Interviewer No Show

Have you heard of top-tier college interviewer not show up to an interview? Applicant called and emailed the interviewer but no response. Waited at the location hour past interview time!

Once. The student should contact the school right away. Let them know so that they aren’t blamed for the no show. My friends kid had this happen and he sent an e mail to admissions while he was still at the waiting place along with copies of the e mails from the interviewer comfirming the time and place.

The student should take this as an opportunity to demonstrate his/her maturity and grace in unexpected situations.

Be sure that the student double checks to make sure that they got the interview day, time, and place correct, then let the school know. People forget or have genuine emergencies. The messaging to the school should be reflect that understanding.

I would assume that the interviewer had a true emergency.

Things happen. Try to reschedule before you contact the college.

This happened to my son for his Yale interview. It was his first college interview. I would not contact admissions. Contact your interviewer and wait for a response. My son’s interviewer just forgot and was extremely apologetic. My son had his interview two days later and it went swimmingly.

It happened to my daughter for Swarthmore. She waited about 45 minutes. Later emailed him politely. He “just forgot.” They rescheduled. It does happen.

ETA: I interview applicants myself, and always confirm a day or two before. It’s a good practice, but unfortunately not all interviewers do it. I guess interviewees could, but it’s really better coming from the interviewer.

Happened to my son. He applied to Case Western and asked for an interview. Local alum emailed him and asked what times worked for him. Son replied and never heard back. Case’s loss was WashU’s gain.

and it works both ways. I signed up to be an interviewer and got three “matches.” Students are supposed to do first contact. Only one did. I emailed the college and they said it is up to the student.

I also do interviews. When the applicant and I have agreed on a time and place, I provide the applicant with my cell phone number for any any last minute emergencies. Most then provide me theirs. Would have been helpful in this case.

Do remember that the interviewers are volunteers…they may have forgotten or had a work or family emergency come up. Definitely contact them again/ (email) and if you don’t hear anything back contact admissions.

Right, @donnaleighg, the school I interview for (which may be the same as yours :slight_smile: ) is pretty firm on the contact needing to come from the student. Though yes, I definitely confirm closer to the appointment, once they’ve reached out.

If I were an interviewer with a family emergency, I would have notified the student assuming I wasn’t incapacitated. OTOH, I am perfectly capable of forgetting appointments. I don’t mind at all when potential clients email or text me to confirm a meeting either the day before or a few hours ahead of time. I do understand though that a student may not feel comfortable about sending a confirmation email.

The OP says the student both called and emailed the interviewer with no response as of the post. OP has not been back so I wonder if they heard from the interviewer. If they don’t get a response by today (and after sending a follow-up email), it would seem prudent to contact the school.