GULC group interview Forum

[quetzal_bird]

I thought I was a pretty decent candidate at Georgetown: 165/3.87/URM (MA). But, I received an e-mail today asking me to drive up to DC for a group interview. I assume this is a bad sign; its also something I don't want to do, mostly because I'm a bit put out at idea I need to drive to the school and interview with a group of other candidates. I haven't heard from anywhere else I've applied so far, so this has me a bit anxious. I guess I am asking, is it okay to turn down this interview, acknowledging that I probably will not be accepted because of it, because I can get into some of the other schools on my list? Also, how damaging will this no-show be for me at G'town, a school that is not one of my favorites. I have applied to:

Harvard
Stanford
Columbia
Chicago
NYU
UPenn
UVA (in-state)
Cornell
Duke
Georgetown
UTexas
Boston University

[gdane]

Why would you assume this is a bad sign? Anytime someone wants to meet with you, its a good sign.

If GULC isnt high on your list then just respectfully decline.

Good luck!

[alicen]

i also just got this email and wasn't sure if it was good or bad. it seems that for individual interviews with alumni it's for borderline candidates (bad sign), but i have no idea about these. any insight appreciated!

[bk1]

Why would you assume this is a bad sign? Anytime someone wants to meet with you, its a good sign.

No, it is a mediocre sign. GULC specifically interviews borderline candidates and thus it is a bad sign in a sense considering you aren't close to admit, but a good sign that you aren't close to reject either.

I would say don't bother if you don't want to go to GULC. You've got the numbers to nab yourself other T14's. Will this hurt you? Who knows how much but since you aren't terribly interested in GULC and will likely get better schools I don't think it is worth it.

[quetzal_bird]

Well, if this was a one-on-one interview, I would automatically accept. I have no experience in a group interview, and the idea is a tad off-putting for me. I will think on it, I but if I am borderline now, that's a strong sign (I think) that I would not be admitted with $$, so it might be best to decline now.

[alicen]

just curious, are you already UR? i'm still at complete.... does this mean they've actually started reviewing my app?

[quetzal_bird]

I'm at complete. I think if you look at the GULC waiting thread that they don't actually change to "UR" on the status checker. Instead, your "Application Completed" date should change about 3 times before a decision is rendered. My "Application Completed" date has changed once. This implies its UR

[Gotti]

I'm at complete. I think if you look at the GULC waiting thread that they don't actually change to "UR" on the status checker. Instead, your "Application Completed" date should change about 3 times before a decision is rendered. My "Application Completed" date has changed once. This implies its UR

bump...is this true?

[Ship87]

I just got an email for a group interview as well. I have a 3.74/177. Is attending a group interview a way for GULC to see who actually wants to attend versus who was just applying across the T14 board? I don't think my numbers make me a borderline applicant lol. Is this something Georgetown does randomly across the board?

[quetzal_bird]

I'm not really sure because as a URM, my cycle might shake out with some surprises. Maybe its presumptuous on my part to be a bit taken aback by the interview email, I didn't really think I was borderline. I do remember Georgetown undergrad emphasizing interviews, and it seems like a lot of candidates have been set a request for one, so maybe its a more neutral process at GULC than interviews might be at other schools, not sure.

[alicen]

i am also hoping it is a "demonstrate your interest" thing, probably just for people in PA/MD/VA area who could feasibly make the trip. and i also hope it doesn't matter TOO much...

[CM612]

I got this email too. Has anybody who signed up been able to generate a password/username for the admitted students site? My status checker updated today and I was able to get login info for the admitted students site but I'm concerned that it's just because I signed up for the January interview so my information was in the system...

[ahduth]

Group interviews sound fantastic. Why wouldn't you go check that out? Even if you don't get in, it could be really weird and fun.

[quetzal_bird]

Well, I am going to be stressed just trying to find the interview. Its a 4 hour drive there, 4 hours right back, and I am miserably bad about driving in DC. Plus, I don't think G'town is going to slip me a couple bucks for parking....

