Northwestern Interviews 2010 Forum

[thatjuanguy]

I had mine in early September and it was super laid back - I showed up in shirt and tie and he showed up in shorts and tshirt, I would guess this is all location specific though, we were meeting at a Starbucks near the beach lol.

My advice: be prepared but make sure you come off as a real person and not a robot.

[trudat15]

i'll be donning a little black dress - benefits of being a chick?

Among other things...

I will be wearing a suit. Mine is at a downtown hotel in philly, and that's a place you wear a suit to. I wear tshirt and shorts to work, but to get someone take me seriously professionally, a suit is required. They did ask for a resume too so I am treating it like a work interview.

Good point.
I'll be donning one as well. Been so long since I've had to wear one..

[r6_philly]

Good point.
I'll be donning one as well. Been so long since I've had to wear one..

Ha I have worn a suit exactly 5 times in the last 10 years

Court (witness)
Grad school interview
Job Interview X 3

I actually bought new suits this time around thinking I would need it for work then I chose the job where I can wear shorts. I guess I will be saving those suits for when I am actually a lawyer...

[crossingforHYS]

Anyone else request one/get their interviewer assignment yet?

Hoping mine goes really well, as I have 0 work experience!

since you have zero....what did you put on their application where it gives you the option of 1-10000 work experience years?

[crossingforHYS]

Anyone else request one/get their interviewer assignment yet?

Hoping mine goes really well, as I have 0 work experience!

since you have zero....what did you put on their application where it gives you the option of 1-10000 work experience years?

oh and GOOD LUCK

[haydee]

The nearest interviewing location is several hours away from me, and I don't have a (working) car. I'm thinking very seriously about not scheduling one -- I just don't see how it's feasible.

Who agrees that this will probably Hindenburg my chances at NU?

[sundance95]

The nearest interviewing location is several hours away from me, and I don't have a (working) car. I'm thinking very seriously about not scheduling one -- I just don't see how it's feasible.

Who agrees that this will probably Hindenburg my chances at NU?

+1



Edit: Amtrak? Greyhound? There's some way to get there. If it seems like too much of a bother then it looks like their interviewing program works-it's screening those who aren't totally serious about NU.

[r6_philly]

They should have phone interviews for people who are not close to available locations. I really do like interviews, I wish more schools offered them.

[hipstermafia]

I really do like interviews, I wish more schools offered them.

agreed.

[hipstermafia]

The nearest interviewing location is several hours away from me, and I don't have a (working) car. I'm thinking very seriously about not scheduling one -- I just don't see how it's feasible.

Who agrees that this will probably Hindenburg my chances at NU?

If you're seriously interested in NU try to make the interview happen. Rent a car, borrow someone's car, take public transport, something.

[haydee]

They should have phone interviews for people who are not close to available locations.

They really should, especially for international applicants. Or people who live in Wyoming... or the Dakotas, or Montana.

The NU app does not contain any space for you to indicate why you didn't interview, right? Do we think they'd bother to investigate how far you are from the nearest interviewing location, and extrapolate? Or am I looking at an auto-ding?

I am not sure public transportation is as inexpensive and workable as some people seem to think it is.

[r6_philly]

Why don't you email admissions and request a phone interview. State your situation and ask for understanding. If anything they would know you tried and give you an exemption on the interview requirement.

[hipstermafia]

They should have phone interviews for people who are not close to available locations.

They really should, especially for international applicants. Or people who live in Wyoming... or the Dakotas, or Montana.

The NU app does not contain any space for you to indicate why you didn't interview, right? Do we think they'd bother to investigate how far you are from the nearest interviewing location, and extrapolate? Or am I looking at an auto-ding?

I am not sure public transportation is as inexpensive and workable as some people seem to think it is.

Public transport can be quite expensive and inconvenient, completely agreed, but if it's the only way of getting there...

FWIW, at an lsac forum a few months back I had an adcom tell me that NU looks down upon applicants who can interview and 'choose' not to. I would think they can infer you're not in a major city from your address but I doubt they would go as far as investigating how far you are from the nearest interviewing location. You could shoot them a quick e-mail and ask if they will accept an addendum explaining the situation, but unfortunately I think they have applicants who travel 3+ hours to interview and may consider you not interviewing as 'choosing' not to

[haydee]

They should have phone interviews for people who are not close to available locations.

