Thursday, July 2, 2020

College Alumni Interviewers

College Alumni Interviewers March 31, 2012 Many colleges over the years have done away with on campus interviews by college admissions counselors and/or selected current students. Instead, many colleges and in particularly the highly selective universities have turned almost exclusively to alumni interviewers. Alumni interviewers can range in age from fresh out of college to well into their 90s but what unites them all, typically, is a love for their college. College alumni interviewers shouldnt be angry when the students they interview dont get in. Its the nature of the highly selective college admissions process (photo credit: Jawed Karim). Some alumni choose not to interview for their highly selective college because they find it disheartening that so many of the students whom they interview get denied admission. Theyre surprised and sometimes even angered that a student they gave a glowing review wouldnt earn a spot at their alma mater.   Just because a student interviews well and the alum happens to like this kid doesnt mean he should get admitted. The alumni interview is a small piece of the highly selective college admissions puzzle. Maybe its narcissism. Maybe its an unfamiliarity with the highly selective college admissions process. Maybe its misplaced anger. Any way you cut it, college alumni interviewers are a valuable tool for admissions offices. They are (ideally) salesmen for the college. They  rave to prospective students why they should attend their alma mater. They have passion. And theyre in your neighborhoodits not like you typically have to travel far to see them. We just dont understand why college alumni interviewers get upset if their interviewees dont get in. The interviewers dont necessarily know the students test scores, their grades, what their college essays and recommendations are like. And thats not even all of it. Take a chill pill, alumni interviewers. Your highly selective college is just that highly selective. That means not everyone gets in. That means most dont. That means the students you interview probably wont either. And its certainly not a reflection on you! Check out this newsletter on what applicants shouldnt do on  alumni interviews.