Help with college interviews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - how many college interviews have you sat through?

Many, thanks for asking. Undergrad and grad (not usual, but for the super-competitive grad school I ended up attending, it was necessary). Then job interviews.

What's wrong with teaching kids these crucial life skills starting when they actually need them, i.e. with college? These interviews are stressful for kids. Part of that is because it's a huge mystery to them, they've never interviewed before. Knowing what to expect, and thinking about some of the inevitable questions beforehand, can reduce some of the stress, and THAT can make the interview go better for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ironically those who are comfortable in their own skin are probably the only ones who benefit from real preparation in a traditional senses, but those who want to reinvent themselves are most likely to hire coaches to "prep" them.

Again, why all the talk about "reinvention"? These are life skills. Knowing these skills, like knowing how to tie a tie or how to drive a car, isn't going to change your personality,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ironically those who are comfortable in their own skin are probably the only ones who benefit from real preparation in a traditional senses, but those who want to reinvent themselves are most likely to hire coaches to "prep" them.

Again, why all the talk about "reinvention"? These are life skills. Knowing these skills, like knowing how to tie a tie or how to drive a car, isn't going to change your personality,

Agree, it's an odd perception that preparing is interpreted to mean trying to change personalities. Not surprisingly some 17 year olds, even those who have done internships or summer jobs, may not have done much/any interviewing before. My DCs both worked but the intern/summer job interview process was fairly low key and in several cases just over the phone. It was a very different experience from a 30-60 minute college interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ironically those who are comfortable in their own skin are probably the only ones who benefit from real preparation in a traditional senses, but those who want to reinvent themselves are most likely to hire coaches to "prep" them.

Again, why all the talk about "reinvention"? These are life skills. Knowing these skills, like knowing how to tie a tie or how to drive a car, isn't going to change your personality,

Agree, it's an odd perception that preparing is interpreted to mean trying to change personalities. Not surprisingly some 17 year olds, even those who have done internships or summer jobs, may not have done much/any interviewing before. My DCs both worked but the intern/summer job interview process was fairly low key and in several cases just over the phone. It was a very different experience from a 30-60 minute college interview.

Though I'd agree in principal, I suggest that some of you might have a different view if you sat in on some of these "interviews." More often than not, the students come off as scripted and over prepared.