<p>So I had my first college interview today. Needless to say I was pretty nervous, and didn't really know what to expect. My interviewer was pretty old and seemed to be fairly involved with the alumni network, but surprisingly did not appear to know what he was doing. He asked me questions about things on my resume that were irrelevant, for SAT/AP scores, other colleges that I was applying to, took issue with my academic/career interests because they weren't "applied," and went off on tangents about himself, his family, and books he was reading. He was a nice guy, and he said I'd fit in well at the school, but four hours is more than enough time for an interview imo. Should I contact the school about this? Should I bother to tell them that not many questions were asked about my personality? (I don't want my interview report to talk about things that were already in my application such as test scores and awards). How (and when) should an applicant inform their interviewer that enough is enough?</p>
<p>While I undertand your annoyance, it sounds like it was a successful interview. I think it would have been a mistake to interupt the flow (if you can call it that) or to tell him enough is enough. I see no need to contact the school.</p>
<p>Wow, that’s completely outrageous. It would be a service to the college (do you want to say which one?) to let them know that this interviewer is actually doing them no service at all. He’s representing the college very badly.</p>
<p>An interview should take 45-60 minutes. An interviewer shouldn’t criticize the career aspirations of an applicant, or waste time collecting information the college already has. I’m afraid you found a lonely old gentleman.</p>
<p>When you bring these problems to the college’s attention (and I really hope you will), you might want to say something like the following: “My alumni interview for PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGE was unlike any other interview I had this year. A few things about it seemed odd to me. I want to report them to you so you can determine whether these things are in line with PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGE’s expectations for interviews.” And then list the things that were odd. Focus on things that happened, rather than portraying this strange old geezer as a strange old geezer.</p>
<p>That definitely is a long interview, but that usually means it went well. I definitely wouldn’t contact the school because the interviews are supposed to be about your activities and stuff. How would they ask about your personality? He shouldn’t need to ask, but rather base it on the four hours you spent talking…</p>
<p>
Not necessarily straight up, but a lot of the resume-based questions were borderline quibbling rather than allowing for a personally-infused answer.</p>
<p>Ah that’s understandable. Well, I would imagine that over the course of four hours, he would have enough info about your personality to fill out the interview report</p>
<p>I simply can’t agree that there’s anything good about a four-hour college interview. A four-hour interview is disrespectful of the interviewee’s time, and if the interviewee has either been given a ride to the location or borrowed a parent’s car to get there, it’s disrespectful of the interviewee’s family’s time.</p>
<p>I ALSO think 4 hours is totally out of line. This sounds to me like the interviewer was interested in a lot more than you getting to know the school and vice versa. Having said that, I would not contact the school, either. Good luck with your college acceptance process.</p>
<p>I would feel free to write the school. But as a long time head of Alumni interviewing for an ivy in my region, I can assure you interviews don’t matter. They are mostly to interest you in the college. Anyone can sign up to do them. I cringe at how many know nothing about our school today. The bright side is you made an old man’s day!</p>
<p>Four hours is not an interview- thats a date!! LOL. Seriously, I’d wait until after admissions decisions are made and then contact the admissions office to tell them about your experience. Don’t badmouth the interviewer, but state factually that your interview , while interesting, was quite long, seemed different than your other interviews, and be prepared to give an example or 2. Those of us who do alum interviews know that there are general guidelines we are expected to follow, and most of all, the interviewee should come away with a positive, not a negative feeling about the school and the person representing the school.</p>
<p>I agree with jym- make the comment after the admission process. It would be strange to bash one of their alumni, particularly if he said good things about you.</p>
<p>I agree with an earlier poster who advised notifying them and sticking to the facts (length of interview, arguing over your activities, disparaging comments, etc). I’d send it in now since if your account is accurate it is not how a college would want themselves represented. Sounds like the geezer has mistaken himself for an adcom instead of an interviewer supplying info to the adcoms! </p>
<p>The reason I say send it now is no school will hold it against you for telling them about such an uncomfortable encounter, and you protect yourself against what the old man may have written. If he was arguing with you about things like you say, it’s a good bet his opinions went into his report; he sure doesn’t sound like a guy who sees his role as sugarcoating things to make interviewees sound good. The second reason to do it now is credibility. If you are rejected or deferred and this report played a role in coloring the adcoms views, then complaining <em>after</em> you know the decision is easily dismissed as ‘sour grapes’</p>
<p>Okay so I now know two other people who have had the same interviewer, one is a junior in college and the other is a friend of mine in my grade at school. Both of their interviews were 3 hours. Does this change any potential course of action I should take?</p>
<p>Alright, if it’s happened two other times, I think you should notify the school. I’d probably try to have your friend submit a report too.</p>
<p>This interviewer is totally inappropriate. I agree that a respectful note to admissions letting them know how ‘unusual’ your interview experience was, is the right thing to do. If you do it in a ‘I’m not complaining, but I thought you should know’ way, I think it reflects well on your maturity and judgment.</p>
<p>Hume-
Is the friend who is a junior in college by any chance at the college that this marathon-alum interviewer interviews for? If so, thats an easy fix-- he/she just pays a friendly visit to the admissions office to advise them. If not, I’d again wait until your admissions cycle is complete before saying anything. But I would encourage you to say something.</p>
<p>^No, she does not go to the school in question.</p>
<p>Also, I just looked up the instructions from the school to interviewers, and interviews are supposed to be between 40-60 minutes.</p>
<p>I was asked by the OP to offer some advice on this:</p>
<p>You should contact the admissions officer in an e-mail letting them know, very respectfully but candidly, that you felt uncomfortable and why. Some of what you describe doesn’t sound so out of character - interviews are meant to be an opportunity to learn more about the school and its alums, but four hours is akin to holding you hostage, and it sounds like he didn’t so much inform you about his alumni experiences as ramble on about himself. You can state that the interview hasn’t diminished your excitement for the school, but nevertheless you wanted to inform the school about your experiences. You don’t need to compare the experience to other interviews you’ve had because the experience (as you describe it) is something colleges want to avoid. </p>
<p>I’d contact the school now - the ability to stand up for yourself, to advocate for yourself, and to “do the right thing” is something every college should want in its admits. And, frankly, if the school in question can’t handle you informing them of a grossly inappropriate experience foisted onto you, then you shouldn’t go there. You’d be amazed how much you can learn about an institution from the attitudes of their admissions officers.</p>