turning down an interview

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

<p>hey guys, need some advice... i just got an email from an alumnus that he is conducting an interview at barnes and nobles (i'm assuming he sent it to a couple of people because he said there will be 15-30 minute slots from 9-4 depending on how many people want one). he says..</p>

<p>"The interview will be informal and relaxed and you will be able to ask questions about Duke. Interviews will last between 15 and 30 minutes depending on response to this email.</p>

<p>The interview is not mandatory, but is a good opportunity for you to learn about Duke and for Duke to learn about you. </p>

<p>If you would like an interview: (i) respond to this email, (ii) tell me what time (or timeframe) is good for you on December 30. If you don’t want an interview, please just respond to this email and let me know you don’t need an interview at this time. I will try to accommodate everyone that responds."</p>

<p>I just got accepted into Uchicago and they sent me a really good financial aid estimate.. so i'm more likely than not going to attend uchicago.. my parents and I are even thinking about withdrawing the regular decision applications..</p>

<p>anyway... is it okay if i decline the invite? from the email.. it seems as though it doesn't really matter.. but idk.. thoughts?</p>

2

<p>Hi QWT2,</p>

<p>I am a Duke interviewer, and I think you just got yourself assigned to a not so great one. He doesn’t seem very accommodating at all, and 15 to 30 minutes is a bit cheap. I’m wondering why he’s doing them. That being said, do not judge Duke by this one old alum. Duke might or might not be the place for you, but if you got money at U Chicago, maybe you’ll get money at Duke also. If that’s the case, you should make a careful and thoughtful decision based on academics, location, student population, majors etc etc. I think you should just bite the bullet and still go to the interview and be as cheerful and self-possessed as you can. I think it might be looked down upon by the admissions committee if you turn down an interview opportunity. I’m not sure, but I think I’ve heard that officially before. Put in the hard leg work now and you will have the best chances of landing at the perfect school for you.</p>

3

<p>You’re lucky you’re getting an interview.</p>

<p>I’m living in Beijing, so even though I turned in my app before the interview deadline, I don’t think there will be any Duke alumnus living in Beijing available to give me an interview.</p>

4

<p>Airegin: you’d be surprised, Duke had its first Chinese student very early on (I want to end of 19th century or early 20th but I’m not exactly sure). You can find a portrait of him in the East Asian Reading Room on the 2nd floor of Lilly Library on East Campus. Anyway, since then there have been many chinese alumni of Duke who have gone back to China. One of them, Mr. Xi-Qing Gao, the chief investment officer of China Investment Corp was even recently named to the Duke Board of Trustees (He lives in Beijing IIRC). </p>

<p>Anyway, forgive the digression. According to the Beijing government website, there is a Duke Alumni Association chapter in Beijing and they also have a google group apparently.</p>

<p>[Alumni</a> Groups - eBeijing.gov.cn](<a href=“http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingInfo/BJInfoTips/ForeignCommunity/t948625.htm]Alumni”>http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/BeijingInfo/BJInfoTips/ForeignCommunity/t948625.htm)</p>

<p>So who knows, you might actually get one.</p>

5

<p>qwt2: go the interview. What do you have to lose? 30 minutes? At the very least, you’ll learn more about Duke and hone your interview skills - not bad things. You might be surprised at what you learn. And if you end up still being totally dedicated to UChicago, nothing is lost and you can simply withdraw your app or see if you get in to Duke just for kicks.</p>

<p>Having said that, what your interviewer is VERY unorthodox. Duke tells alumni to interview applicants for AT LEAST 30 minutes. Likewise, you’re supposed to mutually set up a time that’s conveninent to both of you; not have the interviewer say “This is the date we’re doing it, come if you can.” Finally, it’s not really “optional” once you’ve been assigned to somebody. You can certainly get into Duke without an interview and having one typically won’t affect much (unless they give you a terrible review or a ridiculously amazing one; 90% of evaluations fall in the middle), however, turning one down definitely is a negative. The interviewer reports “Was not able to interview” and then cites a reason. Reasons like couldn’t find a convenient time would be more understanding than “inteviewee turned it down.” The admission committee definitely sees this, and they are human, so there’s no way they couldn’t look down on this. I’d expect you live in an area where there aren’t many Duke alumni so your interviewer has a ton on his/her plate, so wants to get them all done back-to-back in one day and even makes it optional to cut down on his list. He/she is probably just telling you it’s optional to cut down on his/her commitment, not to be nice to you. Turning it down is never good.</p>

