Favourite Awkward Interview Moments

<p>Literally ALL my interviews with private colleges have been awkward, but the one that takes the cake was my interview for Northwestern when I was a senior in high school. So it was with this UNBELIEVEABLY hot guy in the Admissions office and the interview went kinda slow at first, but then somehow I started talking about how I would eventually like to study at the campus they just opened in Qatar…this guy had no idea what I was talking about. THEN he asked me what I was most looking forwards to when I arrived on campus in the Fall and I stupidly said, “Hot smart guys like you!” and began to laugh…it was a joke…so of course he just gave me the wierdest look and the longest pause and then changed the subject. BTW, I’m gay. Yea, I didn’t get in.</p>

<p>yale interview: there were tons of awkward silences and we kept averting eye contact makign the conversation progressively more awkward
THEN my interviewer asked if we could go outside and walk… when we went out, she started walking. really fast.
then she kept giving me strange glances… i had told her that i ran cross country and track. and was strolling a step behind her. and couldn’t speak coherently. fabulous</p>

<p>My WashU interview went pretty badly (I think).
-First, I was reading a brochure and the guy was at the end of the hallway. He called my name like 5 times before I realized it.
-Since it was my first interview, I didn’t really know how to answer some of the questions. I started telling him about the classes I’m taking at school; after a minute he cut me off and said “Tell me what you do OUTSIDE of school.” Over the course of the interview I pretty much made it sound like I don’t ever have fun.
-We were talking about why I like WashU and I said something along the lines of “Everyone seems so happy here!” He responded with “How about something a little more useful.”
-I asked about the school spirit. Since I play football I wondered if people were spirited about the games. He said “No one cares. No one. We’re D3, sports don’t really matter here.”
-We talked about my hope to go into medicine someday. He basically told me that I was like every other pre-med that applies to WashU and that I don’t stand out at all.
-Talking about how everyone seems so happy, I cited the fact that I had some excellent pizza at the University Center for lunch. He said “Yeah, that’s the worst place on campus to eat.” I also somehow mentioned that I “really like food. It’s important to me” <em>facepalm</em>
-After the interview he said “I hope to maybe see you around here again.” I’m pretty sure he was just mocking me.
Yeah, that could’ve gone better.</p>

<p>@Kabizzle:AAAAWW that’s so terrrible! It sucks that he was so distant and critical =(</p>

<p>kabizzle your interviewer sounds like a cynical d***</p>

<p>@LaDalicious: I seriously just laughed out loud. Thanks for sharing that story ahhaha.
@Kabizzle: I think your interviewer was the one who made things awkward, not you. Sorry you had to go through that!</p>

<p>Small LAC interview yesterday was the BIGGEST failure. Overall, it was just a blah interview. Every time I tried to talk about something meaningful to me - Girls State, a national science competition, how much I love to read, my research - he moved on! And he asked me if I liked a local elected official, and TOTALLY judged me when I told him I didn’t think the new position was needed - a waste of gov’t money. Fiscal conservative here, not respected by super liberal. </p>

<p>He asked for my rank, my SATs, and then PSAT. He had looked me up online, too, and figured out that I’m a semifinalist. Weird, huh? I thought it was not appropriate for the interviewer to know my SAT scores. </p>

<p>Oh, and he started off by telling me this LAC is super “diverse” and because I’m non-diverse, it’s extra hard for me to get in. Thanks, I’m probably not applying to this LAC now.</p>

<p>^Sara, I would suggest that you do not base your decision on this interview. It’s possible that the interviewer was just an ass and while I see why it put you off the school, that is no indicator that the rest of the people at the school are the same!</p>

<p>Well, I just figured since the interview went badly, he would write me a bad rec. Since I had such a small chance at this school, with the bad interview, I have practically no chance now. </p>

<p>Is it typical for interviewers to ask for SAT scores? I’ve had 7 interviews, and he was the only one to ask.</p>

<p>I had my Wellesley college interview yesterday and my interviewer asked for my SAT scores. But yes, it is not typical for the interviewer to ask for your SAT scores. The interview is supposed to be a chance to tell more about yourself and get to know about the college rather than about your scores. The interviewer is not supposed to ask for your scores but if he/she does, well, there’s nothing we can do eh?
All my interviewers asked for my scores so I’m quite used to it by now!</p>

