Meliora letters spelled out in front of Rush Rhees Library

Alumni and Volunteers

They say success breeds success, and it must be true. Your success as a graduate of the University of Rochester helps us spread the word to prospective students and parents. Each year, we receive more applications for the same number of spots, making the process of selecting a new class incredibly rewarding, but also much more challenging. We value your assistance at every stage of the process!

We’re here to support you as you help us fulfill our annual admission to bring the best and brightest to the University of Rochester. This page contains links to the information and materials you may need to assist you in fulfilling your role as an admissions volunteer.

Alumni Interviewer Program Description and Application

Program Description:

Alumni interviewing season is roughly four months in duration, from early fall through early February. Throughout this time frame, alumni receive requests directly from applicants and initiate follow-up to make arrangements for an in- person, virtual, or telephone interview. Within 48 hours of completing an interview, the alumnus/a submits an evaluation which is used by admissions counselors as part of the application review process.

* IMPORTANT * Because all applicants are encouraged to interview as part of the application process, thousands of interviews are conducted by alumni and staff each year, and this number continues to grow. We are seeking alumni who can take on the significant commitment that this role requires of representatives of the University in terms of time and responsiveness. When follow-through is not timely and professional, it reflects poorly on Admissions and the University, and negatively impacts the student and our relationship with their high school. If your professional or personal schedule would inhibit your responsiveness, alumni interviewing may not be the best volunteer opportunity for you.

Alumni interviewers are responsible for:

  • Reaching out to (possibly multiple) prospective students who’ve requested an interview with you, to schedule a mutually convenient interview method, date, time, and location keeping in mind the location of the student be they domestically or internationally located.
  • Dedicating time to self-train by utilizing the available online volunteer resources.
  • Devoting time on weekends and/or evenings as needed throughout the season for interviewing events and/or several 30 minute time blocks for individual interviews.
  • Monitoring one’s interview requests on a regular basis (daily) during the interviewing season and following up accordingly within two days of the request.
  • Submitting an evaluation within 48 hours after completion of an interview, using the prompts on the interviewing evaluation form as a guide for the information most valuable for admissions staff. If a reasonable effort to meet these expectations is not maintained by an alumni interviewer, the Office of Admissions reserves the opportunity to remove the interviewer from active status temporarily or permanently.

Prior to submitting the application form, please take a few moments to consider the questions below to help us, and you, determine if alumni interviewing is a good match for you.

  • Why are you interested in being an alumni interviewer?
  • Do you have enough time in your schedule to monitor your interviewer account and requests, conduct, and evaluate your interviews? For example, if you travel frequently or on short notice, causing delays in responding to and scheduling students, alumni interviewing may not be the best opportunity for involvement at this time.
  • Would you describe yourself as an “active listener”?
  • Do you have any interviewing experience? (Prior experience isn’t required to be an alumni interviewer, but can be helpful.)
  • What is your comfort level interacting with high school students?
  • How would you describe your current level of knowledge about the college admissions process?
  • Do you have relatives who may be applying to the University within the next 3 years? (Please note that we require interviewers to take the year off the season during which their relative is applying.)

Questions? Please contact Beth Luke, Director of Volunteer Programs, at beth.luke@rochester.edu.

College Fairs

Would you like to create or increase awareness of the University of Rochester in your hometown? Work with us as we expand our outreach efforts to prospective students, parents, and high school guidance counselors across the country. One of the most beneficial and fun ways to do this is to represent Rochester at your local college fairs. When our Admissions staff cannot attend a fair event but recognize the importance of attending, we reach out to our volunteer alumni for assistance.

You don’t have to know everything about the University in order to staff a fair. All that’s required of you is a few hours of your time, and your enthusiasm for Rochester—we’ll provide the rest. College fairs are typically a first point of contact, so questions are usually general and the handout materials we will provide are in high demand and address most questions.

Generally, college fairs take place from September–November, and March–May. Sign up with UR Involved and look in your email inbox for fairs in your area.

Testimonials

Check out what some of your fellow alumni volunteers have to say about staffing college fairs:

“It was an easy decision to volunteer to attend a college fair on Rochester’s behalf.

