<p>So today I had my interview at starbucks, and now that it's done I feel somewhat confused. Most people say their interviews last 30 minute to one hour. During mine, the interviewer asked just two questions, "Why Princeton?" and "What do you do outside of school?" which I was fully prepared for and answered with mild enthusiasm (oxymoron?). Then he just kind of sits back, crosses his hands and puts a little grin on his face, no follow up questions or anything. I ask whether there is anything else he wants to know about me... to which he answers "So do you have any questions for me?" So obviously I did have 5 or 6 somewhat engaging questions to ask, but the answers I got were not at all detailed, and the interviewer looked like he wasn't that interested in me from the moment we sat down! Perhaps I don't get it... who is supposed to talk more during the interview, the interviewer or the one being interviewed? Should I have just kept rambling on about my ECs until I ran out of breath or was there really nothing I could do to prolong the meeting?</p>
<p>So... what do you guys think this means? Are they playing games with my mind or do they just not like me?</p>
<p>i think your interviewer was just a loser. Most should be 30mins to an hour, and from what you describe, he wasn't doing a very good job selling the school. </p>
<p>he was pretty young, graduated just 2 years ago... plus he's an engineer/researcher and I'm more interested in politics/law, maybe he just didn't know what to talk about, maybe he was just testing me somehow... it just felt really awkward how he would just sit there and stare at me.</p>
<p>Yeah I haven't even gotten an interview yet. Lucky you. Even though it was short, it doesn't sound anything went terribly wrong. I woudn't worry too much.</p>
<p>15 min? thats a bit too short...maybe u should have asked some questions. Its common knowledge that interviewers hate it when candidates dont ask qs. U definitely should have focused on 2 or 3 ECs and say how they are important to u, and how u have used ur strong points to be successful at them, how u overcame difficulties in the process, and how u have downsized ur weaknesses. Thats what i did and mine went on for 1.5 hrs and it was good.</p>
<p>Heh...That's pretty queer. It would probably test your social skills, ability to deal with unexpected situations, and ingenuity though if he deliberately sat speechless. Still...weird...very weird...</p>
<p>my interviewer wasnt very responsive at first, and I had a feeling that thins were gonna wrap up in 20 min or so, so I talked about research I did, stuff I like, popped in a few questions about his job here and there, and then showed him my company's website, cracked a few jokes and there...it was on to 1.5 hrs. at the end, he was the one doing more of the talking than me :)</p>
<p>yeah , my interviewer and I had an awesome time, I've found that the longer the interviews go, the better they tend to be my pton interview was a few hours</p>
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Are they playing games with my mind ...
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Interesting you should mention this. I think there are a few interviewers/adcoms who either have major personal issues, or they really enjoy toying with your mind to see how you react under extra pressure. I've met an interviewer like this before, so I know what you mean by these 'mind games'.</p>