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Besides my 'lower-than-average' GPA (compared to other asians) this is the subject that I'm most worried about.
I have a pretty good idea on what the college interviewers will ask during the interview. Nontheless, I want some help. I need to make sure that I don't screw up the interviews; I have no amazing grades to cover it up.
Few things that I want to know (including but not limited to):
Expectations from the interviewers
General expectations of the answers
What to do/not do
I'm also thinking of finishing up my interview with a magic trick to leave an impression that I'm different from most other people. However, I am not sure if I want to do this: on one hand, it finishes the interview on a good note. On the other hand, with horrible GPA, interviewers might interpret it as 'this student only played with cards and never studied.'
Any help would be appreciated.
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do NOT do a magic trick, just be yourself and try to stay relaxed. If they want you as a student they'll take you, if they don't whatever, try not to be too nervous.
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On November 19 2010 11:19 supernovamaniac wrote:
However, I am not sure if I want to do this: on one hand, it finishes the interview on a good note. On the other hand, with horrible GPA, interviewers might interpret it as 'this student only played with cards and never studied.'
I'm not saying you should or shouldn't do your magic trick, but I think you have the wrong impression of what these interviews are for. They can see all they need to see about academics based on your grades/transcript/etc., they don't need an interviewer to ask you about it again. The interview is there for those "intangible" things that can't really be put on an application. I always saw these things as conversations: it's a chance for the college to learn more about your interests besides grades and academics and, on the other hand, it's a chance for you to learn more about the school besides what distinguished professors teach there and whatnot.
So yeah prepare for all the standard interview questions ("What's your favorite book?") but also make sure that at the end of the interview your interviewer remembers something about you that will be different from all the other people he/she interviews. Also make sure you have some intelligent questions to fire back at him/her.
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Interviews are wayyy overblown as a part of college admissions, imo.
Try to seem insightful, thoughtful, and polite.
Don't forget to send a thank-you note to the interviewer after your interview is over - a simple email will do.
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On November 19 2010 11:24 Terrakin wrote:
do NOT do a magic trick, just be yourself and try to stay relaxed. If they want you as a student they'll take you, if they don't whatever, try not to be too nervous.
If the 'be yourself and try to stay relaxed' part relates to the first part of the sentence, that's who I am. I'm not doing the trick for <insert nice finish here>. It's something that I've been doing for past 6 years, and became part of my life.
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if i were an interviewer and saw you do a magic trick, i would think you were desperate
agree with terrakin do NOT do a magic trick
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the issue with the magic trick idea is that 1) you'll have it in the back of your mind during the whole interview and it will distract you from listening and providing proper responses, and 2) it would only help if you absolutely dominate the interview and they already like you. if you do a shitty job interviewing, and then try to level the playing field by impressing them with a trick, they won't be pleased.
now if they ask you about your passions or something similar, then I think it's a good idea to pull off a magic trick for them to show first hand something you're interested in and have worked at. assuming you are good and know some impressive tricks, of course. but for this, you'd need to be prepared for a situation where they do not ask such a perfect question, and in that situation do not inappropriately insert the magic trick.
I might add that in order to pull this off you need to be (or come off as) a very confident person. I for example have trashed the company I'm being interviewed for, and worn T shirts and jeans to interviews, and still gotten the job. But it was because I did it with confidence that it worked out.
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On November 19 2010 11:27 supernovamaniac wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2010 11:24 Terrakin wrote:
do NOT do a magic trick, just be yourself and try to stay relaxed. If they want you as a student they'll take you, if they don't whatever, try not to be too nervous. If the 'be yourself and try to stay relaxed' part relates to the first part of the sentence, that's who I am. I'm not doing the trick for <insert nice finish here>. It's something that I've been doing for past 6 years, and became part of my life.
Ok, lets say SC2 is something you've been doing for 6 years, are you gonna bring out a laptop and let them watch you own a noob. I know this comparison is bad but when I say try to be yourself and stay relaxed what I really mean don't show nervousness, make good eye contact, and talk to the interviewer like any other person, not someone who will determine your future.
There is a time and place for magic tricks, and it isn't in an (college) interview
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I'd say go for the magic trick if it comes up in the conversation and your interviewer specifically asks you to perform one. Also, I agree with the other poster in that they want to know more about you than what your transcript reveals. It's difficult to stay composed in these situations, but show them that you're sociable and there's more to you than strictly academics. Kind of like showing them you're the type of person they wouldn't mind going out with for a lunch break. G L on the interview.
On second thought, the fact that you're going to bring some kind of prop to potentially perform a trick (unless it's propless) may appear a bit out of place.
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On November 19 2010 11:31 AcrossFiveJulys wrote:
I for example have trashed the company I'm being interviewed for, and worn T shirts and jeans to interviews, and still gotten the job. But it was because I did it with confidence that it worked out.
These sound like good stories - do tell!
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I don't see the point of showing yourself to be different. Especially not with magic tricks.
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No magic trick! Cheesy.
All you need to do is be likable. Start off well. First impressions make the entire interview. Dress well, but do not overdress. Business casual kind of stuff.
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On November 19 2010 12:02 HCastorp wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2010 11:31 AcrossFiveJulys wrote:
I for example have trashed the company I'm being interviewed for, and worn T shirts and jeans to interviews, and still gotten the job. But it was because I did it with confidence that it worked out. These sound like good stories - do tell!
most likely not a post college, full-time, job unless the dress code at the company was casual
even then i'm pretty sure they would expect you to wear at least business casual to the interview
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On November 19 2010 11:46 krndandaman wrote:
dont do the magic trick. they could careless about it.
just try to present yourself as an intelligent person (which i presume you are) as well as being polite, honest, confident, and ambitious.
also just curious, what is your 'low' gpa? if you dont mind
if it's over 3.6 unweighted imma hit you
Look above
EDIT: Oh wait, didn't say that.
Below.
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just say exactly what they want to hear. it doesn't matter if what comes out of your mouth is a load of bullshit as long as it sounds like you really believe what you're saying (and that it's what they want to hear). for example, at my scholarship interview they asked me where i wanted to be in 5 years and i made some lame joke about being CEO, what they take from that is that i'm ambitious and hard working, when that's really utter bullshit. but they seemed to buy it anyways.
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If your GPA is low and you have a somewhat believable excuse then make sure you say that in your interview and explain why. Don't wait for him/her to say "Oh why are you grades so low" and instead bring up the topic yourself.
If you're going to a cafe, offer to buy him/her something of course. Get something very sensible yourself (small salad or drink compared to Big Mac or 2 liter soda).
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They might ask why you want to go to their specific institution so have an answer in mind for that.
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On November 19 2010 12:42 awu25 wrote:Show nested quote +On November 19 2010 12:02 HCastorp wrote:On November 19 2010 11:31 AcrossFiveJulys wrote:
I for example have trashed the company I'm being interviewed for, and worn T shirts and jeans to interviews, and still gotten the job. But it was because I did it with confidence that it worked out. These sound like good stories - do tell! most likely not a post college, full-time, job unless the dress code at the company was casual even then i'm pretty sure they would expect you to wear at least business casual to the interview
When I got the job trashing the company in the interview, it was for a summer internship at a major software company. Of course, I backed up my comments with facts and did well on the questions they asked me.
When I got the job wearing a tshirt and jeans to the interview, it was for a full time post college job, but again for a major software company that had a pretty lax dress code (but almost everyone interviewing wore business casual at least, often suits). When they offered me an exorbitant salary with great benefits, I asked for more money. They didn't give it to me. I then went to grad school instead, never intending to work there in the first place. Not one of my most mature/proudest moments, but kinda funny I guess 
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