I worked on campus as a Meridian during my time in Rochester, and I always enjoyed sharing the wonderful stories and opportunities that made my college years so special. I had the opportunity to meet a few students who had gone on my tour and then chosen to come to UR, and while I’m certain I wasn’t the reason they chose to attend Rochester, they always said they remembered their campus tour. I think in the current age of virtual tours and online comparison tools, people underestimate the value of a face-to-face interaction and seeing and hearing the excitement in your voice when we talk about the opportunities Rochester has to offer.”

UR Involved volunteer since 1998

“Even in the Internet age, characterized by various new admissions tactics (virtual tours, online videos, and chat rooms), college fairs remain a vital tool for University of Rochester representatives to communicate with prospective students and their parents. Face-to-face interaction is still the ideal way to convey enthusiasm for Rochester to high school students who might not have had the opportunity to visit campus or may have additional questions best posed in person. Attendance at these events is also a concrete manifestation of Rochester’s commitment to recruit students from a given region, as well as the enthusiasm of local alumni for their alma mater.”

“Representing the University of Rochester at college fairs is a really enjoyable experience. While prospective students and parents can read the pamphlets and visit websites to get general information, there’s an element of humanity and connection that can only be established in person. Admittedly, I’m not as informed of the nuances and particulars that admissions counselor would be privy to, but the University provides more than enough materials to make me feel comfortable with most general questions.

“Fortunately, I’ve come to find these events are more interactive than I had originally suspected and as an alumnus of the University, I also have a unique perspective that students are more eager to hear than the typical impersonal flyers and stats. When combining my personal experience with the fact that Rochester naturally attracts inquisitive, hardworking, top caliber applicants, working these events are enriching for both the students and me alike.

“One of my greatest joys at the events is honestly discussing the intensity and demands of the University academic programs and having interested  students salivate at the opportunity of being challenged that way. Parents are also very responsive to me as an alumni representative and are very eager in learning more from someone’s who’s ‘been through it.'”

UR Involved volunteer since 2007

“I have had several great experiences staffing college fairs and talking with prospective students about Rochester. Talking to parents about the University and helping students wade through the myriad information available is a very rewarding experience. Being a ‘salesperson’ in nature and having had a truly wonderful experience at Rochester makes it easy to ‘sell’ the University to prospective students and parents. There is a completely different perspective staffing a fair when you are a Rochester alumn. The students really want to know what it’s like to attend Rochester, and who better than an alum to fill them in? I think the parents also get a much better feeling about the University by talking to alumni versus talking with someone who works for the University.

“I was a bit nervous at first, not knowing what kinds of questions would come my way. But my nerves were quickly calmed by talking about our alma mater and the wonderful and innovative programs Rochester provides. The ‘cheat sheet’ the Office of Admissions provided was also a big help! By the end of the evening, after repeating the same statistics over and over, I was a pro! The Office of Admissions provides all the tools necessary to have a successful, rewarding experience staffing a college fair.

“It’s also wonderful to speak with parents about the finances of college life! The statistics the Office of Admissions provides prove to be a welcome surprise for parents who think that Rochester is financially unreachable. Parents are equally impressed by the Take Five program!”

Frequently Asked Questions

When the Office of Admissions receives an invitation to attend an important college fair but is unable to attend, we reach out to alumni volunteers to attend on behalf of the University.

Please contact Beth Luke, Director of Volunteer Programs at beth.luke@rochester.edu with any questions.

After you notify Admissions of  your interest in staffing a particular fair, you will receive a confirmation email from us before we go ahead and RSVP for the event and pay any applicable attendance fee. Please include your full mailing address so the shipping of materials can be arranged at that time. An RSVP from the University signals a commitment to attend that event. Every possible effort should be made to meet that commitment.

It is not our policy to reimburse costs of travel to volunteer college fairs.

Roughly two weeks prior to the fair date, a box of materials will be shipped through FedEx two-day shipping to arrive at the address you’ve provided. Please open the box and familiarize yourself with the contents. Bring the box to the fair and set up the table provided in the way of your choosing. We estimate the number of attendees and do our best to provide the quantity of materials necessary. Many of the fairs provide water and snacks to participants.

You will be attending an event as a representative of the University of Rochester and should dress in a way that reflects that role. If the invitation suggests otherwise, you may follow that suggestion, but please dress neatly.

