A classmate got invitation for interview—does this mean that I am already bypassed by Yale?
I also just completed my supplement recently though…
@aspiringgirl Hi! I’m not going to go into depth on specific questions, just to keep things fair.
But you also have to remember that not all interviewers use the same questions. They are different people, and thus ask different things. If you are trying to memorize specific answers in the hopes that your interviewer will ask a question that you prepared for, you are going at it the wrong way.
As far as my interview went, it really wasn’t what I expected. I walked in thinking I was going to be drilled with questions about why I want to go to Yale and why I want to pursue my major. It turned out to be the exact opposite. The interview was more like a conversation. It was very relaxed, laid back, and enjoyable. We talked for a little over an hour, discussing my passions, extracurriculars, and hobbies. I was fortunate enough to have someone who was an expert in my field of interest, but the interview is really what YOU make of it.
I loved it. Good luck to everyone who has interviews coming up. Don’t forget to send a thank you note after. 
Hi! I applied to Yale SCEA on October 31st, and I’ve received the portal info, but I haven’t gotten a Yale interview. I recently cleared out my spam, and although I did check for anything that seemed like an interview request, I’m having some doubts right now. Is there a specific email address an interview email will come from? Or if no one in my area is available to give an interview, will I get an email confirming that? Thanks!
^The email or call will come directly from the interviewer. If you live in an area with lots of applicants but few or no alumni interviewers, you may not get an interview. If you don’t get an interview, it will not hurt your chances. There are plenty of applicants who get in without an interview and plenty who get rejected or deferred who get one (given Yale’s admission rate, most). There is no point trying to read tea leaves based on whether you got an interview or not. You will find out in a little over a month. Good luck all!
If you have already had an on-site interview, can you be offered an alumni interview as well?
@Jejemine , according to Yale, no. They allowed this in the past, but have said that it’s no longer available. That said, I’m sure there might be exceptions.
I really don’t want to wait until December 14th 
The stress is killing me
I know I’ll be deferred, but my mind keeps crafting the ideal “What if” scenario.
Here I am trying to focus on my other applications, but Yale keeps drifting back into my thoughts.
I replied back to my interviewer about possible dates 2 days ago, but no reply yet. How many more days should I wait before I send another email?
@BKSquared Are the interviewers always somewhat local? Last year, my sister got a request for a Skype interview from an alum in DC (we live in the rural south) during the RD round, and she later got a likely letter. But I haven’t received a request for an interview yet. Did that mean she was highly sought after and does that mean I’m not as competitive as she was?
@worriedgal, I’d give it a couple of days. Interview reports don’t have to be submitted until December 1.
@DLithium, if your sister got a likely letter, she obviously was a strong candidate. That does not mean however that because she was a strong candidate she got one and you have not been contacted because you are less competitive. The fact that she got a Skype interview indicates that you have few (maybe no) alumni interviewers in your region. I suspect fewer volunteers are available for the SCEA round (we check off preferences for which round we want to interview, can be either or both) with the tight time line and holidays during the SCEA round. If it gives you any comfort, there were only about 11,000 alumni interviewers that completed about 18,000 reports last year when there were close to 33,000 applicants. So, almost half of all applicants were not interviewed.
@BKSquared Thank you! So can the admissions office request the alumni director to interview a certain candidate? If so, does it happen often?
Generally the AO gives each regional director a list of interviewees. The director then assigns the applicants to the alumni interviewers in his/her region who are available who then in turn contact the interviewees. There may be very rare situations (have heard rumor of this but have not personally seen it) where the AO may ask the director to assign an interview late in the game for a candidate that is totally on the fence. For super strong candidates like your sister, IMO the inducement is the likely letter, not the interview opportunity.
@BKSquared Does that mean internationals usually arent interviewed because most alumni are obviously in the states. and probably not everyone in the US is interviewed.
^Everyone in the US is not interviewed. Last year there were only about 18,000 interview reports completed for 33,000 applicants. I don’t have stat’s for international applicants, but I think it is a fair assumption that there are fewer alumni interviewers for international students. I know there has been an outreach to alum’s to do Skype type interviews for underserved regions, which includes international regions.
I know it’s not necessarily true, but I am kinda already accepting that my interview status (not offered one) is indicative of my SCEA admissions decision…
@whartonboy14 basic statistics: correlation does not equal causation. I wouldn’t be so hung up on it if I were you.
@hope469 I still believe the interviews internationally EA are selective.
@whartonboy14 you can- but that doesn’t make it true. A Yale interviewer has already explained this is not the case; if you choose not to listen, that’s on you.
I just got an email for an online interview- so excited, especially when I was beginning to lose hope! I am talking to a Harvard interviewer and Yale graduate alum who is a family friend before the interview, so hopefully I’ll gain some insight! Best of luck to all with interviews and senior year in general! Don’t forget to have fun.
@hope469 another Yale International interviewer said that it might be the case. Stop putting me down cuz you don’t know a thing about international admissions.