<p>I got called by my interviewer last week, saying that we would meet this Monday at a coffeeshop near his house. I was really relieved, right? So I go to the coffeeshop all excited/anxious…and wait…and wait…and wait. And he never shows up. So I went home. It turns out he called me at noon at my house (while I was in school, obviously) to say he couldn’t make it because he had “too much work to do.” Now, I didn’t give him my cell phone number, which I admit was my fault, but I had his, and I called him several times but he had his phone turned off. And I emailed him afterwards to try to reschedule, but he hasn’t responded yet. And then I called him today and he still didn’t respond and now I’m beginning to panic. </p>
<p>So…how bad is it if I end up not getting interviewed? Because interview reports are due Dec. 1, and it’s Nov. 28, and he probably thinks I’m incompetent or something by now…what should I do? And is this my fault in any way? I was so miserable yesterday…gaaah. What are your opinions?</p>
<p>I am really sorry about what has happened, but not having an interview is not going to hurt you in anyway. It will not help you of course, but it will not be counted against you.</p>
<p>You are making too much of the interview. As several have told you, the interview is for you to ask questions to an alumni-to learn about Brown-the curriculum, the activities, Providence etc. They do not have anything to do with your acceptance. If you do not get an interview, it will not HURT you at all. Don't stress over it.</p>
<p>Actually, the interview isn't just an opportunity for applicants to inquire about the school. Although the interview is only marginally conducive to a Brown acceptance, it does have some effect because alumni interviewers write a summary about the interviewee and send that into Brown for evaluation of the applicant's personality, etc.</p>
<p>Of course, not having one won't HURT you, but in the off-chance that it could have helped you, the opportunity for that benefit would be lost.</p>
<p>I know two interviewers (one from Princeton and one from Tufts) and both feel their imput means very little to the applicant's acceptance/rejection. They do write up a small summary, but especially with the Princeton interviewer, she told me that the ones that she highly recommended did not get in and the ones that she felt should not even be considered, got in. Go Figure!! I suppose that if there were 2 applicants equal in almost every way, the adcoms may use the interview as a tool to choose. However, I really don't think it has much bearing at all. My Son's interview for Brown was conducted by an alumni who knew very little about his intended major or the extracurriculars my son was interested in-it just wasn't anything this guy knew about. The interview was short and my son came away feeling he hadn't made an "emotional connection" with this guy. My Son did get in. Perhaps the interviewer wrote up something nice, but I really feel it made NO DIFFERENCE at all to his acceptance.</p>
<p>Getasnowjob, I hate to break it to you but despite the fact that they write evaluations, those are essentially disregarded. When I applied (I don't know if this is still the case), an interview was only given to 80% of students (and this had NOTHING to do with acceptance, just who lived near an alum who wanted to do interviewing), and even then it was optional. Outside of even that, having spoken to several Brown Alums in my area who interview, their experience is that their recommendations are never followed/listened to. From the admissions office itself, they'll even tell you that the interview is far less evaluation and far more a one-on-one info session to spark your interest again in the school and to discuss some of the "not-so-official" parts of Brown past and current.</p>
<p>In all honesty, the interview probably makes up about 1-2% of your chances at Brown. That may even be a lot, because I've had an adcom literally say, "Even the most borderline and debated student never got accepted or rejected based on the interview."</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who posted, it really helped! I feel so much better now knowing that I won't be tagged for interview incompetence, lol. :) I was just really disappointed, so maybe that translated into application paranoia.</p>
<p>I hate to break it to you, but as long as you both agree that the interview has any affect at all on admissions, even a SUPER DUPER SMALL one, my assertation regarding an existence of marginal conduciveness to a successful admission is nonetheless true.</p>
<p>"I suppose that if there were 2 applicants equal in almost every way, the adcoms may use the interview as a tool to choose."</p>
<p>"In all honesty, the interview probably makes up about 1-2% of your chances at Brown."</p>
<p>I suppose ANYTHING is possible, so by going through the entire process, if it makes one feel better...go for it. However, the poster was very concerned that her/his lack of interview would hurt her/his chances and I do not believe that is the case. I just wanted the poster to know that their application-with grades, ECs, SAT scores, essay would be the deciding factor and their lack of an interview would have no bearing. I still believe this to be case. There are a few interviewers who post on this site, perhaps they can answer if they feel their report has any bearing on admission.</p>
<p>In reality the interview can only do one of two things: confirm the 'picture' the admission office has of the applicant or challenge it. The impressions of teachers who've known you for 1 year + will weigh much more heavily than some alum who chats with you for an hour.</p>
<p>If the interview confirms the picture painted by teachers (as it does 99% of the time)= NO EFFECT</p>
<p>In the 1% of cases where the interview departs from the 'picture' in the app:</p>
<p>If the interview is FABULOUS but the applicant is just not an admit = NO EFFECT</p>
<p>If the interview is awful (as in applicant totally uninterested in Brown, inarticulate, rude) and the applicant was a possible admit = POSSIBLE NEGATIVE EFFECT.</p>
<p>my interview went unbelievably well. my interviewer and i sat at a coffee shop, and discussed our own lives both regarding and not regarding Brown. The interview lasted an hour and a half, and I felt very strongly about it. While I felt it was fairly obvious that the interview would not negatively affect my application, as we were leaving, he said to me:</p>
<p>"i hope you get in, but i hope you understand that this interview means absolutely nothing."</p>