<p>When I was scheduling my interview with my interviewer, I accidently called her by her first name. She said "I'll see you Wednesday Michael" and I replied "See you later Ann". It sounded weird as I said it. Does that kind of thing stand out?</p>
<p>No. Slightly awkward, maybe, but I’d be surprised if she even remembers it two days from now.</p>
<p>Sort of related, but not even remotely helpful for you rant of mine follows. </p>
<p>Dear professors,
I will call you whatever you want. Professor Jones? Done. Andy? Weird, but done. But please make it easy for me and my friends and do not introduce yourself in my seminar, in person, as Professor R. Q. Abelforth and then sign all of your e-mails to students “Bobby.”*
Defaulting to “hey professor” forever,
exul
*I have never had a professor by any of these names. These are equivalents.</p>
<p>It would to me. I wouldn’t like it at all. But then, if you were a terrific applicant I wouldn’t ding you for it and I can’t imagine-- if you are rejected-- it would be about that.</p>
<p>If it really bugs you, you could apologize when you meet her.</p>
<p>The two worst things applicants have done in my many years of interviewing… one brought her mother (or maybe, her mother brought herself, but both should have known better). The second… I contact my applicants immediately when I get their info, even if I can’t schedule right away… I contacted this one kid by e-mail telling him I would contact him in the next week or so to schedule an interview; when I didn’t call after one week, the applicant e-mailed me back with a one word message: “Interview?” No “Dear Mrs. **” or even a smiley face!!! That really bugged me. Neither one of these applicants were what I consider serious applicants, so their lapses probably didn’t matter.</p>
<p>I agree with everything exultationsy said. (I’d add that the “what should I call you?” issue isn’t limited to professors. I spent the first ten years of my marriage calling my parents-in-law “Um.” You know, as in, “Um…can I help set the table?”)</p>
<p>When I was interviewing, I never invited applicants to call my by my first name, and I would have been a little surprised (and not in a good way) if one of them had taken the liberty. I suggest, however, that you pretend this never happened, because it is quite possible that the interviewer will have forgotten it happened. I suggest that when you meet Ann, you simply smile, shake her hand if she offers it, and say warmly, “Hi, Ms. [Last Name]. It’s great to meet you. Thank you for taking the time.” And then, unless she says, “Oh, please call me Ann,” address her by her last name a couple more times (but no more) during the interview.</p>
<p>It’s a bit of a misstep but like everyone else has said, it’s not going to seriously affect your chances if you’re a serious applicant. </p>
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<p>Unlike some of the previous posters I’m not an interviewer, but this seems like pretty solid advice to me.</p>
<p>OH NO. I had an email from my interviewer and when I emailed her back I just used her first name. I mean, I was polite and everything, I said “Dear Victoria,” etc, and signed it off properly, but I’ve done that a couple of times now and she was just as nice to me in her replies as she was the first time… hasn’t mentioned it or seemed weird about it or anything. In fact, she signs her emails to me with her first name. So when I go to the interview next week is that how I should address her?</p>
<p>I didn’t think that one through properly.</p>
<p>Katie: when you meet her, just say: “Shall I call you Ms. Jones?”</p>
<p>1987 Crimson: I interview for the “other” college. If a parent had tagged along, I would have directed mom or dad to have a coffee and that I would be glad to chat for a few minutes afterward. I think some parents have legitimate questions and just aren’t aware of the proper protocols. Often the applicants are dropped off by a parent. I make a point to meet them. Who knows, Harvard might admit them too and I gotta do my best for our cross-admit ratios! LOL</p>