You are not expected to know answers to all the questions students and their families may have at a college fair. The materials will guide you, which is why it’s important to open the box and familiarize yourself with the contents when they arrive. We strongly suggest that you visit the Admissions website to learn about what our current focus is, to view the on-and off-campus videos we’ve produced, and to take the virtual tour. Encourage students to visit our website and to complete a prospect card, which will trigger additional mailings to the student.

For very interested students/parents, and with specific questions, Office of Admissions business cards are included in the box of materials. Our contact information is also located on each of the materials sent to you. If they have academic department-specific questions, advise those students to contact the academic department directly via the department page on the website.

A pre-paid/addressed FedEx label will be included in the box of materials. We ask that you place any remaining materials, including completed prospect cards and the table banner into the box and drop it at a FedEx facility of your choosing.

The fact sheet, found in the footer of our website, is a quick summary of admissions information including cost of tuition, diversity of class, academic statistics, etc. The fact sheet is a very popular item and will be provided in your box of materials.

Update your current UR Involved contact information and/or sign up to be a UR Involved volunteer. If volunteering to staff college fairs won’t work for you, consider volunteering as an interviewer. The Interviewer Application Form has additional details about how it works. If you have additional questions about being an interview volunteer, you may contact Beth Luke at beth.luke@rochester.edu.

Training Materials

Thank you for your support for the University of Rochester and the Office of Admissions!

We consider the admissions interview to be a crucial part of the application process. These one-on-one conversations allow us to get to know our applicants in more depth than the application can provide, and help us gauge the applicant’s fit for the University of Rochester. We could not do this without the help of alumni across the country, which is why your role as an alumni interviewer is so important to us and to the University.

Here you will find information and materials to assist you in your role as an admissions interviewer. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please contact Beth Luke at beth.luke@rochester.edu in the Office of Admissions.

If you don’t know the answers to questions you receive, please refer the student to his or her admissions counselor or financial aid counselor, or contact Beth Luke.

Thank you for partnering with us!

The Interview Process

What We’re Looking For

  • What Meliora Values do they exhibit?
  • Are they a good fit for the University of Rochester, and vice versa?
  • How well do they know us? (Relative to where they are in the application process)
  • What is most important for Admissions to know about the student?

It’s our opportunity to learn their stories, or add a personality to  their application. What we want to know is what makes them unique. Your goal is to have a relaxed conversation from which you may uncover some additional insight about the student not included or discussed at length in their application materials.

It’s not just what they do, it’s why they do it. The application tells us how many AP classes the student is taking. We see the extensive extracurricular list. Rather than asking for a list of classes or activities they participate in, try to find out why. What are the student’s motivations? Passions? Goals? These are things that are harder to determine from the application alone, so you can use the interview as a chance to dig a little deeper and find out what drives them.

We need you to have conversations with students that ultimately supply Admissions with supporting information and insights that get to the heart of Rochester’s Vision and Values. Additionally, you’ll provide a window into how interviewees see themselves as part of a larger community and how their commitment to the betterment of others contributes to that community. The goal is not only to recognize the biggest, most public displays of service to others, but also to identify students contributing to the betterment of others in important, quiet, sustained, everyday ways as well.

 

Interviewing Best Practices

Before the interview

  • Mentally prepare for the interview. Know where they are from and what high school they attend. Look at how they answered the questions when they requested the interview. 
  • If they have mentioned a particular area of interest or major, can you think of a fact, stat or story you can share with them?
  • Silence your phone or any other devices so the student knows you are focused on them for their time slot. 
  • Make sure you have a view of a clock or can check a timepiece (phone, watch, etc.) so you can keep the interview on time. 
  • Remember what you want to get out of the interview. Remember there is value in every interview. 

During the interview

  • Welcome the student by name; Introduce yourself; Explain format of this interview (This is a conversation, I may be taking notes, Chance to get to know you and your personality) 
  • Explain to the student: ‘I’m taking notes to remember your words – but I’m not assigning value.’
  • Might be helpful to ask at the beginning of the interview – ‘Have you done any other interviews?’ Let’s you benchmark them in this process. If this is their first interview – they may be a bit unpolished. If it is their 36th interview – they have it down.
  • You can also frame the interview this way: We are building a community so we want to learn more about their community.
  • It is helpful to ask a question regarding what characteristics a student is looking for in their future college or university. This can give context to you as an interviewer how far along they are in their thought process and how you can possibly answer questions at the end or help them make a connection between what they want and what the University can offer.
  • When asking the ‘Why are you considering the University of Rochester?’ or similar question – if a student can’t answer perfectly, don’t let it deter the interview. Some students are interviewing early in the process and haven’t done their research. Some don’t have the context for who we are yet. It’s OK and a great way to connect with them later about some of the basics.
  • We sometimes need to give students a prod or lots of support if they are super nervous because it is an intimidating process to some. 
  • Let the student shine. If they get stuck on a question, let them come up with an answer but also possibly redirect to let them talk about a subject they feel comfortable with after. 
  • Sometimes your  interviewee may have given you several  examples that relate to exhibiting Meliora Values. It is appropriate to piece together their responses to enter in the write-up.
  • It’s on us to adapt to your energy, nervousness level to the student – it’s not up to the students to adapt to us.
  • Allow them time at the end of the interview to ask any questions they may have. May be helpful to set a time limit: i.e. ‘I can see we have 2-3 minutes left today, are there any questions I can answer for you?’

After the interview

  • The write-up is helpful in evaluation to see consistency in a student. Do they truly care about what is on their app because they also mentioned it in the interview?
  • Write-ups: Short. I think this student is or is not a fit for UR. Back up your thoughts. We already have GPA, test scores, resumes, letters of recommendation, and writing samples, so write up what we won’t find in their application. Be more directive. Provide context. Provide summation statement. Your rating should reflect your score. 

 

Sample Questions

Here in the Office of Admissions, we find it useful to ask personal, open-ended questions to get to know the student and to get an idea of how he or she might fit at Rochester.

Here are some sample questions you might find helpful to use:

  • Tell me about yourself. (Describe yourself in 3 words.)
  • Putting the University of Rochester aside, what characteristics are most important in your college search? 
  • What do you want out of your college experience? 
  • What are you looking for in your future college or university?
  • What are you most looking forward to in college? 
  • Why are you considering the University of  Rochester? How did you find out about the University of Rochester?
  • Favorite high school class / least favorite high school class? How do you stay engaged in a class you don’t love?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • Tell me about the transition/growth  you have made between 9th – 12th grade.
  • What is something you have changed your mind about?
  • Who inspires you?
  • How do you deal with stress?
  • What are you most proud of that you have accomplished in high school?
  • What is the most interesting IG, FB, Snapchat feed you follow?
  • Is there anything we didn’t get a chance to talk about today that makes you you? / If you had to leave one thought with the Admission Committee, what would it be?
  • If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
  • If you could travel anywhere in the world (at any time in history) for 24 hours…where would you go, and what would you do in your limited time there?
  • I am going to snap my fingers twice… The first time I can transport you anywhere in the world you would like to go for the next 24 hours: where would you go? The second time, I can bring anyone who has ever lived to have a chat with you; who would you choose to talk to?
  • If you could teach a class on anything in the world, what would you teach on?
  • Favorite book?
  • Athletes: What is the best leadership skill you have learned from your sport? If you had to choose one area outside of athletics that has shaped you, what would it be?
  • What is your unique contribution to any group or community you join?
  • Community service: Tell me a moment of impact you’ve had while being engaged in your community.
  • In the spirit of ‘Ever Better’, what does a better version of you look like?
  • Tell me about your friends – what type of people do you like to surround yourself with?
  • How would your friends describe you? 
  • Tell me about an important value or lesson you’ve learned from a mentor or family member?
  • If you decided to learn an additional language, what would it be and why?
  • What do you like to do for fun? (Helpful for nervous students).
  • Tell me something you do just for fun that you wouldn’t be able to list on a resume/college application.
  • What does a “free” Saturday look like? No homework, no practice. How are you spending your free day?
  • What’s the most impactful learning experience you’ve ever had (inside or outside of school)
  • What is your legacy, how do you hope to be remembered by your school community when you graduate?
  • What’s a typical school day after your last class ends like for you?
  • We  greatly value community and family letters of recommendation… if your younger/older sibling were to write a letter on your behalf… what would it say?
  • What kinds of things ignite your curiosity?
  • What concerns do you have regarding college?
  • What has been the most meaningful activity you’re involved in (and why)?

Interviewer to Interviewer Tips

  • Questions to ask: Rather than asking a candidate to characterize him/herself, I prefer to ask how school friends view him/her. It allows the student to give a slightly more detached and less self-conscious answer.
  • Interview site: I prefer Starbucks or other comfortable location near my home.
  • Climate: I readily admit to interviewees that Rochester is colder and receives more snow than the Washington, DC area. But I also explain that unlike DC, snow is no big deal. There is a lot to do on and off campus in winter, and the River Campus tunnels make getting around a bit easier.
  • City: Rochester is large enough to offer a diverse range of opportunities (concerts, museums, minor league sports, a great small zoo, beautiful parks, etc.), but not so big that getting around is a hindrance like here in DC. Plus, Toronto is only about three hours away.
  • Making contact: Email is way more effective as the medium for initial contact with this high school generation. It also makes the phone a workable follow-up as needed.
  • Set-up: At least in my area, Starbucks is the best location. (It’s unanimous, and I’m not a a Starbucks fan, so I’m not plugging it). The local kids know it well, and it’s a good point of reference for kids coming from out of my town.
  • Questions to ask: The best lead-off I have is: “How have you heard of us (Rochester)?” The best next one isn’t a question, but a ground rule I set early. I tell them that I am not trying to “sell” Rochester, but that our chat is about seeing what kind of match there is between you and the University. Then in general, I try to gauge their familiarity with the school, the Rochester area, and Upstate NY to anticipate their questions to me, which is the next topic.
  • Answering questions: 
    Climate: They get a laugh when I explain Rochester is not in the Arctic Circle and not all that dissimilar statistically from Boston. I see if they are winter persons or not. The tunnels are always a hit. 
    Campus activities: I build upon what they have told me about themselves in terms of their activities and what they wish to try out in college. 
    City of Rochester: Again, any familiarity is something I build upon. It’s increasingly likely now that there are family/friend connections to Rochester and even the area itself. I emphasize our mid-sized city status and metro area of more than a million people, saying it’s large enough to have a lot of activities without the congestion of the big city. In fact, for its size, Rochester has a lot to do and see.
  • In general, I focus on a relaxed discussion to help both of us discern what “match” there is between the student and Rochester. Also, I always emphasize a campus visit. The consistent feedback I get from those who have visited is that it is highly impressive, still one of our best visual attributes to students and their families.
  • Making contact: Email is way more effective as the medium for initial contact with this high school generation. It also makes the phone a workable follow-up as needed.
  • Set-up: At least in my area, Starbucks is the best location. (It’s unanimous, and I’m not a a Starbucks fan, so I’m not plugging it). The local kids know it well, and it’s a good point of reference for kids coming from out of my town.
  • Questions to ask: The best lead-off I have is: “How have you heard of us (Rochester)?” The best next one isn’t a question, but a ground rule I set early. I tell them that I am not trying to “sell” Rochester, but that our chat is about seeing what kind of match there is between you and the University. Then in general, I try to gauge their familiarity with the school, the Rochester area, and Upstate NY to anticipate their questions to me, which is the next topic.
  • Answering questions: 
    Climate: They get a laugh when I explain Rochester is not in the Arctic Circle and not all that dissimilar statistically from Boston. I see if they are winter persons or not. The tunnels are always a hit. 
    Campus activities: I build upon what they have told me about themselves in terms of their activities and what they wish to try out in college. 
    City of Rochester: Again, any familiarity is something I build upon. It’s increasingly likely now that there are family/friend connections to Rochester and even the area itself. I emphasize our mid-sized city status and metro area of more than a million people, saying it’s large enough to have a lot of activities without the congestion of the big city. In fact, for its size, Rochester has a lot to do and see.
  • In general, I focus on a relaxed discussion to help both of us discern what “match” there is between the student and Rochester. Also, I always emphasize a campus visit. The consistent feedback I get from those who have visited is that it is highly impressive, still one of our best visual attributes to students and their families.