Of course, in the grand scheme of things, these are not good enough reasons to shoot myself in the foot with GULC; it just doesn't sound like the most pleasant way to spend an evening.

[Ludacrispat26]

I just got an email for a group interview as well. I have a 3.74/177. Is attending a group interview a way for GULC to see who actually wants to attend versus who was just applying across the T14 board? I don't think my numbers make me a borderline applicant lol. Is this something Georgetown does randomly across the board?

I think it's a combination of applicants:

-Potential YPers: people with well-above median stats (or good stats + URM). they want to see if these people are actually interested.

-Potential WLers: wanting to see who is the most interested so that they can take off the WL smoothly.

-Borderline candidates: if they are deciding between X1 and X2 (and potentially X3, X4, etc), and they want to keep their yield strong, this will determine which are the most genuinely interested

They basically just want to drag everyone out there and see who shows. I think the actual interview is nothing more than a formality.

I actually find the idea of a group interview to be terrible.

[Ship87]

Well, I am going to be stressed just trying to find the interview. Its a 4 hour drive there, 4 hours right back, and I am miserably bad about driving in DC. Plus, I don't think G'town is going to slip me a couple bucks for parking....

You should try driving to the nearest metro station and taking the metro. I live about 3 hours away and thats what I'm doing to avoid driving in DC

[iwanta170]

Is there anyone here who can weigh in on what the interview is like and/or what to expect?

[miracle2011]

I had a group interview with Dean Cornblatt this cycle and it wasn't bad at all. I attend an Ivy league school so the process was a little bit different. We just had to sign up for the group interview and Dean Cornblatt drove up to our campus and met us in our career service building. I was with six other current undergrads and it was fine. It lasted about an hour and he asked us three questions:

1. If you were on the Georgetown Law admissions committee which aspects of an applicants application would you place the most weight?

2. Should law schools use affirmative action?

3. He gave us two applicants to Georgetown Law and had us pick which one to admit?

It was kinda like a cordial debate, I felt like I didn't talk enough, but apparently it didn't matter since I still got in!

Hopes this helps

[Ship87]

miracle, do you know how many of the other group that attended the group interview were addmitted? I remember reading once in this forum that it was a pretty high percentage, can you verify that?

[miracle2011]

Okay, so of the people who were in my group interview I really only know one of them. And she also got into Georgetown.

The issue with my group interview however is that there is a self-selection bias. We signed up as opposed to Georgetown requesting to interview us. So I do not know if my group interview can be used to gauge admission chances for Georgetown.

[iwanta170]

Has anyone here doing a group interview this week received a follow-up email? I haven't yet so I don't know the room number and wondering if I should email them soon.

[ArchRoark]

3. He gave us two applicants to Georgetown Law and had us pick which one to admit?

So that is how they are deciding who to admit

[Ship87]

Has anyone here doing a group interview this week received a follow-up email? I haven't yet so I don't know the room number and wondering if I should email them soon.

I received a follow up email after the reservation I made online was full. A lady at the office emailed to say it was full and gave me two other dates, I emailed her back, and she confirmed my reservation a few days ago. I'm not sure what room number it'll be in; I'm planning on just calling the office the day of to ask.

[rockspaperjesus]

i don't really understand the group interview thing. i'm above both medians..does that still make me borderline? the interview is boston, not on campus.

"Right now, I'm reaching out to select applicants who have indicated ties to the greater Boston/New England area."

anyone have any insight?

[quetzal_bird]

if you look above, several of us have the same questions. It may simply be that Georgetown does want to meet as many applicants as possible and wants to see demonstrated interest in the school from candidates you might just be blanketing the T-14. I remember interviewing with them when I was applying undergrad and it required then. I just RSVPed. At the very least, I want to know if I'm not accepted its not because I didn't interview.