview is only 3 minutes long? They could have just as easily not invited her,

DC just assumes likely not in. Wierd.

Did she have to sing, or was it just an interview? For NU, my DC had to sing two songs, and then they asked a question or two (so yes, it was only a few minutes for the interview part). At another school, they didn't even ask questions (it was just the audition), and at yet another school, it was about a 5-minute interview on top of the audition. VCU did about a 20 minute interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HI NU MOM. I've been looking for you on here! Thanks for your kind words. Yes, she has requested a voice lesson with faculty but hasn't had it yet.

Actually, due to personal conflicts, DC sent in her audition - a good audition video we thought! Just couldn't get her there in person due to a previous important school commitment.
The interview was originally scheduled virtually for 5 minutes - yes, just 5 minutes. It was wierd. Hardly enough time to get to know anyone. 5 minutes?

We just assumed they had many, many applicants to interview.

I know it is super competitive, but kind of depressing. Have other options in mind.

I wouldn't sweat it then. They may have been behind.

My kid is at a different school. Is a serious musician but didn't want a conservatory program full of ensemble requirements. (Decided this after applying to UMD as a performance major, so she went through that process there). She actually applied and was accepted for Theatre at NU. We spent a lot of time with Bienen people (& Theatre people) at accepted student day and after trying to figure out how to get lessons and proper music theory, even as a music composition minor, and it seemed impossible. She ended up at a school with more flexibility, but has a friend dual majoring in music performance at Bienen.

FWIW, mine never got an admissions interview. From what I know about the various audition based admits, I don't think the interview would be that meaningful. I would definitely try to get some lessons with faculty in, though!

Hoping for her!

Bienen music theory, music history, etc have always been reserved for music majors. That’s to ensure the incoming class bonds and has “small classes”. Eons ago skydiving history was the entire class of about 120-130 music majors—you took mh the first two years all together. Then there were 4 Muduc theory sections anc you were grouped together for the ten tire first two years. So same cohort/same professor the entire music theory sequence.
Makes for a great experience—if they allowed non-majors to tang those classes it would be crowded and not nearly the same experience.