  • Pick a Sunday afternoon and set up in a coffee shop you like so you can schedule multiple interviews in one day. This saves you time and gives you the chance to interview a lot of students.
  • I always start the interview by telling the students a bit about myself. This gives them some time to get comfortable before they need to talk.
  • My first question is usually, “How did Rochester come onto your radar?” You can easily gauge a student’s interest and prior knowledge with this question. From there, I always ask them to tell me about their high school. I find this helps me understand their view on education and easily leads into asking what they are excited about for college.
  • I always send the student a quick follow-up email explaining that they are free to ask any other questions that come up. This opens the door for students who are admitted to have another point of communication about deciding.
  • The main thing I keep in mind when interviewing a potential student is that they’re interviewing me as well. It’s this reasoning that allows for some really good conversations. While I try to stay consistent on my focus points so I have a good frame of reference when submitting evaluations, every interview is unique. Personally, I much prefer meeting in person, and I try to find places that are common and comfortable—Starbucks or other coffee shops tend to work well for this. I’ve also conducted a lot of interviews over the phone and done a few on Skype. I try to email the student as soon as the request comes through and then go back and forth to find time and location (or phone number).
  • Focus points:
    1. I start the conversation with something I think helps the students feel a little more at ease. I tell them that this isn’t an “interview,” in the traditional sense of the word, that there are no set questions, and it’s just a conversation where they can ask me anything. I tell them that I understand there are lots of factors that go in to choosing the right college and that I’m here to help them get a little more information to guide that. I’m partial to Rochester since I went there, but I’m not going to criticize any other schools they’re considering and I try to be as non-biased as possible if they want a comparison (assuming I can provide it). After I’ve gone through this, I ask if they have any questions they’d like to start with—it helps them feel more comfortable and sets the tone if they want to ask questions.
    2. After this, I almost always lead with the “How did you find out about Rochester in the first place?” question since my interviews have been in Chicago, Denver, and Kansas City. I’ve found that many of the people I interview come across the school from specific searches including music (Eastman School), fast track medical admission (REMS), or a professor or subject area for which we’re notable.
    3. I ask what they’re looking for in a college experience. This leads to good discussion about what Rochester provides, how this may compare to other schools, and what my experience was like. I always directly ask if they’ve visited or are planning to as it’s one of the main points that sold me on enrolling. A lot of the students I speak to can’t or don’t get the chance to visit campus, so it’s always a little bit trickier for me to help them get a real feel for what it’s like there.
    4. Because my interviewees are 1000+ miles from Rochester, I take some time to figure out if they’re truly ready to be that far from home. Most are, because they probably wouldn’t otherwise be looking at Rochester, but I still ask. This also leads into discussion about the city and what it’s like to live there (yes, it snows).
    5. When discussing academics, I make sure they understand how it works with clusters. When discussing campus activities, I encourage them to reach out to group organizers to get a true feel for what’s actually going on. When discussing financial situations, I tell them to talk to admissions/financial aid.
  • When we’re wrapping things up, I make sure to tell them I’m available beyond this interview if they have more questions. I also let them know if they’re having trouble getting information about something to let me know and I can try to help. Yes, it’s an interview in the sense that I’m writing up an evaluation when it’s over (seriously, do this ASAP after you’ve completed the interview), but I view the whole process as being a resource for this student as they try to figure out what works best for them. I know not every kid is going to come to Rochester and I know not every kid is right for Rochester. But it’s not my call to make and I want to provide both the school and the student with the best information possible to make that decision.

