Alumna Interviewer for High School Students

Since graduating from Carnegie Mellon, I have been volunteering with the Carnegie Mellon Admissions Council (CMAC). As an alumna, I volunteer to interview high school juniors and seniors who are interested in applying to CMU or are currently going through the process of applying. Volunteers are typically matched up with students who intend to major in programs similar to their own, so I occasionally speak with students interested in the humanities. However, due to the large number of applicants in programs such as computer science and engineering, I more often speak to students interested in STEM.

My responsibilities as a volunteer are:

• Attending visitor weekends - Admissions staff members reach out to volunteers a few times each semester to attend visitor weekends. While at visitor weekends, I sign up to interview up to four students back-to-back. I have also served on an "Ask an Alumni" panel where I have talked about being a work-study student, Greek Life and campus involvement, and fitting study abroad experiences into a busy semester.
  
• Coordinating with students who reach out to me - Students in the Pittsburgh area and those who visit at other times can also use the CMAC volunteer database to schedule interviews. When this happens, I arrange to meet with the student in a public and quiet location, such as a coffee shop, library, or on CMU's campus.
• Answering questions about Carnegie Mellon University - Students come to interviews with a variety of questions and curiosity levels. Students often ask details about their intended programs, what student/faculty relations are like, whether workloads are manageable, what kinds of student organizations are on campus, what Pittsburgh is like, where the best places to eat and live on campus are, and about research and work opportunities.
  
• Asking questions about the interviewed students - While meeting with an alum is a great way to learn more about CMU, these meetings are also a great way for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to learn about candidates. Following a protocol, I ask students about their experiences in high school, what sorts of activities and volunteering they are involved with, and about their struggles and challenges both academically and personally. I also offer students a way to inform the Office of Undergraduate Admissions about extenuating circumstances which may not be reflected in their applications--I have heard personal stories of battling cancer, struggling through the suicide of a close friend, and switching through three high schools in four years.