RD Applicants: Interview Advice

<p>Just had my interview this morning! It went very well! Actually, better than expected. We talked for about an hour and a half and the conversation flowed very smoothly. There were no lulls in the conversation or awkward moments. It was just like two buddies talking. I’m a musician and my interviewer enjoyed music. We talked A LOT about why I wanted to go to Yale. He kept saying he was gonna write me a glowing recommendation and that I was one of the best people he’s interviewed! He also said that I would be a superb Yale Student! Hopefully, this’ll help me somewhat in the admissions process.</p>

<p>After receiving your application, how long is the period of time when an alumni interviewer can contact you? My friend and I submitted our applications on the same day, and he got a call from his interviewer on Saturday and they scheduled a meeting for the 27th of Jan. I still haven’t gotten one and although I am aware it isn’t required for my application, I would like one and I was wondering what the last date for Alumni interviews and reports are. Fyi, my friend had an on-campus interview over the summer too.</p>

<p>arunemo: it just depends on the volunteer who was given your name. I’ve been given three so far. I’ ve conducted one but haven’t even emailed or called the other two because my schedule is unsettled for the next two weeks. There’s no hard and fast rule about when or if you’ll be contacted.</p>

<p>arunemo: To answer the other part of your question, the reports are due to Yale by February 15.</p>

<p>Thank you for your help T26E4 and AdmissionsAddict. I got my interview request today, so I’m quite happy :)</p>

<p>For the interview, is it proper that I ask questions about the college as they naturally come up during my answers? I gather that it’s supposed to flow as a two way conversation, so I think that me asking questions is only natural throughout. On the other hand though, I don’t know how it will look if the interviewer asks if I have any questions at the end and I have none left. Should I just focus on my answers until he asks for questions?</p>

<p>ask questions as they come up, it feels way more natural, you won’t forget anything, and it means he conversation flows way better, prepare a few questions at the end like what was your favorite class at Yale, or something, I asked about favorite memory… :)</p>

<p>At what point should we start worrying if we have not been contacted for an interview yet? I know it’s nothing to stress out about and the reports aren’t due until February, but is there a certain date we should look to be contacted by?</p>

<p>My Harvard interview is tomorrow, but my Yale interview is Monday. I’m so nervous, all I want to do is go to Yale. That’s all I’ve thought about since the beginning of the applications season, and I can’t stop thinking about how little my chances are. =(</p>

<p>Sorry, I just had to post that somewhere. I don’t think I need any advice other than what has already been given. I really appreciate all the suggestions people have been giving out!</p>

<p>Hey guys, I’m applying from Germany and I’m kinda worried that I haven’t received an offer for an interview yet. I know they always say that you might not be interviewed as an international, but anyways.</p>

<p>Does anyone from Germany already have an offer for an interview?</p>

<p>I had my interview yesterday morning and I think it went really well, thanks in large part to the help I found here.</p>

<p>It lasted about an hour with pretty much standard questions. Felt a lot more like a conversation than an interview. She was really encouraging and helpful and the whole process was painless.</p>

<p>I read through the whole thread- I think my specific questions have not been asked yet and I apologize if they have been.</p>

<p>Firstly, (this might sound a little pedantic) will my interviewer been offended if I had addressed him by his first name in an email? The thing is, he signed the email off with his first name, in a pretty casual manner. In fact, his whole email was pretty casual.</p>

<p>Secondly, do interviewers get offended if they find out an applicant is applying to Harvard?</p>

<p>Thanks. =)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>if they signed their e-mail with their first name, that’s a pretty clear sign they want you to address them by their first name, especially since the e-mail was casual as well, don’t worry.</p></li>
<li><p>Of course not :slight_smile: The Yale-Harvard rivalry is as much a standing joke as anything else (that said, go BULLDOGS!!!)…although, unless they ask about other schools you’re applying to, I’m not sure how this would even come up…but no, they will not be offended.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I never ask where else a student has applied but sometimes they volunteer it since I often ask if they have ever seen the campus or visited the region. I expect that they would apply to peer institutions if they are Yale caliber and would never be offended if they chose a back-up school to apply to in Cambridge :slight_smile: Although it is anxiety provoking to think that you have not been called yet for an interview and you know other students in the area have, it is only in the rarest of cases that the admissions office asks the local alumni schools council to prioritize an interview for someone who they want to hear more about. On the whole the selection process is random and the statistics show that non-interviewed candidates are equally competitive. It is unfortunate that there are just not enough interviewers in some areas to meet the demand.</p>

<p>“I expect that they would apply to peer institutions if they are Yale caliber and would never be offended if they chose a back-up school to apply to in Cambridge”</p>

<p>Believe me, I hate to admit that I did. ;D</p>

<p>Thank you YaleGradandDad and ECazndb8r.</p>

<p>I just had a phone interview. While it wasn’t very bad, it wasn’t the best interview I’ve had either.</p>

<p>I was talking to my interviewer about a biology project I did. It had been over a year ago so I forgot how to pronounce the name of this particular chemical, so I muffled to him that “it was a name that begins with C”. I must have sounded like a big idiot. =(</p>

<p>@Nadalle, I’m sure you are fine. Btw how long did you phone interview last?</p>

<p>another question…if the interview is done on skype, would I have to use webcam? -.-;;</p>

<p>The interview really wasn’t that good, but I guess it will make little difference since Yale is a super reach for me.</p>

<p>My interview was quite short- it lasted for 25-30 minutes. I think a skype interview would involve webcams- if you have one. Otherwise, you might as well have a phone interview. Check with your interviewer before hand. =)</p>

<p>I just got back from an absolutely amazing interview. Much better than my Harvard one.</p>

<p>My interviewer wasn’t much of a talker. I had to fill in the long gaps and silences. And after listing my hobbies and interests like I’ve done before, which usually leads to interesting discussions… I just received awkward nods. :confused: ehh.</p>