RD Applicants: Interview Advice

<p>Hi. I'm an international student from Singapore and will go for an interview on this Sat. I have a few questions to ask. Hope you could clarify my doubts.
1. My interviewer is a mathematics professor (probably because my profile is very science-based), a Yale PhD. I wonder how the interview will be like. Will it be casual or academics-oriented?
2. How much does the interviewer know me before the interview? Has he seen all the material I have submitted or only part of it (which part?) ? Has he read my essays?
Thank you</p>

<p>grnzhong--Please read through this thread, it will answer your questions.</p>

<p>All readers--I'm happy to answer questions, but there have been several recently that I've already answered. Please skim through the thread (yes, it's long) before asking a question.</p>

<p>I've gone through the thread and I might have missed it, but I can't find anything about whether the interviewer has seen my application materials (essays, short takes, why yale, etc.)</p>

<p>All interviewers have is your name, phone number, email, home address, high school, and your proposed major if you included one on your app.</p>

<p>okay, thank you!</p>

<p>Is it a good idea to have a solid grasp of current global issues? Maybe do some studying or something?</p>

<p>I had my interview today, went well I suppose. I'm just curious, what kind of potential Yalies have you been most impressed by? The really voluble, eloquent type? The ones that give the "best" answers? And what might those be? I guess this is one of those questions that you can say "varies with every interviewee" to, but I'm interested in the kinds of impressions interviewers get. Are most Yale applicants you talk to hyper smart and well-spoken?</p>

<p>AdmissionsAddict,</p>

<p>My interviewer gave me his website and apparently he's in his late twenties, so quite young, but he has a doctorate. He said the interview would be quite informal/casual. Should I address him as Dr.? Or should I ask him what he personally prefers? I feel that calling him Dr. would create a barrier that would make the interview less personal... </p>

<p>How do you personally prefer to be addressed?</p>

<p>AdmissionsAddict: I just had an alumni interview yesterday, and the interviewer said that I was the best student she has interviewed in a long time and that she would put an excellent word out for me. I also had an on-campus interview which was more generic, nothing special. I was wondering which one Yale would weigh heavier: an alumni or on-campus interview?</p>

<p>Does it matter who your alumni interviewer is? Mine is a recent graduate of yale who is going to grad school, but my friend will be interviewed by the vice president of a major corporation. Will my friend's interview have more value than mine, because his interviewer is more experienced, older, and more influential?</p>

<p>^ Intuition says absolutely not.</p>

<p>Lots to answer:</p>

<p>It doesn't matter who your interviewer is. A recent grad and a VIP, older alum carry the same weight.</p>

<p>On campus and alumni interviews carry the same weight.</p>

<p>You probably don't have to address your interviewer at all. I'm not sure anyone has called me anything in person. Candidate usually just say "hi" and shake hands. </p>

<p>Most Yale applicants do not come across as hyper-smart and extremely well-spoken. Most are garden variety smart kids who talk like friendly teenagers. Perhaps I've done so many interviews that I'm jaded, but not many applicants really blow me away and I get blown away for different reasons with different kids.</p>

<p>As a general rule of life, yes, it is good to have a grip on global issues. For an alumni interview, however, you shouldn't be quizzed on front page news.</p>

<p>sooo i have an interview tomorrow
and the interviewer said she'd come to my house....
which is kind of awkward, I think?</p>

<p>like I don't have a table that seats just two people, so do we just sit on a couch?
and do I wear shoes? Because idk whether she'll take her shoes off....but it would be very wierd if i was wearing heels in my own house, I think...</p>

<p>someone help!</p>

<p>Interviewers are NOT supposed to interview in the applicant's house, but lots of interviewers don't read the interviewing guidelines.</p>

<p>Do you have a place with a sofa and a chair? You could sit one place, she could sit on another. She's not expecting a professional interview location like an office.</p>

<p>Yes, you should wear shoes. I know lots of people wear slippers or socks in the house, but, honestly, wearing shoes in your own house is not weird. If your family has a rule about people taking shoes off at the front door, I'd suspend it for this occasion. Lots of people aren't prepared to take their shoes off--holes in socks, stinky feet, nasty toenails, whatever. It strikes me as odd to have an interview with someone you've never met before in a shoeless state. Yale interviews aren't formal, but this seems a little too informal.</p>

<p>yeah i think it would be better if it were at the local starbucks or something
but it's tomorrow so i can't really recommend anything.</p>

<p>there isnt really a sofa and a chair...my living room has a couch and a loveseat so I guess we'd sit on the couch?
they're at a right angle though so perhaps if i sit on the corner of the loveseat she'll take the cue and sit on the corner of the couch</p>

<p>do you think heels would be too much? i guess i'll wear flats</p>

<p>My interviewer scheduled my interview for the 25th... Is this too late to make a difference in my application -- what if the adcoms have already decided by the time my interview takes place?</p>

<p>AdmissionsAddict #314
Thanks for giving me a HUGE laugh! You should be a comedienne? It is heartwarming that all of us haven't lost our sense of humor................. and I bet you don't have stinky feet!</p>

<p>blueducky--If you're not a realistic candidate, the interview won't save you. If you walk on water, a weak report won't keep you out. If you're truly borderline, they might hold for your interview report.</p>

<p>In any event, I bet committee starts in earnest on 12/1, the day the interview reports are due.</p>

<p>Dear AdmissionsAddict, I burst out laughing when I read your reply on track # 314, because, na</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Also -- the Yale admissions webpage/phone line isn't helping at all.</p>

<p>It says that one of my required recs is missing -- my teacher sent it in November 1st, AND she faxed it yesterday morning. What should I do? I don't even know who to contact.</p>

<p>Committe starts 12/1? Meaning they start to read with only 15 days left to make a decision?</p>