<p>I've applied to Cornell and was contacted by an alumnus for an interview. He stated that he wanted to meet me in my home, which is against my school's policy that we meet somewhere public. At the advice of my counselor, I suggested a couple of coffee shops nearby. (He actually lives only a few blocks from me.) He agreed and we set a time and place but he never showed up, although I waited about 40 minutes. When I got home I sent an e-mail asking whether I had misunderstood where we were to meet and apologizing, although I checked the e-mail and I don't think there could have been a misunderstanding. Now it is two days later and I haven't had a response. Should I contact Cornell and ask for another chance to interview?</p>
<p>I would try to make it clear to Cornell that you did everything right and politely ask for another chance to interview.</p>
<p>I would contact Cornell to let them know what happened, ask to be interviewed by someone else. I wouldn’t stress over it too much because Cornell interviews are informational. This is to let Cornell know that you didn’t decline the invitation.</p>
<p>Unexpected things do happen, so sending the email is the way to go. One interviewer picked a coffee shop in one location, but was waiting at another location in a neighboring town on the same road (Miles apart) She did not realize there were two locations on the same road in different towns and neither did we.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who responded. I did set up another interview time (he said he didn’t get my e-mail), but at the last moment he contacted me and said he didn’t want to go through with the interview because he was uncomfortable meeting me “unsupervised” and he thought there was a “liability” issue involved. I’ve had interviews with MIT, Harvard, and Princeton in coffee shops and no one ever suggested that there was something odd about this situation. Should I just give up at this point since the interview is just informational? (Actually, the weirdness of this experience is making me rethink Cornell.)</p>
<p>I would forward the email to Cornell Admission to ask for their assistance on this matter. It doesn’t sound like you did anything inappropriate.</p>
<p>What, does he expect you to have a chaperone or babysitter with you? That person’s definitely an oddball, don’t let him/her change your perception of Cornell.</p>
<p>Seems a bit silly, seeing how it is a university sanctioned interview in which the expectation is that you handle yourself without supervision. If it is in a public place then there is no problem with liability. </p>
<p>I agree with oldfort - forward the e mail. The university should know who is representing them. In the case of my D, she did the whole thing over email and she was accepted.</p>
<p>That is kind of odd, but that is why tutors meet at libraries where there are other sets of eyes and possibly cameras. This interviewer may have had a weird experience or possibly has a position in some type of risk management field. I went with my D to the lobby of a hotel for an interview with a male recruiter because of travel logistics and never thought anything about it. She could have gone alone. Some people do not trust anyone or are paranoid types. If you finally get an interview, I hope it goes well. You deserve it!</p>
<p>So he wanted to come to your home but then refused to go to a public place because of liability issues?</p>
<p>Sounds a bit creepy.</p>
<p>I think the interviewer may have gotten the impression that OP was high maintenance because she didn’t want to do it at home. I am not sure what OP wrote in the email, but I have to admit that it was a strange reaction from the interviewer without readin the email.</p>
<p>I would probably contact the admissions office. This is really odd. As an alumni interviewer, I can tell you that we’re not supposed to meet in the applicant’s home unless the applicant suggests it, which you clearly did not. In fact, we are supposed to meet in a neutral place, such as a coffee shop.</p>