Bad Interview Experience

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Late last week I had my Yale interview, and my interview did not go very well. My interviewer was a professor at the local university, and this is how it went.</p>

<p>I walked into his office and greeted him, but he didn't shake my hand. We was in sweats, and the room was extremely disorganized--he had to spend some time clearing stacks of junk out of the way just so I would have somewhere to sit down. Prior to the interview, via email, he had asked me to send him a word document with something similar to a resume on it, and he started the interview by asking the same thing he had asked me to write in the document: "What do you consider your greatest high school achievement/s?" So I talked to him about it, and after briefly mentioning just one or two things, he cut me off to ruminate over his experience at Yale. Then, "Any questions for me?" I had worked hard to prepare some legitimate questions, so I asked them, but he dismissed all of them with vague, "Ohhh, it doesn't reeeaally matter...."s. When I tried to bring up Yale itself, and why I wanted to go there in particular, he cut me off to talk about how I'll be happy no matter where I end up and I shouldn't care about where I go.</p>

<p>That was the only question he ended up asking me, because a mere fifteen minutes later I found myself dispelled from his office with a, "Mmmmokkaaay, that about does it, I think. Yeah...I've got some other stuff...mmm-hhmmm." Throughout the interview (if you could call it that), he made it exceedingly clear that he had not so much as opened the document I had sent him (which he had requested himself), and he showed no interest in me as an applicant. I left feeling as though there would be no way in the world he would be able to write anything about me at all in his write-up; the guy barely said hello before trailing off and wrapping up the "interview". </p>

<p>It was not an exchange of information, nor an engaging conversation--nothing an interview is supposed to be. It was so disappointing, and very concerning. I ended the brief conversation feeling chastised, bewildered, and alarmed.</p>

<p>Last summer, when I visited campus, I had an interview in the admissions office with a current student. Bearing this, and all of the above, in mind, do you think I have a reason to worry? How should I handle this situation? My interviewer was so disorganized, I'm concerned his report won't even make it to the school--and if it does, it will most likely be dreadful!</p>

<p>Advice? Consolation? Anyone else have a similar experience?</p>

2

<p>If you had another interview on campus and you think that one went well then fear not, because there will be at least one good write-up in your file. </p>

<p>While I can totally understand the bewildering nature of such an interview—it sounds ridiculous, and unpleasant—I wouldn’t dwell on it too much. Interviews have minimal bearing on one’s application anyways, and especially considering that this wasn’t your only interview with the school it won’t affect you, really. </p>

<p>Don’t do this now, because you don’t want to ostracize Yale accidently by sounding like you’re criticizing them, but after decisions are out, regardless of what yours is, you might want to find some polite way to let Yale know that they have a bum interviewer out there. They do rely on these people for some sort of representation of the person whose applications they have in their hands, and if there’s a person out there who’s not doing his or her job at helping them with that, it’s important for them to know. Just don’t do it in an obnoxious “omg, lyke, eye i had tha WORST interveew evah!!1!” kind of way (obviously…). :)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>That sucks. YOU feel bad now (of course), yet it was your interviewer that was lame. Hopefully THAT is why interviews have to be taken with a grain of salt. Wonder how they find/screen their interviewers. Do they volunteer? Is there any criteria beyond have graduated from Yale? Obviously THE quintessential odd, grizzly old college prof with tenure, eh? Wish I had some words of wisdom. I really don’t. Just know that an interview at most colleges is really not supposed to be make or break. Yikes, I feel for you. I don’t see a rainbow here.</p>

4

<p>I know this is easy for me to say, but don’t worry about it. Obviously, he is not going to pour his heart into writing a spectacular letter about you, but his lack of enthusiasm is probably known and will not be taken as a commentary on you. Your letters of rec from people who know you are much more important. </p>

<p>I admire your ability to remain respectful throughout the interview. He may think you can be happy anywhere - and that is probably true - but I don’t think you would be happy at his college, in his class. Yikes, can you imagine having him as a professor???</p>

<p>Take care, stay positive, and keep us posted!!!</p>

5

<p>I second what was suggested above, in that after you get your decision you should contact either Yale or whoever is the head of alumni relations in your area to let them know about the bad interviewer. I honestly don’t think it will affect your chances in any way whatsoever, but it’d be nice if future interviewees didn’t have to suffer through what you did. Do it for them.</p>