I missed my skype interview for Dartmouth on Saturday due to some family circumstances. I emailed the interviewer back today as I had completely forgotten until I checked my email this morning and he told me he had already submitted all of the info, probably citing that I missed the interview.
How negatively does this reflect on me in admissions? Obviously it’s not good, but has anybody had any similar experience? I’m an international applicant.
If you look on Dartmouth’s Common Data Set it says it does not consider level of interest, unlike other schools.
From their website:
INTERVIEWS AREN’T REQUIRED
Interviews are not required and in many cases not available due to the high volume of applicants and limited number of alumni interviewers.
Not having an interview will not put you at a disadvantage in the admissions process. However, if you are offered an interview, it can help you learn something new about Dartmouth and allow you to add a little more of your own voice to your application.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN INVITED TO HAVE AN INTERVIEW
Because we receive approximately 20 applications for every place in our entering class each year, we are not able to offer interviews to all applicants. This does NOT put you at a disadvantage. At Dartmouth, we carefully review the entire application, including recommendations, essays, peer evaluations, etc., in order to get a sense of each individual through the application itself.
@bopper Thank you so much for finding that, it has put me at ease.
bopper’s information is entirely correct and, in fact, it is rather typical for the most-selective schools that administer off-campus, alumni-conducted interviews. However, there clearly is a major difference between:
a. Interviews not being required,
b. Interviews frequently not being offered, and
c. A scheduled interview being ignored by the applicant (with no advanced notice to the alumni volunteer).
I am sure Dartmouth would not view “a” or “b” adversely, but I am far less sanguine that “c” would be perceived neutrally. I do not suggest that “c” will be formally assessed in the admissions process. However, Dartmouth’s aggregate acceptance rate is about 12 percent, with – factually – many thousands of eminently qualified candidates annually denied. Moreover and significantly, Dartmouth people – and I deeply admire this – are intensely loyal to and proud of their College.
Under these circumstances, I wonder what the practical implications of the alum’s “he didn’t even have the courtesy to advise me that he would not participate in our scheduled Skype interview” report will actually be?