After spending three years fretting about where I'd like to go for college, how I'd pay for it, what I'd major in, what I'd like to eventually have a career in, and how on Earth was I supposed to make any of these choices, I'm finally getting somewhere.
That's right, I'm finally applying to colleges. And, what's more, under the Early Decision agreement to my top choice school, Macalester College.
A few days ago I wrote to the Admissions Officer responsible for looking after prospective students from my area. Neither I nor my parents can afford a trip to Macalester, but I wanted to see if an alumnus living in my area could interview me prior to my application. Instead, she's doing the interview herself! She's coming down to VA to work with some local schools and to catch up with her family and, since she'll already be in the area, she's doing my interview as well - October 18th, 4 PM. ...And I am very, very nervous (though, admittedly, we got along well enough over the phone =) ). So... 'Care to check the following paragraph for me and see if you can think of anything important that I'm missing? ... Please?
I came across Macalester first through a collegeboard.com search and, later, through the princetonreview.com's search as well. I've also had it recommended to me by a number of people, and was thrilled to have these recommendations confirmed by more than one national magazine's annual college report. I'm planning on double-majoring in Anthropology and English (or majoring in Anthro and having multiple minors - I'm not too sure at the moment) and have always had a very strong interest in all things foreign, so the fact that Macalester's student body is 1/6th international students suits me wonderfully in terms of both academic and personal interests. Macalester also has very strong academics, and a number of special housing and study options that I'd be interested in taking advantage of if admitted. I also fell in love with Minnesota while I was there over the summer, and, from what I have seen and heard so far, the campus seems as beautiful and friendly as the state it's in. Overall, it seems to suit me better than any other school and wonderfully at that.
... I obviously need to go into more detail in certain areas, but if it's obvious that I'm missing a key topic or point of interest that might come up I would be incredibly grateful for your telling me as much. I'm not exactly what you'd call an adept extemporaneous speaker, so I'm trying to have at least some idea of what I'll say on the most obvious/important topics before the interview.
Thank you so much for any and all help!
Posted by CStroman (Member # 6872) on :
Been a while since my college days. Things have probably changed. I don't want to misguide you so I'll just wish you luck!
Posted by Pixie (Member # 4043) on :
Oh, it might also help to say that I've been taking the most rigorous courses available to me since the 7th grade and that I hope to graduate with the International Baccalaurreate Diploma at the end of the year. ...And what I do out of school for extracurriculars, community service, etc. Posted by Eruve Nandiriel (Member # 5677) on :
I''m starting the college application process. Right now I'm gathering information and trying to decide which colleges to apply to.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Don't hype your extras too much, those should all be on your app. Make references to them as appropriate, but don't just out and list them or anything like that.
An interview is about selling you. Or rather, knowing Macalester and trusting your statements about yourself, this interview is about selling Macalester. Assuming you've gotten decent grades (A-B average is good enough) and can sell yourself in an essay (based on your classes and writing here, quite likely), you're easily in. What's more, Macalester knows it, and while I don't know Macalester's early admissions agreement, I do know that even the most solid of them can be broken, which means Macalester wants to spend its efforts persuading top students to attend, instead of hying off to other schools.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Oh, another possibility is you're being considered for some scholarship or somesuch.
But again, in the interview just be casual, have a couple questions you want to ask that reflect an understanding of the school, and talk about your experiences, what matters to you, that sort of thing, not what you feel matters to Macalester (such as activities, clubs, or whatever).
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
It sounds good to me! A lot of Macalester's curriculum and vision is about international students getting along with one another. There are a lot of art and music students there, and they have a good curriculum for that if you're trying to get in for something related to art or theater. What I'm sure you already know is that Macalester is well-known for being a very political campus, and they're very enamored of people taking positive action to change the environment around them. If you have something truthful you can include about that, that might help.
However, I have to say that the thing about Macalester is that they accept a lot of people of different ethnic origins, which means that they get precedence over white people for being accepted. For me this meant that my asian friend who got similar/slightly less good test scores and comparable grades got into the school while I did not. Additionally, according to my roommate, they do not give academic scholarships, only need-based scholarships.
I think you should apply to Hamline. We are cool here! On top of that, if there are some courses you especially want to take at Macalester or at St. Thomas, St. Kates, or Augsburg, you can take it through the ACTC collaboration.
COME TO MINNESOTA AND HANG OUT WITH ME!!!
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
fugu: That's entirely likely. I'm not sure, because I don't think I applied to Early Action. (I could possibly have gotten in if I had... :/)
Posted by Pixie (Member # 4043) on :
Thanks a lot! I gave my teachers the forms for my recommendations today and everyone seemed to approve very highly of the choice and to agree that it would suit me very well, so here's hoping that my interviewer thinks so as well.
"But again, in the interview just be casual, have a couple questions you want to ask that reflect an understanding of the school, and talk about your experiences, what matters to you, that sort of thing, not what you feel matters to Macalester". Particular thanks for that, Fugu =).
...As well as for the reminders on ethnicity and politics, Ryuko - they're both much appreciated. I will have to admit, though, that I'm not particularly knowledgable when it comes to politics. I tend to just soak in others' arguements and evaluate them for myself later on (thus, my silence on most issues). Another favorite role of mine, however, is to play Devil's Advocate just to get other people thinking. I'll pick up on discepancies in word-choice, etc. and let it take flight from there. Sometimes the difference between a heated debate and amicable concession or agreement is simply that between definitions of the question at hand.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Cool. I hope you get into Macalester so we can hang out. Posted by Just another Dharma bum (Member # 6879) on :
I'll be starting soon...after thinking for a while I realized that I would like teaching English more than making films. I think I want to go to the University of Maine..I love Maine!
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Cool. I hope you get into Macalester so we can hang out.