<p>Bdw, about your bad interview, don’t let it discourage you from applying. An inteview carries very little weight in the admissions process and he’ll probably just give a neutral report. A bad remark is only put if the interview is downright horrible and that doesn’t seem to be your case. :)</p>

<p>How bad is this interview? It lasted 12 minutes. He said he would write me a good recommendation, but I sort of doubt it because he asked me two questions. It was in a very fancy office building, where there was a person just to open the door for you!</p>

<p>I wrote a thank-you email to my interviewer…he never emailed me back.</p>

<p>What a b!7ch.</p>

<p>^^ @Sara- Hey, chillax. My Smith interview was for approx 18 minutes. She gave me a 30 minute slot and because of some unavoidable reason I arrived 10 minutes late. See it just matters what impression you’re able to give in that short amount of time. If you aren’t able to influence him much, he’ll still understand that the time was less. Most reports are neutral. Go ahead and apply. Which LAC is this bdw?</p>

<p>BMan22 - I have written thank you notes for all my interviewers, and I NEVER expect a reply back. I’ve never gotten one, either (but I mailed mine, not email.)</p>

<p>The interview was for Haverford.</p>

<p>At the end of my interview today, my interviewer told me I remind him of his sister. I wasn’t sure if I should say, “Thank you!” because maybe he hates his sister, and I didn’t want to make a joke like, “I hope that’s a good thing!” because maybe his sister is his favorite person in the world and I would offend him. So I just settled on, “Okay,” and smiled and nodded politely.</p>

<p>^ Ack you shoulda said “I hope thats a good thing!”, smile, and laugh a bit. Thank God my first interview (last night) wasn’t awkward… A lot of laughing and smiling</p>

<p>I had an interview for a summer program called NSLI-Y. The interviewer asked me about my family, and I told her I have three younger siblings (ages 13,12,6), and she asked me what we do together. I told her that sometimes we watch movies together, and she asked me what the last one we watched was. We had just watched one the previous night, but I couldn’t remember it! My mind COMPLETELY blanked, except for one movie, The Hangover! (Which we actually did see together). So I told her that, but then she just gave me an awkward silence, and looked down, and didn’t want to talk about it (which was abnormal, since we elaborated on just about everything else that was random). I guess she didn’t like the movie:P But overall, the interview went very well, and I got into the program!</p>

<p>“So, have you visited <strong><em>? Do you like the setting… it’s very suburban, some people don’t like that."
"Yes, I visited </em></strong> twice. I really like how it is suburban yet close to a city. When I visited my friend at ______________ I felt the city life was way too crazy. I like <strong><em>'s setting a lot more."
"Oh. I went to </em></strong>
_________ for my PhD. It’s really not much of a city. I loved it.”</p>

<p>Oh, and when I walked into the library we were supposed to meet at, she was doing something with the books and I thought she was a librarian at first. So I just sat and waited for like 10 minutes before asking if she was my interviewer… awk.</p>

<p>this thread is literally amazing
it’s been a while since my college interviews but i had one for an internship and the interviewer basically asked the same questions that were on a short answer application i already submitted
wanting to be consistent i gave the same ideas i wrote in the answers, except for one where i wrote about how organization could play a role in the job when a light bulb went off in my head that my answer didn’t apply anymore (once she explained more about the job). so i stopped and told the interviewer that my answer didn’t apply. she said ‘yeah it doesn’t’ and while i tried to think of another answer she asked another question.
not a great impression… doubt i’ll get that</p>

<p>For my prep school interview, the guy asked me how my parents have shaped who i am. i said stuff about my dad influencing and inspiring me as an athlete to push hard and not limit myself. and then…
interviewer:what about your mom?
Me: well uh… my mom is really smart. no… not smart. intelligent. i can’t find the right word
interviewer: awkward nod…
Me: CLEVER! she’s really clever
interviewer: ???. What do you mean?
Me: Uh… i mean… (and then i figured it out) she’s a great problem solver. she’s taught me to be innovative and think creatively. </p>

<p>thankfully i salvaged it at the end. at least it was memorable. </p>

<p>wish me luck so i don’t screw up college interviews as badly.</p>