I applied about 2 weeks ago, haven’t heard back about alumni interviews. Is this weird? Should I do an on-campus interview instead?
^I assume you applied SCEA. It will depend on how many alumni interviewers are in your “region” and how quickly the head of the region assigns you to an interviewer and how fast the interviewer contacts you. I normally get assigned EA interviews the beginning of November and I schedule to get the interviews and reports done within 2 weeks.
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@BKSquared OK, thank you!! I did apply SCEA, and I’m in a pretty populated region (Northern NJ, outside NYC).
S applied and will be visiting next week. Is it possible to conduct interview while we are there? Rather than alumni interview in hometown?
The alumni interview is designed to be separate from the formal admissions process.
They are likely to do interviews through November.
@ProfessorMom1 , you might be able to schedule it, but be aware that they no longer hold open the possibility of both interviews. From DS’s report, and general gossip, I think that most preferred the alumni interview. YMMV.
@kenneth1960, your post #4 is not correct for Yale. While it is true that not every applicant will get an interview (if you don’t get one, it neither counts for or against you) because of limited availability of interviewers in certain areas, the interview process is indeed a formal part of applicant evals – . The AO assigns all app’s to a local Alumni Schools Committee chairperson who then assigns applicants to volunteers within his/her region. There are detailed instructions for each interviewer as to what he/she should be looking for, how we should conduct ourselves, and what should be included in each eval. In fact, we just got notification yesterday to expect assignments shortly.
@IxnayBob Thanks for the info. I actually started to think along those lines anyway after I posted the query. Alumni would be best, I think. Yale’s website says on campus ones are conducted by seniors.
@BKSquared – Does that mean interviewer gets specific instructions for EACH kid? Or just generic, one-size-fits-all guidelines for ALL applicants? Should an applicant assume that the interviewer already knows a fair amount of biographic details, or only basic details about the kid?
For Yale interviewers (up to this year at least), all we receive are the applicants name and contact, phone and email and a stated interest in major(s) if they had indicated one in their app. We do not receive grades, scores or list of EC’s. The AO wants us to approach the interview without any prejudgment and base our eval on the interaction with the applicant. There are qualities that the AO would like us to look for which are in the guidelines. Some interviewers ask for a resume (I do not), and there are applicants who volunteer a resume, which I will look at on the assumption that this is the way the applicant wants to direct my attention.
A few years ago, my daughter submitted her SCEA application in mid-October and was contacted about an interview around November 15 or so. She had her interview very soon thereafter.
I submitted my app on Nov. 1 and was contacted on the 4th. My interview is scheduled for the 11th but I know that all interviews need to be conducted by Dec. 1!
If you don’t mind me asking, what area do you live in? I live in the suburbs of NJ (lot of Yale alumni), applied October 19, and STILL haven’t received an email. @keujin
@lesjubilants sometimes there are a low number of ASC volunteers even if there are a lot of alumni for your area vs a high number of applicants. Some area chairpersons are more diligent in assigning interviewers and some interviewers are more diligent in contacting their interviewees. I would not stress as your application will not be adversely affected if you do not receive an interview in any event.
@BKSquared I read on CCs Harvard forum that sometimes Harvard assigns interviews very close to the decision date, and that this is because you’re a “finalist” in your area from being an admit. Does this hold any truth? If so, is it the same for Yale?
I have heard of that as well for Yale, although I do not have personal experience. I would not be surprised that there are instances when interviewers are asked to do an interview very close to the decision date for candidates on the “fence” who have not yet had an interview for whom the AO wants a final data point. I do think that situation if it exists is rare.
My son submitted around October 25th, and he just had his interview November 4th.
@BKSquared Ok, thanks. I’m still stressing a little though. I tend to come across really, really well in person and just wanted an interview to add to my application, especially since I’m worried my application isn’t that strong. Hopefully I’ll get an email soon!
@lesjubilants I live in Chicago. Some of my friends that applied before me haven’t gotten their interview dates yet either, though. Hopefully you get your email soon!