Admission Alumni Representative

Interviewer Information

Interviewing can be one of the most rewarding aspects of admission work because of the on-going and meaningful relationship that can develop with students. Reed encourages but does not require interviews; students unable to visit the campus and unable to meet with admission staff during their recruitment travel often wish to arrange an interview with an alumni representative. An interview provides the student with an opportunity to tell us more about him or herself -- things not always covered in the application. The student will have the chance to ask questions about the College, but will also be expected to answer questions about him or herself, and may potentially share with the interviewer unusual or challenging circumstances from his or her background. Throughout the interview it is important to try to put the student at ease. It is the Admission office's hope that students will feel comfortable speaking about experiences and events that might not be readily evident from the application and, in turn, the interviewer has the opportunity to bring Reed to life in an unique way.

Please be in touch with us if you have any questions: admission.volunteer@reed.edu or 800-547-4750

The process:

1) schedule the interview

The admission office will get a request from an applicant for an interview. A staff person will search for a good match based on location, as well as life experience and common interests, if possible.

She will email the alumnus asking if he or she is willing to conduct an interview in the next few weeks. If the alumnus is willing to interview they will receive an email with contact information for the prospective student.

Some interviewers are comfortable holding interviews in their own home. This seems especially appropriate when others will be at home during the interview, such as children or a spouse. Others are more comfortable interviewing in more public spaces such as their place of work or a café. We ask our interviewers to be sensitive and aware of what are unfortunately the valid safety concerns of young women and men today when choosing a location.

2) have the interview

(see guidelines below about how to do an interview)

3) submit interview write up

When the interview is over, please take some time to complete the online interview report form, or email, mail or fax your comments. Please emphasize reporting over assessment in the write-up. "We talked about his love of Stephen King" is more useful than "His reading is low-brow." To see some sample write-ups follow the link at the end of this page. This report will become part of the student's application folder, and we will make use of it when we evaluate his or her credentials in February and March. Please be prompt and try to file the report within a week of your meeting with the student.

Deadlines:

Application deadline Interview report due Student AAR interview request deadline
Early decision option I November 15 November 30 October 25
Early decision option II December 20 December 5 November 25
Regular freshman January 15 January 31 January 1
Transfer March 1 March 15 March 1


After the admission decision has been made and the student informed, the admission staff will notify the alumnus of the status of his or her applicant. If the applicant was accepted, then the alumnus can send email to the applicant congratulating the student and asking if there are any questions. The volunteer can email the applicant if he or she decides not to come to Reed, but it should be friendly good wishes, not an encouragement to change her mind.

Interview Guidelines

The interview is an evaluative tool. During your meeting with the student, we ask that you try to assess the student's motivation, maturity, curiosity, concern for others, and fit for community. In general, we want to know if this student seems like the type of person you would have liked to have known while you were at Reed. As an alumnus, you know the qualities necessary to succeed at Reed. Does this student seem to possess those qualities?

Our interviews are informal in nature, and should be relaxed. The student should not feel as though he or she is being interrogated. While there is no one 'formula' for a successful interview, keep in mind that a such a meeting involves some give and take from both of you, and this will make for the most satisfying and least stressful experience for the student. Don't feel as though you must always ask questions of the student. You should also be willing to share information about yourself and your experiences at Reed. Your insights can be very useful as a student tries to assess the degree of fit between him or herself and the College. Your perspective can also have a profound impact on shaping a student's decision to apply and then later, if accepted, to matriculate.

Creativity, flexibility, and adaptability are musts when interviewing students. Questions that provoke floods of words from one student may elicit only a grunt from others, so 'go with the flow' and tailor the interview to each individual student. Keep your questions open-ended, and don't be discouraged if it takes the student a little while to open up. Follow up on the topics that seem most interesting to the student. Feel free to ask some questions that feel a bit pointed if you think they will lead the student to talk in more detail about a given topic.

Listed below are some questions that you may wish to use in your interview. Feel free to use as few or as many of these suggestions as you like:

  • How did you become interested in Reed? What is it about Reed that seems especially interesting to you?
  • What other colleges are you considering, and why?
  • What do you like and dislike about your high school?
  • What is your favorite class this year, and why?
  • As you look back over your time in high school, can you single out one teacher as being special, someone who really has had an influence on you? Who is that, and why is he or she special?
  • Tell me about your summer.
  • Tell me about any good movies or books you've come across recently.
  • What makes you laugh?
  • What kinds of things do you do when you're not in school? (Are you on any sports teams, do you have a job, do you play an instrument, etc.)
  • Is there anything else you think the Admission Committee should know about you? Is there anything of special interest to you that we haven't talked about?
  • Why do we read the Odyssey?
  • If you had to write a thesis today, what would you research?

A good interview volunteer from our perspective is:

  • a frequent email reader for ease of communication about interviews.
  • able to use web forms for timely responses.
  • available on relatively short notice (a week or so).
  • able to talk comfortably with a prospective student about their interest in Reed and evaluate whether they are a good match for Reed.

Tools for volunteers: