<p>I'm gonna have to bug you guys again with my predicament!</p>
<p>In short, got the first mail and replied to interviewer on 28th Jan. Got a reply on 29th jan, and it's been total silence after that, even though I contacted both the interviewer and the Pton Admissions Office about 3 days back again.</p>
<p>I'm squeezed to death trying to study for my boards right now, and dont even have half a day to spare. I certainly cannot give an interview after 20th Feb.</p>
<p>Assuming I do get a reply in the next few days presumably to set the interview up around 20th (today is already 15th!), what's the best way to decline the interview without coming off negatively?</p>
<p>I know my reason for declining it is a pretty 'bad' one, but my boards are very important to me because I need to score above 95% to get into my top choice colleges here. That's pretty difficult as it is!</p>
<p>Please please please reply soon!</p>
<p>I appreciate your advice :) Thanks so much! :)</p>
<p>You’ll have to tell them the same thing. I’m sure they’ll understand, because they know that the Indian XII Board Examinations count for quite a lot in college admissions.</p>
<p>Send them another email today. If you get a response, that’s great! If not, send another email on the 20th, politely explaining your situation and declining the interview. Although … now that I think of it, I’m sure that the interview won’t last more than 1 hour and it will only help your chances at Princeton.</p>
<p>@Tizil- thanks for the advice! I’ll mail them today again then. And, I tend to go all out for preparing for stuff, so I would spend hours on the interview advice threads and the Pton website without being able to keep away I’ll try my best to squeeze it in though :o @Hunt- Thats a good idea, thanks! i’ll and request a phone interview</p>
<p>Your interviewer probably had to give board exams as well, most of them tend to be Indians did CBSE or ISC, so they’ll understand. They’ll probably cut you some slack even if you’re a little unprepared.</p>
<p>Ugh torn again I got a reply from my interviewer checking for dates next week. She seems really nice and I DO want to give the interview But I have a pretty big backlog on my studies as it is!
Final comments guys? I might just go on your majority votes :o
Thanks so much again :)</p>
<p>Okay, I just decided to go for it. Mailing her right now!
Thanks a lot you guys! @Hcaulfield- Whew that made me feel a lot more relaxed! Thanks And well, I’m more worried about the Pton oriented questions, not the me-oriented ones, lol. I think I’ll just research a bit for an hour or so. Hopefully that’s enough :o
Btw, what were you asked?</p>
<p>I really dont think she’ll quiz you on princeton or anything, its more about getting to know you better, and answering your questions…but it cant hurt to do a little research anyway. im only speaking from experience though, since i had a brown phone interview that was like that, just an informal, friendly conversation.</p>
<p>The guy was a New Yorker. He asked me about my ECs(that he’d requested an email of). We discussed them at great length. Talked about quizzing/academic bowl. He asked me what my most comfy quiz bowl topics were (Mythology/Science/Literature/IT).</p>
<p>He got stuck on “mythology”. We talked about Mythology for about half an hour. We ended up drawing parallels between the Matsya Avatar and Noah’s ark. And how almost every mythology has a strong flood-myth and cleansing the earth of evil before a second-coming… I had fun :D</p>
<p>And then we talked about the non-availability of Double Majors and how certificate programs make up for it. (Princeton does not have double majors. They have certi-programs instead).</p>
<p>All in all. I had a good time </p>
<p>Elbow went numb with the phone-holding against ear, trying to catch the accent :D</p>
<p>He did not quiz me about Princeton. He told me more about it in fact…about the historical Presbyterian aspect of it and how it feels great to be a part of the heritage and carry on the legacy of so many generations of Princeton-ers.</p>
<p>^^Sounds like you had a great one! Thats just so awesome! And LOL at the elbow-numbing! I think I may end up the same way xD
I think i’ll go a bit light now Glad I decided to not decline it. Oh, and she okay-ed the phone interview. YAY :)</p>
I’ll mail them today again then. And, I tend to go all out for preparing for stuff, so I would spend hours on the interview advice threads and the Pton website without being able to keep away 
I’ll try my best to squeeze it in though :o
But I have a pretty big backlog on my studies as it is! 
Thats just so awesome!