<p>So an alumnus emailed me to schedule an interview and she said she can only do it over the weekdays. Unfortunately, I babysit my baby cousins now because their parents (my aunt and uncle) can't afford a babysitter anymore. Therefore, I volunterred to take care of their kids till they get back on their feet. Meaning, I can't make it to the interview. </p>
<p>So what should I tell the alumnus? Something along the lines that I obligated to taking care of my cousins and can't make the interview?</p>
<p>Will this be bad for me to turn down an interview?</p>
<p>I would say explain the circumstance to the interviewer and let her make a judgment. If she says there's absolutely no way of making it work, then I would either try maybe work something out with your aunt/uncle or decline.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. But i've already tried talking to my aunt and uncle and we tried getting my other older cousins to babysit but they can't. My aunt and uncle are like on the verge of losing their jobs so they can't take a leave either. </p>
<p>So I guess if I explain to the interviewer the situation I explained earlier that just like I'm straight out decling the interview?</p>
<p>Does she notify Duke and tell them "oh she didn't want an interview." or she couldnt make it?</p>
<p>haha sorry these seem like straightforward questions. But I really did try and get out of babysitting for a day and no hope there. Now, I feel like missing this interview will hurt me!</p>
<p>Have you asked her about it? I'm not saying you should straight up decline. But present the situation to her and see what she says. Maybe she can accommodate you?</p>
<p>Give the interviewer a couple viable options like coming to your home with the cousins present, OR meeting at a playground, OR meeting at a library. Show how resourceful you are and DONT give up on the interviewer just yet!</p>
<p>Rather than continuing an email dialog, find out if you can call her on the telephone to coordinate something. Even if you can't get together ultimately the phone call will be a mini-interview in that you will be able to express a little bit about yourself and show some initiative.</p>
<p>Honesty goes a long way...if you tell the interviewer you really want to meet them, but have a family obligation - maybe they would not mind if you took the kids with you...</p>
<p>I like BarristerDad118 suggestions. Still, there is NO adult in your family that can help out for an hour? No daycare available at on affordable cost for one hour? If not, I'm guessing your essay was a doozey!</p>
<p>^^ lol b's mom , id laugh so hard if she got a friend to take her place for the interview and stayed at home to baby sit. But yeah i agree with barrister dad. you can make it work. Wosrt come worst dude ask for a phone interview. thats what im doing with princeton.</p>
<p>I'm starting to think that's what you want to do. My D didn't want to do the interview, and some folks her year didn't get offered one. I was of the mind that not getting offered one was no big deal, but turning one down might raise an eyebrow (but that's probably all). Seems like you have a good reason, but it's hard for me to think about a kid whose family can't help him out. That's the family I'd like to hear about in an essay.</p>
<p>Huh? Your aunt or uncle isn't home for a single hour Mon-Fri over the course of the next two weeks when you're out of school? They both have night shifts or something? I would NOT decline an interview. If you honestly are babysitting from 4 PM - 10 PM mon-fri over the course of the next two weeks, ask to be assigned an interviewer who can meet with you on the weekend. They can easily re-assign you to somebody else, but you need to act FAST.</p>
<p>yeah it kind of seems like you don't want to do it. Seriously, I am sure you can get someone to take your babysitting spot for 1 hour. Ask your parents to pay a friend or something, it's only like 10 dollars. There are plenty of ways to interview. Talk on the phone or something.</p>
<p>Can't you get an excused early release from school to have your interview? You could maybe meet the interviewer before you have to babysit. I agree, it's better to call than keep e-mailing her, the situation could be resolved more quickly.</p>
<p>thanks for all the responses you guys! but i've finally convinced my aunt to let one of my friends take care of my cousins for the day...that was only after my friend helped me babysit all week last week so my aunt would trust her! haha my aunt's way overprotective but the kids are only 1 and 2. so i've got my interview this thursday now!
ahhh!!!
the next question is,</p>
<p>how does the interview go? I've already read all of the interview theards...or the majority of them atleast. But, what questions are generally asked?</p>
<p>No idea as my S who is at Duke was not interviewed. But from what I have read it is a lot about why Duke and why you feel its a good fit and what your interests are and how Duke would meet them. I would also expect to be asked about you EC and what you are passionate about.</p>