If you are interviewing at your top choice school...

[IrishCalini]

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...and they ask you , "Why _____?" how do you let them know it's your #1 without sounding desperate?

I only say this because there is definitely one school I'm applying to that if I got in, I would seriously consider withdrawing all my other applications.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[Slack3r]

...and they ask you , "Why _____?" how do you let them know it's your #1 without sounding desperate?

I only say this because there is definitely one school I'm applying to that if I got in, I would seriously consider withdrawing all my other applications.

Who cares if you sound desperate? You're trying to get into the school, not f*** it. 🙄

 

[coup de chance]

Who cares if you sound desperate? You're trying to get into the school, not f*** it. 🙄

Hell to the yeah! If that is truly your top school, then just tell them that they are your top choice and would withdraw all others if accepted. Straight up, dude.

Of course, it would help if you could give some support to why it's your #1.

Like you have family close-by, or you really like x/y/z specific things, you know current students there (pays to keep up with upperclassman from your school that went to your #1), etc.

 

[Long Dong]

Tell them, "because your school has all the hot undergrads, duh."

 

[RogueUnicorn]

something i've picked up from a couple interviews is that going in and saying how a school is your top choice when it's like your first interview is not necessarily going to go over particularly well.

 

[barcoderider]

The important thing is to give them all the reasons WHY you like their school so much. Saying they're your top choice, even if it's true, is pretty meaningless on its own. How do they know you don't say that to all the med schools?

 

[rafflecopter]

Honestly, I didn't know I was interviewing at my top choice school until I visited the place. While I know its impossible to learn everything there is to know about a school on interview day, I definitely feel it gives you a much better idea of whether you'd "fit there" or not.

If I were you, I'd reserve statements like "this school is my number one choice" for another time - it may come off to the interviewer as you either a) making a rash decision, or b) saying what you think the interviewer wants to hear, neither of which is good for you. It's a risk vs reward thing here. Sure, you may express your interest, but they could take it the wrong way. Since there are many other less obvious ways to express interest in a school, I'd definitely suggest doing those instead.