Northwestern Law C/O 2016 (2012-2013 Applicants) Forum

[onionz]

I'm sure they know what they're doing

Was very happy from my on campus interview. I am not sure why some posters here said that a non admissions person interviews on campus, but mine was with a very nice admissions officer. The interview was 45 min long and used some of the questios from page 1 of this thread so I highly recommend going over them beforehand. Overall I felt I was very engaging with her and was able to convey everything I wanted to. I also geared my interview towards the AJD and asked specific questions about the program. She didnt have any new information that is not on the website but I still wanted to separate myself as an AJD candidate. She asked me aspects questions about my résumé ( I have 8+ years of combined work and military experience) so I also recommend being ready to give information on pervious positions.

Overall, I think the biggest advice I could give is to show interest in the school and program besides it being " a really good school ". My 'in' was the AJD (which is true, it's prob 90% of wh I am applying to NU) so I would think hard of why. Lastly, I think it should also be mentioned that you made the trip to Chicago just for the oppertunity to interview with them, spent time and money. I don't think it's something that should be taken for granted.

At the end of the interview the admissions officer gave me her card and I sent her a thank you email a few hours later.

Good luck! Chicago is really nice. Just really cold... (And it's only November!!)

Mine said she was part of the admissions team, as did the business card, but when I looked her up on Linkedin, she was strictly an interviewer for NU.

The card of the one who interviewed me said: admissions officer. I didn't look her up on LinkedIn though, I think her business card is a fair testament though. I was very happy that I met her and not an interviewer, though I really don't know how it's going to impact anything.

As I just said, the person I interviewed with also said she was an officer, even on her card, but was just an interviewer. Obviously some interviewers may actually be officers but the card and a feeling aren't enough evidence. I even applied ED which I imagine is more likely to get a full officer given the scholarship. Though for admissions I don't think it's a major difference unless you're a borderline candidate.

[ks2499]

As I just said, the person I interviewed with also said she was an officer, even on her card, but was just an interviewer. Obviously some interviewers may actually be officers but the card and a feeling aren't enough evidence. I even applied ED which I imagine is more likely to get a full officer given the scholarship. Though for admissions I don't think it's a major difference unless you're a borderline candidate.[/quote]

I am RD with weak #s and I interviewed with Johann Lee. I think it may just be something of a crapshoot in the end.

[Lear22]

As I just said, the person I interviewed with also said she was an officer, even on her card, but was just an interviewer. Obviously some interviewers may actually be officers but the card and a feeling aren't enough evidence. I even applied ED which I imagine is more likely to get a full officer given the scholarship. Though for admissions I don't think it's a major difference unless you're a borderline candidate.

I am RD with weak #s and I interviewed with Johann Lee. I think it may just be something of a crapshoot in the end.[/quote]

Agreed. It may just be the person who grabs the clipboard first. I don't really think it matters as long as its someone from the admissions team. I do think there's a difference between an off campus interview with an alum and an an campus interview with anyone from the admissions office.

[onionz]

Agreed. It may just be the person who grabs the clipboard first. I don't really think it matters as long as its someone from the admissions team. I do think there's a difference between an off campus interview with an alum and an an campus interview with anyone from the admissions office.

Maybe- I think it still depends on whom you get in the on-campus interview. I wanted to be interviewed by an actual committee member, so that if they were borderline on my application, they would have a face with a name and would remember me and maybe be more inclined to fight for me, assuming I did well in the interview.

Instead, both alumni and these special on campus interviewers give the admissions office a filled out sheet (If you turned over the slip they make you fill out you can see the matrix and criteria, there is also an example in Montuak's book) that is sorta lifeless. I imagine they take the on-campus interviewer's matrix more seriously (since they've trained them and have a data set to compare this interview with everyone else she did) but it's still worse than getting an actual interview with a committee member.

Although I suppose they could even make it such that any committee members/Dean Lee who interviews someone doesn't also give the first read over on that student's file, but that seems silly.

[Lear22]

Agreed. It may just be the person who grabs the clipboard first. I don't really think it matters as long as its someone from the admissions team. I do think there's a difference between an off campus interview with an alum and an an campus interview with anyone from the admissions office.

Maybe- I think it still depends on whom you get in the on-campus interview. I wanted to be interviewed by an actual committee member, so that if they were borderline on my application, they would have a face with a name and would remember me and maybe be more inclined to fight for me, assuming I did well in the interview.

Instead, both alumni and these special on campus interviewers give the admissions office a filled out sheet (If you turned over the slip they make you fill out you can see the matrix and criteria, there is also an example in Montuak's book) that is sorta lifeless. I imagine they take the on-campus interviewer's matrix more seriously (since they've trained them and have a data set to compare this interview with everyone else she did) but it's still worse than getting an actual interview with a committee member.

Although I suppose they could even make it such that any committee members/Dean Lee who interviews someone doesn't also give the first read over on that student's file, but that seems silly.

Agreed, but since we can't pick who interviews us in the on campus interview I don't think it matters. I do however thinks that regardless of who interviews on campus, his or her opinion does have more wight than an off campus alum. Also, for those who interview on campus and are not applying ED (i.e have to interview in Chicago) I believe that the fact that the applicant spent time and money to come all the way to Chicago also has some wight as it shows real interest, willingness and commitment that those who interview off campus (for whatever reason that maybe) does not have. IMHO that's one positive thing right there that gives some merit when the file is being evaluated.

