As high school seniors gear up to submit their college applications, many of them have already made the journey to Hanover to be interviewed by the 11 student interviewers chosen from the Class of 2007.
While past groups of senior interviewers have been notable for their racial diversity, this year's crop stands out in the diversity of interests and experiences with which interviewers came to the position.
In 2004, eight of the 15 senior interviewer posts were comprised of minority students.
Of this year's chosen senior interviewers, seven self-identify as Caucasian, according to Deborah Wassel '07, a senior interviewer herself.
"I think there are many more elements of diversity, however, than just being non-white," Wassel said. "Of the 11 interviewers, we have students who represent many different communities, including the GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender], Asian, Hispanic, Jewish and black communities."
Senior interviewer Yuki Kondo-Shah '07 said the admissions office does not use a quota system or a different set of standards for students of color applying to the senior interviewer position.
"The application system is the same for all senior interviewers, and they are evaluated on the same set of principles," Kondo-Shah said. "The senior interviewers are selected by a fair process."
The admissions office looks for applicants who are heavily involved in the Dartmouth community, said Tiffany Gooden '01, associate director of admissions and coordinator for this year's senior interviewer program.
"We are looking for students who are individually involved in many aspects of the Dartmouth experience," Gooden said. "I think this class reflects the broad range of opportunities and potential for leadership that exists on the Dartmouth campus."
Senior interviewer Sam Lipkin '07 agreed.
"We are pursuing many different majors and have very diverse plans for after college. We are involved in music, theater, community service, [Student Assembly] and Class Council, fraternities and sororities. We have studied abroad, worked and researched all over the world," Lipkin said.
In addition, the admissions office looks to hire individuals that exhibit strong interpersonal skills who would be able to evaluate students in a short period of time, Kondo-Shah said.
On-campus interviews for high school seniors take place during the Summer and Fall terms. According to Gooden, approximately 2,000 interviews are conducted throughout the summer and fall.
The highest volume of interviews takes place during the Summer term and on holiday weekends in the fall.
The admissions office selected fewer senior interviewers than usual this year in order for them to have a higher level of involvement in the office, Gooden said.
Summer interviewers worked full-time, performing between three and five interviews a day in addition to other duties in the office. During the Fall term interviewers work part-time, completing up to 11 interviews per week.
On-campus interviews allow prospective students to learn about Dartmouth in a more informal and comfortable process than speaking with an admissions officer, Wassel said.
"There is only so much that you can learn from reading the College website or reading guide books," Kondo-Shah said. "In addition to having a chance to add another dimension to their application, the interview gives them time to ask us questions."
The interviews are evaluated by senior interviewers and included in the candidate's application to the College. According to Lipkin, these evaluations usually confirm what the admissions officer has already seen in other parts of the candidate's file. Sometimes, however, such interviews shed light on new information not previously included in the application.
Potential senior interviewers submit a paper application during Spring and Winter terms. Those who are called back go through two sets of interviews with an admissions officer and a current senior interviewer.