6

<p>Oh yay, that boosts my spirits up now!</p>

7

<p>qwt2
U of Chicago is a great place when it is the right fit and no one is suggesting you can’t withdraw and take your EA admission and option there. Perhaps you have family reasons or connections or a gut feeling that this is a great option for you.</p>

<p>However, I think you are wrong to not do your Duke interview with a smile on your face. You might be surprised and get into Duke, come in April to a Blue Devil Day and realize you want sunshine, high spirits re sports and pleasant winters and you might decide in April…that you were right and you in fact do prefer the Windy City and all it has to offer that you can’t locate in Durham.</p>

<p>Interviewing is a skill set and not every interview will go all that well but you can be sure you will be interviewing a lot and soon no matter where you enroll.</p>

<p>Personally, the opportunity to put in viable applications and to interview with alum at top colleges like Duke and Chicago…would be for me a privilege and a memory and perhaps a chance to view the college beyond the stereotypes and view books that would be a good experience. </p>

<p>I have a Duke son who had a positive Duke interview …the guy was funny, engaging, honest about what a slacker he had been in an earlier Duke era, and he was supportive of our son’s application. He also put him on the spot in a non kosher way by demanding to know his list “in order of his preference.” Pretty sure Duke discourages this but interviews are well…very Human! </p>

<p>My Vandy son has been there for one semester. So far he has interviewed for Alternative spring break, a role in student government, a role in their media productions/papers, and filled out applications for two other programs as well as having auditioned and interviewed for another team. He won’t “get” all the things he is interviewing for as a college student either…just as he didn’t get into every college on his list but he is getting sharper about the wide world and learning to appreciate more of the variety in it.</p>

<p>18 mths. ago, he did his first “evaluative” college interviews. Some went well, others were awkward.</p>

<p>I would not recommend you waste this Duke alum’s time if you are going to say yes to the Early Action but if you are waffling…go to the interview…but do remember that Duke is a place of infinite variety and alum are wildly different from each other.</p>

<p>Duke was NOT my son’s first choice but it is now his great love and alma mater.</p>

8

<p>I’d say that if you are not ABSOLUTELY SURE that UChicago is the school for you, go to the interview. Like above posters have said, who knows, maybe you’ll become a Blue Devil instead come April.</p>

9

<p>Alumni interviews are a complete waste of time. The only reason schools have them is to keep the alumni thinking that they are important and involved so they continue to contribute money. Waste of time.</p>

10

<p>Go. It’s 15-20 minutes. You don’t have to prepare (much) or wear a tie. You NEVER know what will happen between now and your time of acceptance. Having a “spare” acceptance in the bag can be a great thing. WHAT IF…</p>

<p>Your finances change suddenly and Duke offers you more than Chicago.</p>

<p>I don’t know where you’re located, but…something bad happens to someone in your family and you suddenly must stay closer to home.</p>

<p>Something bad happens in your 2nd semester (a suspension) and Chicago says “no way, never mind” but Duke forgives it. I know, you’d NEVER do anything like that…but I won’t bore you with a story where a huge number of GREAT kids in my D’s school recently got suspended.</p>

<p>Duke comes up with some new policy that is something great for you personally, like you’re offered entrance into an elite program that provides free study abroad, etc. </p>

<p>You change your mind! It happens. A LOT. You read it on these boards quite frquently (oh no, why did I apply ED there? or … I was totally in love with college A and now I’ve changed my mind)</p>

<p>I don’t know. BECAUSE we can’t think of every possibility…just seems smart to keep your options open. </p>

<p>Either way - congrats and good luck.</p>