[sinfiery]

Checking in, just submitted

[chickpea]

still waiting to hear about my off-campus interview... submitted 11/7. guess i'll have to be more patient!

[risa]

still waiting to hear about my off-campus interview... submitted 11/7. guess i'll have to be more patient!

I submitted my off-campus interview request on 11/8 and am also still waiting. I hope to hear soon since you can't go "complete" until you've done the interview! I'll check back in here when I hear...

I initially planned to go to Chicago for an on-campus one but decided that when I get into schools, I am going to want to visit the ones I'm deciding between so I should save my money and vacation days for the spring and admitted students' weekends.

[chickpea]

still waiting to hear about my off-campus interview... submitted 11/7. guess i'll have to be more patient!

I submitted my off-campus interview request on 11/8 and am also still waiting. I hope to hear soon since you can't go "complete" until you've done the interview! I'll check back in here when I hear...

I initially planned to go to Chicago for an on-campus one but decided that when I get into schools, I am going to want to visit the ones I'm deciding between so I should save my money and vacation days for the spring and admitted students' weekends.

Okay, good to know i'm not the only one still waiting. Hopefully we'll hear some news this week! I definitely think it makes sense to wait and see where you get admitted before visiting schools. I doubt that on-campus interviews are given significantly more weight than off-campus interviews.

[Nala7892]

just FYI I had my on campus interview today and I don't think my interviewer asked me a single question that was not listed at the beginning of this thread. for any of you who haven't interviewed yet, make sure you look at that compiled list of interview questions! and good luck!

[Lear22]

just FYI I had my on campus interview today and I don't think my interviewer asked me a single question that was not listed at the beginning of this thread. for any of you who haven't interviewed yet, make sure you look at that compiled list of interview questions! and good luck!

Agreed. It was a great help for me!!

[NoodleyOne]

I need an off-campus interview, but the closest location they have is about 150 miles away from me and not plausible for me. What do I do?

[arklaw13]

Is there any consensus as to how much doing an interview helps?

[alwayssunnyinfl]

I need an off-campus interview, but the closest location they have is about 150 miles away from me and not plausible for me. What do I do?

Go to Chicago.

[NoodleyOne]

I need an off-campus interview, but the closest location they have is about 150 miles away from me and not plausible for me. What do I do?

Go to Chicago.

Not an option, sadly.

[Lear22]

I need an off-campus interview, but the closest location they have is about 150 miles away from me and not plausible for me. What do I do?

Go to Chicago.

Not an option, sadly.

Do you feel as if it's a make or break for your app? The big reason I did it and spent $$$ to go to Chicago is because I have great interest in the AJD and I'm a borderline numbers candidate for it (let alone the 3yr JD).

Any chance you can bus/train to the interview? 150 miles is manageable IMHO.

[gabriella97]

Does anyone know how long it takes to update the online application status into complete after finishing the interview?

[guinness1547]

I need an off-campus interview, but the closest location they have is about 150 miles away from me and not plausible for me. What do I do?

I drove further than that for mine, and that was the closest location. A possibility would be to sign up for the closest location, then once you get the information for your interviewer email them and ask if a skype interview or something would work. My interviewer said he would have done that had he known I had to drive as far as I did.

[guinness1547]

Is there any consensus as to how much doing an interview helps?

I read on one of these threads a while ago that well over half of the admits last year did the interview. I don't know if that was accurate.

[rinkrat19]

Is there any consensus as to how much doing an interview helps?

I read on one of these threads a while ago that well over half of the admits last year did the interview. I don't know if that was accurate.

I would think it's more than that. I'm the only person I personally know for sure didn't interview.

[danitt]

Does anyone know how long it takes to update the online application status into complete after finishing the interview?

I interviewed on October 19 and still haven't gone complete. I can only surmise that my interviewer is suuuuuper busy and hasn't had time to write the report yet or that he submitted and the school is taking its sweet time completing my app.

[tyler.durden]

Does anyone know how long it takes to update the online application status into complete after finishing the interview?

I interviewed on October 19 and still haven't gone complete. I can only surmise that my interviewer is suuuuuper busy and hasn't had time to write the report yet or that he submitted and the school is taking its sweet time completing my app.

Dont know if this is helpful or not, but I had an off-campus alumni interview, and my application went complete 2 days later... though this was very early in the cycle. I think it has to do with your interviewer getting their info in to the school in a timely manner. My interviewer and I got along well and he told me he sent in his evaluation the same day.

[shntn]

Does anyone know how long it takes to update the online application status into complete after finishing the interview?

I interviewed on October 19 and still haven't gone complete. I can only surmise that my interviewer is suuuuuper busy and hasn't had time to write the report yet or that he submitted and the school is taking its sweet time completing my app.

Mine took a couple of weeks as well, but that was like two months ago.

[arklaw13]

Is there any consensus as to how much doing an interview helps?

I read on one of these threads a while ago that well over half of the admits last year did the interview. I don't know if that was accurate.

I just wonder how much of it is self-selection and how much of it is actually an advantage. For example, what's the difference in chances between below median applicants who interviewed vs. those who didn't. I guess data on this would be hard to collect...

[GoCats56]

Does anyone know how long it takes to update the online application status into complete after finishing the interview?

I interviewed on October 19 and still haven't gone complete. I can only surmise that my interviewer is suuuuuper busy and hasn't had time to write the report yet or that he submitted and the school is taking its sweet time completing my app.

Mine took a couple of weeks as well, but that was like two months ago.

When I interviewed (ED), I interviewed on a Friday and went complete Monday afternoon.