Story by Zoe Chen
Editor-in-Chief

Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses

Throughout the month of September, I had the opportunity to interview to be a Rose Court princess, best known for riding the float in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade. I was not selected as one of the seven on the court, but I did make it to the final round of 27, and my intent with this column is to offer insights to anyone in future years wishing to take a shot in the selection process. 

High school seniors who identify as female in the greater Pasadena area are eligible to apply. Selection is through a four-round interview process where the applicant pool is reduced by about two-thirds each successive round. 

The first round felt like more of a social gathering than anything else. Businesses and organization sponsors gave out free hair products, scholarship opportunity flyers, and popsicles; there was a DJ, and I heard that some ponies arrived after I left. 

In terms of the interview, each applicant got 15 seconds to tell the selection committee why they want to be on the Rose Court. Although, I suspect the first round is at least as much about how applicants hold and present themselves than what they actually say. 

I was totally unprepared for the amount of effort and preparation some applicants put into the first round. I strolled in slightly sweaty in my scuffed Converse sneakers, and I was absolutely underdressed. I found out later, though, that some people went so far as to get interview coaching and take etiquette lessons, so I suppose it’s really up to each applicant how much effort they’re willing to put in. 

The second and third rounds were more generic questions about challenges faced and meaningful life experiences. The rounds were a blur; more than anything, I remember that my car wouldn’t lock after I parked it going into my second round, and I was freaking out about potential theft throughout the entirety of my interview (admittedly it was only 60 seconds). The questions sounded like they came straight from a list of college supplemental essay prompts, and I parroted what I had already brainstormed for my applications. 

The final round, at four minutes, felt significantly longer, and it took place at a packed conference table rather than standing 10 feet away from the panel. The final round also had some curveball questions that would have been harder to anticipate; though they likely change each year, I was asked who, living or dead, I would like to have dinner with. I blanked and blurted out Taylor Swift, then nonsensed my way back to supporting communities and such. I laugh about that even now because I really have no idea where it came from; not in the past month had she once crossed my mind.

Personally, I didn’t practice much before each interview because I didn’t want to sound scripted, but my suggestion for the amount an applicant should prepare depends on their confidence level in articulating their thoughts on the spot. If you have a desire to practice for the first three rounds, I think you could probably look up a list of common job interview questions and find them fairly similar to the Court questions. 

I’m not qualified to give advice on how to pass the final round, but for the first three I had a few specific stories I wanted to tell and found ways to pivot to them. I took note of what I said in each round so I didn’t repeat the same anecdotes, but I would also advise against assuming that the selection committee members, who are the same people through each round, remember everything you’ve said previously. 

I talked about my cleft lip and summer camp volunteering in every interview, which might not have been the best strategy for the final round but it got me past the first three. Or maybe the panel does not care about the content of what you say and it’s all about your presentation. I don’t know. 

I stood by this going into the first round and I stand by it now: the whole process is pretty much a crapshoot. But, it was fun, it was good interview practice, I met some cool people, and I shared some good laughs. I’m proud of myself for making it as far as I did, and I’m honestly more bummed that I didn’t get selected than that I don’t get to be on the court. It sounds like a cool experience, but, as someone who pulled up to prom last year in combat boots, there are definitely aspects of being on the court that would have made me cry internally. 

Either way, if it’s August or September and you’re a high school senior, there’s not much harm in giving it a try. Best of luck.