<p>well this may be somewhat OT but since you're on the topic of interview propriety I'm wondering what you think about this. My s had an inteview in the fall with a grad (50 something) from an Ivy school. He told my s about how a friend of his at school had made a model for an architecture class out of brownies that had hashish in them (the assignment had been to build a model out of something edible). I was a bit surprised at this, but I'm just wondering what others think.</p>
<p>". My s had an inteview in the fall with a grad (50 something) from an Ivy school. He told my s about how a friend of his at school had made a model for an architecture class out of brownies that had hashish in them (the assignment had been to build a model out of something edible). I was a bit surprised at this, but I'm just wondering what others think."</p>
<p>It's inappropriate and sad that that was the kind of memory that the alum is still cherishing. Sounds like the alum needs to grow up. Too bad that the guy is choosing to represent his college. I just hope his alma mater isn't mine. </p>
<p>Sure, those kind of things were not unusual back in the days in which many 50something folks were in college. But those aren't what one should be sharing with prospective students!</p>
<p>Northstarmom, the school is Y. I would have put this up here sooner but I was concerned that the interviewer might be a CCer. I thought the topic might be somewhat hidden in this thread. It still bothers me when I think about it because I'm sure that it must have made my son somewhat uncomfortable. I can't figure out why he would have chosen to tell that story to s, it's not like he looks 'wild' or something-- quite the contrary--very bookish.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I can't figure out why he would have chosen to tell that story to s, it's not like he looks 'wild' or something-- quite the contrary--very bookish.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thats probably why, he wants to maintain his image of himself as a "bad boy" :eek:</p>
<p>I am so glad it wasn't a H interviewer!</p>
<p>If the interviewer is a CCer, the interviewer needs to realize that what he did is inappropriate. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, there are adults, including parents, who hold to blissful memories of their bombed out youth, and who pass along these memories to kids, including theirs. Then they wonder why their kids follow in their footsteps.</p>
<p>I also wonder whether the interviewer is still using. When I was a journalist, I interviewed a well respected 40something lawyer about his life as an activist. In the middle of the interview, he launched into a blissful recitation of smoking dope when he was younger.</p>
<p>I was really uncomfortable because this had nothing to do with the subject at hand. I did not take notes on what he was saying. I did not include the info in the story I wrote.</p>
<p>A few years later, he was arrested for a series of bank robberies. Apparently, he had become a crack addict and was robbing banks to support his habit.</p>
<p>I sure hope that's not the case here, but who knows. After hearing your story it does make me wonder. Seeing that article must have been a jaw dropper for you! My son's reaction was that he thought the interviewer was "testing" him to see if he would share a story in return. Which he didn't because he doesn't have any to tell--not that he would have been stupid enough to even if he had. My take on it was somewhat what emeraldkity4 has suggested, that he wanted to maintain his bad boy image. Pathetic. (btw, I meant that my s looks bookish, not the interviewer. I only saw interviewer from a distance when I dropped s at his house) And that's another thing, I wonder if that story would have been shared if they had had the interview in a public place. I think I'll recommend the town library for any future interviews.</p>
<p>My oldest son interviewed with someone who cancelled the first two appointments at the last minute with the excuse that he has 5 kids and is very busy since they are all in sports. Actually it was his wife who called me and cancelled with this explanation. I hardly knew what to say, considering how many kids we have, and my son was actively in his athletic season and was gearing up to be a college athlete. He finally got a time with this guy at some unearthly hour in the morning at the guy's house, and he was interviewed as he helped the guy load the van for a roadtrip for his daughter's lacrosse tournament in Massachusetts. Two of those five kids, were already in college by the way. I did report the guy, but he was still doing interviews, I heard, in subsequent years, one on a soccer field while he was coaching his daughter's game. </p>
<p>Interviewers are people like everyone else, and I don't know what colleges do make sure that someone who qualifies as an alumni interviewer is still able to do a good job. From what my son said, the guy was facile and did know how to conduct a good interview. His life had just gotten to a point where he should not be doing this anymore, but he was not facing that fact. And the school was not willing to pull him out of the role even with a complaint. </p>
<p>I think the interviewer who made the hashish remark should be reported once the student is through the college app process. The problem would be that the interviewer is likely to simply deny he ever said any such thing, and unless another such complaint surfaces, it is difficult to assess the reliability of any such reports. But at least the report is on record, in the event other complaints are filed, and if a pattern emerges, he can be removed from the roster.</p>
<p>Wow, perfect evidence that a brilliant mind and good judgement do not always go hand in hand!</p>
<p>I'm new to cc. I've got to say that I am very impressed with the thought that has gone into these replies. Thanks for the insight.</p>
<p>That interview story is horrific! Why did the guy even bother to try to do the interviews if he was so busy??? I'm glad I posted this as it's been so good to hear your reactions. I've been asking myself 'exactly how inappropriate was this?' It's an uncomfortable position to be in - I mean, who wants to embarrass or tick off the interviewer during the process by reporting him. Aside from that he was evidently a nice enough person. I guess he must be longing for the more exciting days of yore...</p>