Alumni Interviewer Software Tutorial

Alumni Interviewing Portal Instructions

GETTING STARTED:

  • Log into the Interview Portal:
    • Your Username is the email we have on record for you.
    • To create a password, click on “Forgot Your Password” and follow the prompts as though you have forgotten your password. A temporary PIN will be sent to your email address. That PIN will act as a temporary password. Enter the PIN as your password. You will be prompted to create a new password. At this point you should be logged into the system and should see your Alumni Interviewer Dashboard.
  • At the top of the Dashboard is the link “Program Information & Details”  with more program information and easy access to training and reference materials.

 

THE DASHBOARD

  • The Dashboard is a summary of your interviewing activity; it will populate once you receive interview requests.
  • Your first action is to click on “Your Alumni Interviewer Profile” on the right side of the page, and complete your profile. Please note that while we ask for your full address, this information is not shared with students; it’s for internal use only. This is also where you will update your availability to accept interview request throughout the program. If you’re ready to start receiving requests,  deselect the “Inactive from all interviews”  (the last check box under “Interviewer Availability”) then select which type of interviewing method(s) you are available to conduct. If you decide to go completely inactive at any time during the program, check the last box “Inactive from all interviews”.

UNTIL YOU RECEIVE AN INTERVIEW REQUEST, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FROM THIS POINT. ONCE YOU DO RECEIVE A REQUEST, PLEASE CONTINUE… (You will receive an email to your email box letting you know that a student has requested an interview with you, or you can always log in to check your Dashboard.)

 ONCE YOU DO RECEIVE A REQUEST:

  • Take some time to familiarize yourself with the dashboard components:
    • In the center of the page you’ll see an area of the Dashboard that will eventually populate rows of requests. Once interview requests start coming in, each row will represent a different student – that student is now in your queue and you’ll see an “Interview_Status” of “Requested”, and pre-populated information about that student.
  • While most of the columns on the dashboard are self-explanatory, there two new columns this year to help provide some additional information about your interviewees.
    • The High School Award column will let you know if your interviewee was a recipient of one of our High School Awards (George Eastman Young Leaders, Susan B. Anthony/Fredrick Douglass Award, Bausch & Lomb, Xerox Award).
    • The Combined Degree Program column will let you know if your interviewee is applying to one of our signature combined degree programs, including REMS, GRADE, GEAR, HEAL, Dual Degree Nursing, and Dual Degree Eastman.
  • The information on the dashboard can be sorted on your dashboard, or exported into Excel.
  • Click on a student’s name on your dashboard to begin (or continue) the interviewing process with that particular student.
  • On the right side of the dashboard screen, starting at the BOTTOM, you’ll see:
    • Your Alumni Interviewer Profile (again providing the opportunity to change your availability for the type of interview and active/inactive status. This is available to you at any time).
    • Scrolling up, you’ll see “Student Profile” which is a summary of information provided by the student you’ve selected on from your Dashboard. This information is submitted by the student when requesting an alumni interview and Admissions has no control over how much or how little information the student chooses to share with you.
    • Continue scrolling up, you’ll see a text box where you should send a general note of introduction to the student. They won’t know who you are until they receive a message. Please send a brief introductory message to the student. Any messages exchanged between you and your interviewee can be viewed under the Dashboard in the Messages section. Messages will be dated and time-stamped. When you send your initial message to the student, you’ll see a check mark appear in the “student contacted” box on the right side of the Dashboard to let you know you’ve initiated outreach to the student.
    • Finally, at the top right side you’ll see a menu to track the progress for this student. Selecting a status option applicable to the stage in the process will not only help you to keep track of where you are with each student, but will help us to track things should assistance be necessary. The status you choose will be reflected on the Dashboard row for that student – the initial status of “Requested” will change to the next status as you select the following options and Submit:
      • Option 1: Accepted. If you will reach out to contact the student to discuss scheduling an interview, select this option.  You will then move to Option 2, Confirmed.
      • Option 2: Confirmed. Select this option when you’re ready to schedule the interview. Once you’ve confirmed the date/location/time of the interview with the student, selecting “Confirmed” will open a calendar for allowing you to select the date, and enter the location and time of the interview, selecting AM or PM, and the time zone.
      • Option 3: Decline: Select this if you are not able to accommodate the interview request. A note field will pop up for you to add the reason for your decision to decline. The reason field is mandatory and will be seen by the student. If you decline a request, the student will be removed from your queue, as will any messages between you. If you find yourself consistently declining requests, change your active status to “Inactive” in your Profile. Your Dashboard will always be available to you whether you are active or inactive. (Once you have started conversations with a student, set up an interview, or are prompted to evaluate an interview but then opt to de-activate yourself, you are still responsible for completing the interview and evaluation steps for that student.)
      • Once you’re all set – Submit. The student will receive a confirmation email with the type of interview, date, time, and location.  You will see the same scheduled interview details on the “interview details” column of your Dashboard.
      • Once “Confirmed”, the interview status in the Dashboard row for that student will change to an “EVALUATION” button. Return there after the interview is complete. Click on the EVALUATION button to access the interview write-up form. Complete and submit the form within 2-3 days of the interview. If you are unable to complete the Evaluation in one sitting, you must select “Save For Later”, or the write-up you have started will be lost. This is also the case if the system times out after 30 minutes of inactivity. Save For Later!  Submitting the form will check a box on the student’s page indicating that the interview is complete. Until you write and submit the interview, it will appear to the student that their interview is not yet complete. Once you have submitted the evaluation, the “Evaluation” button on your Dashboard will change to “Completed”.
      • If a student is a “No-Show” change the system Interview Status to “Decline” and in the note field enter “No-Show”. The student will then be cleared from your Dashboard, and able to submit another interview request on their MyRoc page, if warranted.

