Hey all,

I was just invited to do a Skype interview with University of Chicago.

For those of you who have done UChicago's interview:

  • How should I prepare? (broadly)
  • Are their questions soft or hardball? (Why law vs. if you could change one thing in the world what would it be...? etc.)
  • Is an interview a good sign or should I not read too into it?
  • Any other broad advice for Skype interviews or regarding UChicago Admissions more broadly would be helpful.

    Best,

    Paul

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    17 comments

    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @pcainti665 In fact the status checker for my interview wave just changed today. That usually means a decision within the next 3-5 days.

      So overall, I'd say about a month from the time you get the interview invite (not actually interview) to a decision. But, I think things accelerate somewhat near the end of the cycle as schools rush to get decisions before deposit deadlines.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @leahbeuk911 I was hoping for a quick turnaround :tired_face:

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @pcainti665 Nope. Chicago tends to do fewer, bigger waves. So they interview a bunch of people over like 3-4 weeks and then admit them all at once a few weeks after that. I suspect I'll hear in another 1-3 weeks with the next wave.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @tylerdschreur10199 said:

      They know you're smart, so don't oversell your intelligence, oversell personality.

      Disclaimer: if none of this makes sense...im pretty drunk.

      Anit-disclaimer: i still thinknits pretty decent advice

      Nicely done. I imagine pulling off intelligent advice while several drinks in will serve you well in law school. Kudos.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @uhinberg359 said:

      @ilikephilosophy993 said:

      Be friendly and cordial. Prepare some remarks. Turn off or silence your phone. Ask them about their professional journeys. Practice a poised handshake. Maybe watch a law movie before. Maybe ask if they'll let you observe a class.

      How do you practice a poised handshake for a Skype interview? :smile:

      It's an art form. It involves mostly high fiving your laptop camera.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @leahbeuk911 Not to be nosy but did you hear back yet?

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      Missed fact that it was Skype.:)

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      I did the interview a couple weeks ago. I thought it was friendly and relaxed. They asked all the usual questions. Don't stress about it. Just be prepared to talk about your interest in law, Chicago specifically, your resume, and your time at school. Pretty standard.

      You got this!

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @ilikephilosophy993 said:

      Be friendly and cordial. Prepare some remarks. Turn off or silence your phone. Ask them about their professional journeys. Practice a poised handshake. Maybe watch a law movie before. Maybe ask if they'll let you observe a class.

      Tragically its a Skype interview so the hours of handshake practice(except for our computers' TLS handshakes) are out the window. Class observation probably is too, but @pcainti665 or I could definitely ask about visiting. The rest of your advice seems to transcend format.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @ilikephilosophy993 said:

      Be friendly and cordial. Prepare some remarks. Turn off or silence your phone. Ask them about their professional journeys. Practice a poised handshake. Maybe watch a law movie before. Maybe ask if they'll let you observe a class.

      How do you practice a poised handshake for a Skype interview? :smile:

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @pcainti665 said:

      @uhinberg359 Have you scheduled your interview already? If so, for what date?

      @tylerdschreur10199 said:

      They know you're smart, so don't oversell your intelligence, oversell personality.

      Disclaimer: if none of this makes sense...im pretty drunk.

      Anit-disclaimer: i still thinknits pretty decent advice

      YOU ARE THRIVING :smile

      I just messaged you with my interview date.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      Be friendly and cordial. Prepare some remarks. Turn off or silence your phone. Ask them about their professional journeys. Practice a poised handshake. Maybe watch a law movie before. Maybe ask if they'll let you observe a class.

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      .

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      @uhinberg359 Have you scheduled your interview already? If so, for what date?

      @tylerdschreur10199 said:

      They know you're smart, so don't oversell your intelligence, oversell personality.

      Disclaimer: if none of this makes sense...im pretty drunk.

      Anit-disclaimer: i still thinknits pretty decent advice

      YOU ARE THRIVING :smile:

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    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      My advice for all interviews is to treat it like an interview for a hefty scholarship. It removes the do or die pressure of earning a spot in the class, but retains the gravity. You want to sell yourself and your passion to attend the school in question (Chicago) but as much as possible, try to stay lighthearted and just treat the interviewer like a friend.

      Interviewers don't remember what you say, they remember how they felt. So make them feel a connection, amity, and above all, be human. Reciting facts about the school can't compare to genuine willingness to diverge into topics you care about. JUST BE A PERSON!

      They know you're smart, so don't oversell your intelligence, oversell personality.

      Disclaimer: if none of this makes sense...im pretty drunk.

      Anit-disclaimer: i still thinknits pretty decent advice

      1
    • Wednesday, Mar 07 2018

      I don't really have anything useful to contribute. I got the email today too.

      From what I can tell they interview most people who they accept along with some people who they don't.

      The old TLS forums seem to suggest that they interview both borderline people and those being considered for scholarships. I can't tell which I am since I have a below median GPA, but a solidly above 75th LSAT score.

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    • Tuesday, Mar 06 2018

      I've read that an interview is typically a good sign, but that you should still not read too much into it. Be confident, informed, and personable. I imagine if you prepare like you did for the GT interview, you'll be fine.

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