Interview
Weekend!
ABOUT THE WEEKEND
Why do we interview?
Most museum studies programs don't require an interview for acceptance, but CGP is different. We are the nation's premier museum studies program; we select our students carefully. You'll spend the next two years working very closely with faculty and classmates. We want you to be happy coming to CGP, and to make sure everyone will get along and work well together.
Additionally, Cooperstown is a unique place. Nestled in beautiful Upstate New York, on Lake Otsego, CGP is the only program with direct museum connections. From the Baseball Hall of Fame to the Fenimore Art Museum, Farmer’s Museum, and the New York Historical Society, we’ll take you around to see the wonderful museums, libraries, and the community of Cooperstown and surrounding area. We strive to make your visit low stress and low-cost.
How will I get there?
Plane
Train
Car
You made it! Hooray!
If you're planning on flying, please arrange to arrive in Albany. We'll have shuttles pick you up there in groups and bring you to CGP. It should be simple and low stress. Just look for the enthusiastic people wearing CGP gear. We'll shuttle you back to the airport the next day. Find information about shuttles here.
Don't like flying? That's ok, you can take the train too. If you arange to arrive at the Albany Amtrak Station, we'll pick you up with a shuttle! The next day, we'll drive you back to the Amtrak station. Find information about shuttles here.
Driving? Watch out for foul weather. The roads into and out of Cooperstown can be slippery in inclement weather. Google Maps will give you wonderful directions.
Once you get here, come inside the building and introduce yourself! Someone will probably greet you, but if not just follow the signs to the office. We'll get you in touch with your student host. They'll be your primary contact and guide during Interview Weekend. Feel free to ask them (or any of us!) any questions you might have.
What should I bring?
Shoes
Bring dress shoes that fit well with your interview outfit. For part of the weekend, you may be touring the village and our museums. Since it will be mid-March, there is likely to be snow, ice, slush, and/or mud on the ground, so bring a good pair of walking shoes or boots that you can wear when you're not interviewing.
Toiletries
Please remember your toiletries! This includes any medicine you may need, soap, toothbrush, hair or skin produts, etc. If you forget something, your host will either help you out or take you to the pharmacy in town so you can buy what you need.
Attire
There will be two interviews, but you only need one interview outfit. You'll be interviewing with a different set of people each time, and we all understand that you're probably trying to pack light, so it is perfectly fine if you wear the same outfit to both interviews.
Men: For your interview, make sure you dress professionally. We recommend a suit, or slacks with a dress shirt and tie.
Women: For your interview, make sure you dress professionally. We recommend a suit, a dress, or a blouse with slacks or a skirt.
Remember that our admissions committee will want to get to know the real you, so express your individuality! Feel free to add a little flair to your interview outfit; they'd rather see your personality expressed than repressed.
Even though you're probably very focused on your interviews, they're not that long. The rest of the weekend you'll need clothes, too. The day you arrive, wear nice, but comfortable clothes. Bear in mind that if you take tours you'll be walking around and possibly dealing with snow. You'll also be spending a large part of your time around fellow interviewees and current students, so again, express yourself!
Last, but certainly not least, remember to check the weather leading up to Interview Weekend. It will probably be cold, so it's best to bring a warm coat and be prepared.