GENERAL NOTES:

  • Throughout the interviewing process, auto-programmed email messages and notifications to you and the student will be sent using the email you and they have provided in your profile and in their record. Your personal email address is hidden from the student. Notifications will go out with each change of your “Interview Status and Confirmation” option, so it’s important that you monitor that email account throughout the process and/or check the messages in the Messages field on your Dashboard. Although the student’s personal email is provided with their information, please do not copy/paste that email address and message from there –it’s important that all conversation stays within the system.
  • As the system loads your submissions, it may say “Loading” and there may be little blue bubbles that appear on the screen – please be patient with that process. If, after a few minutes, you feel it’s “stuck” loading, please let us know and we’ll work around it with you.

Thank you for your willingness to volunteer and to help us to learn more about students interested in the University of Rochester.

If you have any questions, please contact Beth Luke at uralumniinterviews@ur.rochester.edu

 

Alumni Video Training Library

Rochester’s Overall Interview Mission

Setting the Stage for Conversation: What We Hope to Learn

The Voice of Diversity at Rochester

What’s at the Heart of Interest? Beyond the Application

How a Student Fits Rochester: Academics, Extracurriculars, Student Stories, and How to Capture Them

Rochester’s Holistic Approach and Values

Alumni Volunteer Interviewers – International Students

Alumni College Fair Training

Alumni Interview Training Video

Admissions Information

As an alumni interviewer, you may be asked questions about the admissions process. Here is some useful admissions information regarding applying, test scores, and deadlines.

Additionally, please use this new Admissions Handbook to answer many of your and your interviewees’ questions about the admissions and application process.  You may also find our current fact sheet with statistics and answers to commonly asked questions helpful as well.

This season in particular, please reference the University’s Covid-19 information and guidance page for questions related to campus operations and the virus.

Additional Materials

Student life on campus 
City of Rochester 
Rochester curriculum 
Undergraduate research 
Eastman School of Music 
Career Outcomes

University News

What’s New?

For updates and news about what’s happening at the University of Rochester, check out our Newscenter.

Points of Pride 
UR Global 
Diversity at the University 
Sustainability 
Entrepreneurship

The Rochester Curriculum: Study What You Love

People do their best when doing what they love. At Rochester, students build their own curriculum with their own unique strengths and interests. There are no required subjects. Students here study only what they’re passionate about, choosing a major in one of the three divisions of learning and taking thematic three-course clusters in other areas. Most Rochester students find they have room to double- and even triple-major.

A cluster is a set of related courses that fall within one of the three academic divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences & Engineering. Each cluster contains a minimum of 12 credits of coursework. Rochester students created many of these clusters. They’re just one more way students can customize their college education.

See the full list of majors & minors.

Recent Rankings

Colony Club

Whether you’re just starting to think about college or you’re narrowing your choices, we hope you will keep the University of Rochester in mind. As a potential legacy applicant, the Office of Admissions welcomes you (and your family) to visit campus, take a tour, attend an information session, and apply to the University of Rochester when the time comes.

If Rochester is right for you and if you are a good fit for Rochester, we hope you will carry on a family tradition while creating your own legacy here. Because Rochester values such legacies and traditions, the Office wants to keep in touch and serve as a resource for you as the college admissions process begins.

The Colony Club is an exclusive opportunity for children and grandchildren, ages 15 and up, of Rochester alumni. The benefits of being a member of the Colony Club include:

  • Eligibility to apply for the Meliora Alumni Scholarship
  • Legacy interviewing opportunities during Meliora Weekend, for seniors
  • Application fee waiver

Note: Membership in the Colony Club does not imply nor guarantee admission to the University of Rochester.

To maximize your benefits, the best time to enroll is during the summer of your junior year. If you’d like to begin building your relationship with Rochester, please provide us with some information below.