They really should, especially for international applicants. Or people who live in Wyoming... or the Dakotas, or Montana.

The NU app does not contain any space for you to indicate why you didn't interview, right? Do we think they'd bother to investigate how far you are from the nearest interviewing location, and extrapolate? Or am I looking at an auto-ding?

I am not sure public transportation is as inexpensive and workable as some people seem to think it is.

Public transport can be quite expensive and inconvenient, completely agreed, but if it's the only way of getting there...

FWIW, at an lsac forum a few months back I had an adcom tell me that NU looks down upon applicants who can interview and 'choose' not to. I would think they can infer you're not in a major city from your address but I doubt they would go as far as investigating how far you are from the nearest interviewing location. You could shoot them a quick e-mail and ask if they will accept an addendum explaining the situation, but unfortunately I think they have applicants who travel 3+ hours to interview and may consider you not interviewing as 'choosing' not to

Guess I'm firing an email to NU to ask about phone interviews/explanatory addenda.

I have no idea how Greyhound buses acquired a reputation for transporting drunken homeless people. These prices are $$, and with this schedule I'd also have to take off of work and stay in a hotel. If I had that kind of cash money, I would get my poor car fixed .

[hipstermafia]

Guess I'm firing an email to NU to ask about phone interviews/explanatory addenda.

I have no idea how Greyhound buses acquired a reputation for transporting drunken homeless people. These prices are $$, and with this schedule I'd also have to take off of work and stay in a hotel. If I had that kind of cash money, I would get my poor car fixed .

Seriously! and amtrak is awfully expensive as well. I hope it works out, it can only help that you're making an effort to interview via phone/communicate your situation. I had a random question that I e-mailed NU about and I got a super nice and timely response, good luck!

[hipstermafia]

Reporting back post interview, general outline:

- questions about my resume
- why law school
- why northwestern
- my questions

I didn't get any crazy 'what kind of super power would you pick' -esque questions, the questions were professional and my interviewer spoke very highly of northwestern (okay, obviously, but still).

If anyone has specific questions feel free to PM me! Good luck

[broker02]

Mine is tomorrow at 9 at my interviewer's law firm. I'll post back with an update.

[Godfather2010]

......

[r6_philly]

Did mine yesterday in a hotel lobby. Had a great time, learned a lot about the school that's not on the website and had a better understanding of what they have to offer. I think she also had a much better understanding of me as a person and candidate that may not have been possible through a 2-page PS. I wish every school interviewed.

[prerna]

i just scheduled my on campus interview...flying in from upstate new york in the morning and flying back at night...in retrospect i probably should have just taken an alum interview in nyc...

[Trustbuster]

Had mine a couple of days ago a a Starbucks. Friendly guy, though he gave off a vibe that seemed to say "Get out while you still can." He advised me to enjoy my 20s a bit more and maybe work a bit.

[r6_philly]

Had mine a couple of days ago a a Starbucks. Friendly guy, though he gave off a vibe that seemed to say "Get out while you still can." He advised me to enjoy my 20s a bit more and maybe work a bit.

Is that a "soft reject"?

[Trustbuster]

Well I am coming straight from undergrad, and it is Northwestern. The interview went well, don't get me wrong. It just had an awkward vibe.

[DearCan]

Just returned from Chicago and my on-campus interview. I want this school so bad I can taste it.

[fatduck]

I did mine last week with a partner at a very large law firm - I met him at his office but to my surprise it was very relaxed. No psychological/tricky questions or anything, we just chatted about my employment history and my interest in law school/NW, I asked him a few questions about his career path, he told me some interesting stories. We had both worked in the robotics field so we had a lot in common; overall I really enjoyed the interview and wish more schools did them. He said he doesn't have any direct involvement in the admissions process but he submits an evaluation. I imagine it functions somewhat like an additional LOR.

edit: since some people have been asking about attire...I wore a suit, if I were meeting him at a Starbucks or something I may have gone with a shirt and tie, but in general I treated it like a job interview.