With the application deadline for College House residency just around the corner, interested students will be subject to a new interview process designed to improve the increasingly competitive College House application process. The new method is meant to be more personal and to grant current College House members a larger role in choosing new residents.
In years past, large group interviews were conducted to determine each house's new members, generally comprised of 10 to 12 random applicants and four to five evaluators. The evaluators would stay silent during the group discussion. Now, students will have the opportunity to interview with current College House residents individually or in blocks of up to four applicants in a small, intimate group setting.
"Outgoing house members last year expressed an interest in more involvement in selecting the new crop of house folks," said Chris Rossi, assistant director of residential life. "This is an opportunity for current members who want to help with the selection process to get to know and meet individual applicants."
Despite the fact that this more individualized approach requires a greater number of total interviews to take place, Rossi is hopeful that the new system will benefit both the Office of Residential Life and applicants.
"There's a lot more people involved, and so there's a lot more logistical coordination, but we still have the flexibility to deal with any holes that might pop up," he said.
Though the new system would permit outgoing College House members to have more influence in the decisions, there has been some concern as to whether or not bias—due to a lack of objectivity in the process—would result in inequity.
"[Current house members] could be more prone to picking their friends or people that they know better and give them a more positive review," said Bryce Ervin '15, who hopes to live in Ladd House next year with a block of four. "I feel in some way [that] they would be picking the house to reflect themselves in a way, whereas it should be more withdrawn."
"It's a good idea to get the other current house members involved," Ervin added, "but I think it may be better to interact with people who you may not know, so you can see them and then they can observe how those interactions might lead to a good, eclectic house."
On the question of the new system's potential for bias, President of the Inter-House Council Max Staiger '13 asserted that the benefits of the new process outweigh the potential drawbacks.
"If you fall under the category of "a random person", you're probably going to get overlooked in a bigger group interview," said Staiger. "But you have the chance to really show yourself in these new block interviews. So even in that sense I think [the new system] will be better."
Last year the number of applications for College Houses rose to an all-time high. Approximately 75 percent of the Class of 2014 applied to be a part of the College House system, according to Rossi. There were roughly 350 applicants, 100 more than the year before and 50 more than the previous application record in 2012.
"If we can continue that kind of number, between 300 and 350, I think that's a thriving success as far as I'm concerned," concluded Rossi.
Applicants for College House residency are due on February 15. Interviews will take place the week of February 20 and continue until March 9.