<p>If your son gets into Yale, I suggest that he contact the admissions office and tells them about the interviewer's gaffe. The committee could arrange for the interviewer to either not interview or to discreetly get information about what's appropriate to do.</p>
<p>Since the gaffe probably wouldn't affect the interviewer's ability to write a recommendation, I don't suggest contacting the adcoms about it now. With their stack of applications to go through, they have a lot of work on their hands, and are more likely to attend to the situation after acceptances go out.</p>
<p>I think people over-analyze the 'where else are you applying' question. It could be a trick question if someone's applying ED, but in all other cases, does anyone really believe it's going to turn a school against a student? One interviewer asked my son that question, and when he heard 'where else' said something like 'you've done your homework'. What the interviewer saw was that the schools s. applied to were similar - in other words, he knew what kind of environment he was looking for. That could be what's behind the question. Even a student who has large unis. and small LACs could explain the disparity by saying (s)he sees value in both and is waiting for May to make a decision. People also seem to forget that on the FAFSA you list six schools to send the report to and that list is seen by all. Anyone contemplating even a loan for school is filling out the FAFSA as well as families who think they might qualify for aid, so I'd guess a large percentage are filling it out. You could, I suppose, list one school on the FAFSA and do multiple amendments to hide the info. from other schools, but I'm not even sure it that would work, and wouldn't have the energy to figure that one out.</p>
<p>I think asking if the student has a clear first choice is reasonable and this includes identifying ED applications. I would want my child to answer honestly (incidentally, they may already know the answer) but I know that truth is very difficult during a stressful consideration like this. I don't know what I would want a student to say if an interviewer asked, "Did you apply to us as a safety?"</p>
<p>Northstarmom, this was not for this son, but for my oldest one who has graduated. The interview was more than 5 years ago and it was for Georgetown. I did report the incident to the school, but a year or so later I heard someone else with a similar complaint about him. He has been doing this for many years apparently, and they do not feel like getting rid of him.</p>
<p>"The question might be asked for the purpose of enforcing the ED2 commitment"</p>
<p>nan - I'm just curious who empowered school "B" to enforce a legally questionable contract between some student and school "A". I mean if you were having a dispute with your local Ford dealer because they sold you a lemon and you down the street cash in hand to buy a Buick would you expect that Ford and GM would have an agreement with each other? I know the US Justice Department wouldn't.</p>
<p>The only and I repeat only reason why the school wants to know the answer to that question is because they want to increase the yield of their accepted pool. And the only reason why they want to increase the yield of their accepted pool is so they can move higher on the US News and World Report Rankings. And the only reason why they want to do that is so they can discount their tuition less and extract more money from the students and parents.</p>
<p>It is an economic fact of life that the person with the most relevent information at the time of a transaction has a bargaining advantage. The application and admissions process are designed to enhance the colleges knowledge position plain and simple.</p>
<p>Yes patuxent... I goofed. When I wrote that, I was thinking in ED terms, not ED2, since that's what I have experience with. I was thinking a school would want to know if a student were applying in spite of being accepted ED somewhere. But that's not how it works ED2, since the applications overlap.</p>
<p>Patuxent:</p>
<p>you are correct, of course, that every school wants to increase their rankings, by increasing selectivity. But, I do believe that lefthandofdog is also onto an extremely important point, in that the answer should show the interviewer that the applicant has done his/her hw and is applying to similar schools bcos that type of school is a good fit for him/her. If a kid responded that they applied to all 8 disparate Ivies, the adcom is not gonna be too impressed that the kid even knew what type of school would be the best fit.</p>
<p>I believe yield has been removed from USN&WR ratings. But I do tend to agree with you, Pax, that there are not any good reasons to ask that question, which is why it disturbs me as well. To ask about other colleges has some purposes, though I still do not feel it is their business, should not be information even subconsciously affecting an adcom's decision one way or the other, and the information gathered from this question is not so reliable or complete. But there are a number of questions asked that I don't think is any of their business either. I have doubts that the info is necessarily used in a sympathetic nature by some schools. Unfortunately, I have heard several remarks this season from people in admissions that make me question how the process is evolving. My experience with adcoms has been very positive in the past, but it seems to me that in last few years a frenzy about the process is bringing out some real uginess in people.</p>
<p>Well most likely the Ivy adcoms are either still sharing their admit lists or hacking or hacking each others web sites to obtain the info anyway so I wouldn't advise anyone to apply to all eight.</p>
<p>When an alumni interviewer asks the question it is probably just an off the cuff matter of curiosity so you probably don't need to stress over it. When it is on an application that is a different story entirely. Schools and adcoms are going to try to find out what they are going to try to find out for the same reason a dog barks - because that is what they do.</p>
<p>Nan: "I just created a new thread, "ED financial aid success? Problems?" Maybe I'll see you there"
Thanks for plunging in. I won't be posting on your new thread because although our son had a positive ED experience, we did not qualify or apply for aid.</p>
<p>Reggie, What did your daughter decide to do. Admit her mis-statement or keep quiet?</p>