<p>I feel discouraged and dissapointed in Brown University as I communicate more and more with the interviewer. When Brown Alumni contacted me for the interview, so I replied as soon as I saw the email.</p>
<p>For a MONTH, I did not receive anything from the interviewer, and two days ago, I received an email from a person who is not the interviewer (i’m guessing she is a secretary or something for the original interviewer) trying to schedule the interview.</p>
<p>As I talk to this person( and interviewer), I feel discouraged and dislike. She is rude in that she does not answer any question I ask and just says whatever she wants. Moreover, she just decides randomly to change the date of the interview. I do not think I am going to have a pleasant time with the interviewer seeing how he does not even contact me directly.</p>
<p>Should I decline? Is there a way for me to decline and not get any penalty for it?</p>
<p>Sounds like your interviewer is a busy person with a secretary, and that you’re judging the manners of the secretary. If you really don’t want to do the interview, you can cancel, but you won’t have the opportunity to learn more about Brown.</p>
<p>yeah, for all we know, the alumnus asked his/her secretary to schedule an interview with you as soon as they got the assignment. The secretary then dropped the ball for the last month and now is scrambling to find time for you and the busy alumnus to meet.</p>
<p>Secretaries do that. You ask, “When will I be able to speak with him?” She answers, “I’m sure he’s looking forward to the interview.” Get used to it.</p>
<p>I think you are being extremely oversensitive. You do realize that interviewers don’t work for Brown, they are alumni volunteers and all types of people from all walks of life. You do realize that busy people have secretaries? If you do decide to attend the interview, I wouldn’t take your negativity in with you. If you decline it might be fine, or it might show lack of interest. I don’t see any basis to decline, not sure how you would explain that. Scheduling conflict?</p>
<p>I guess what I am thinking is that you are used to being the center of the universe or something.</p>
<p>Brown does desire students who can navigate less than optimal circumstances, show flexibility, not misread or infer trouble when none exist and the ability to overcome. See this as an ongoing part of your education. </p>
<p>Or not and let Brownparent’s last line sink in.</p>
<p>Holy cow. I took 5 minutes to check some of OP’s previous posts, and I don’t see that all. OP identifies as a Korean immigrant and has worked as a busboy. I suspect all we’re seeing is unfamiliarity with the workings of upper-level-management types.</p>
<p>To the OP, T26E4 is not a Brown alum. He has stated on these forums that he is an alum of another Ivy. So please do not let his/her comments affect your opinion of Brown. Do not know whether BrownParent is a Brown alum. If so, I would have to say the remarks that person directed toward you in a public forum are not consistent with the type of public discourse I am accustomed to among Brown alums.</p>
<p>And I hope that secretary is not a Brown alum!</p>
<p>Ignore those two, the process is stressful and being put off for one reason or another just adds to the anxiety.</p>
<p>If anything I would wait it out, deal with the interviewer and if you’re never interviewed then you can contact Brown and tell them that there were scheduling conflicts. However, you would miss out on hearing more on the school as well as making a potential friend. I still talk with my interviewer regularly and I was accepted through ED a couple months ago. In fact, he saw that I was accepted and we went out to Baja’s and he elaborated more on his story and gave me some advice on how to prepare.</p>
<p>D had to play phone tag with a busy Brown alumni. This person claimed they called in December, but D never got the call. Also they called cell number not home phone and never emailed. After much back and forth D got an interview. D was nervous and frustrated . Glad to get it over with but is not optimistic. GOOD LUCK.</p>
<p>Since you posted last week, I don’t know if my advice is too late, but I’ll give you my insight anyways. </p>
<p>My interviewer was similar to yours when we were scheduling an interview. He answered my emails briefly with numerous typos, and changed the date a few times. So, I was a little bit unsure and nervous going into the interview. But, when we met up, he turned out to be the most impressive interviewer I have met out of all the interviews I’ve done - he was brilliant, did a great job advertising Brown, and was really helpful and awesome in general. So, definitely don’t decline because you won’t know what your interviewer is like until you actually meet her in person.</p>