Competition at Every Turn

2/16/07

A’s final interview yesterday, for Brown. They met at Peet’s Coffee in Newton Centre. On his way in he ran into another blue-blazer clad classmate en route to his Princeton interview. The competition, literally, is around every corner.
As for the interview, who knows? A is relaxed about it all now. We both have a “throw our hands up in the air” attitude. What else can he do?
The woman who interviewed him was about my age, mid forties. A liked her, though worries that he lost an opportunity to give a good answer. When she asked how he spent his last summer, he blanked. All he could think of was the MIT paradox class. Ideally, he would have told her about studying for his A+ exam. But wait, he can mention that in his thank you note to her. In fact, it will make the note that much better. I send A an email saying just this. He is such a patient kid, and I know I am over-controlling and annoying. May this be one of my last e-mail "suggestions."

Princeton Positive

2/4

Princeton interview. Happy to have A's father drive him to the Newton Public Library, where the interview is to be held. Things seem to go better when I’m not there supercharging the air particles around the poor boy. He left in his button down shirt and blue Brooks Brothers blazer and I must say he cleans up rather well. They returned home later than I expected, and I assumed he and dad had gone for a coffee afterward. No such thing. Turns out the interview was a full hour. Was that good? A came back in high spirits. “It’s the best interview I’ve had,” he said. And I could tell by his gait and the tone of his voice that he meant it. He might even have had fun, which is always a sign of a good interview. If nothing else, all of these interviews are great experience for him, if not for me.

To Be Interview or Not to be Interviewed--is that the question?

2/12

On the phone with T today we review the latest news. Her son hasn’t been invited for a Brown interview, A has. Does this mean anything? She makes the leap (as I would) that this means that her son is already in the “denied” pile. More realistically, I suspect, it means that the interviewer assigned to him simply dropped the ball. Or does it? On the one hand, I want to believe this. On the other, these schools can’t possibly interview all 20,000-whatever candidates that apply. Can they? Again, another big unknown. It might mean something, it might not.