politically active applicant

[pretenda]

If you are or have been involved with any particular candidate or organization would you say so in an interview? I have been a bit timid about bringing it up due to stereotypes and judgements that might be made about ones political affiliation. Not trying to troll or get into a political showdown, just wondering if anyone has talked about their experiences with interviewers.

 

[HumbleMD]

If you are or have been involved with any particular candidate or organization would you say so in an interview? I have been a bit timid about bringing it up due to stereotypes and judgements that might be made about ones political affiliation. Not trying to troll or get into a political showdown, just wondering if anyone has talked about their experiences with interviewers.

The interview is not the time to make a political "statement" or engage in a rousterous debate. That being said, if you have been active with party-affilited organizations and have them in your EC list or Personal Statement, don't be afraid to talk about it in the least.

 

[PeripateticMD]

I've had interviews where political issues came up, or I got the vibe that the interviewer was on whatever political side I was, and we ended up talking about it at length. I got into 2 schools where I talked about my political involvement (haven't heard from others). So I'd say, feel it out.

 

[mave]

I think it depends a lot on where you're applying. There are some schools where it's just not a good idea to talk about it, i.e if you're a repro health advocate and you're employed in the field, it's probably not something you want to talk about at a Jesuit school.

I'm superparanoid, though, and stopped giving print interviews about my stuff. I don't want to come up on anybody's Google searches.

 

[armybound]

I sure wouldn't mention a NAMBLA membership

 

[Falco2525]

I've had interviews where political issues came up, or I got the vibe that the interviewer was on whatever political side I was, and we ended up talking about it at length. I got into 2 schools where I talked about my political involvement (haven't heard from others). So I'd say, feel it out.

I had an interview in which we talked about the war in Iraq and thoughts on President Bush...it was tough because I had to take a side and I hoped it was the same one as the interviewers

 

[Stolenspatulas]

I sure wouldn't mention a NAMBLA membership

funny story.

When I was at my Penn interview I was waiting in the office lobby with maybe 5-6 students for my turn to interview. Tom Cruise came on the tv (it was some news show) and in order to lighten the mood I asked my fellow interviewees if anyone knew anything about scientology. Only one of the group had ever heard of it. I then proceeded to ask if anyone ever watched Southpark b/c it had reminded me of the awesome scientology episode. The same dude that recognized scientology was the only one out of the group who had heard of Southpark and he started laughing... He also looked confused (bc he was shocked that none of the other peeps knew about it)

He was from a state school, I forgot which one.

All the other interviewees were from Yale, Harvard, or Princeton. I remember that specifically b/c I could sense the aura. haha.

I guess the story was more tragic than funny. They had never even heard of Southpark. Thats insane.

 

[notdeadyet]

That being said, if you have been active with party-affilited organizations and have them in your EC list or Personal Statement, don't be afraid to talk about it in the least.

If they're on your PS or EC list, they're fair game and you need to speak with a strong voice about it. If it's a question out of the blue, you can hedge.