Flaky alum interviewers

[Anonymous]

NP also interested to hear why refusing an interview might be advantageous

[Anonymous]

I’m an alumni interviewer and have never scheduled a phone interview. I’m always in an office. The one time I was in a car I warned participant that it was a strange setting for the zoom.

It’s unprofessional. I would contact the local alumni association who manages the interview assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 1st two are new to this.

The other 2 know their recommendations will fall on deaf year and are over it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid had one that was on the sidelines of his kid's soccer game half listening and cheering for his kid. My kid hung up, they called back and my kid let it go to voicemail.

And you're proud of your child for doing this? Sorry, but that was entitled, obnoxious behavior on the part of a 17-year-old.

+1 Sounds like the interviewer made the crucial mistake of thinking he was dealing with a normal person.
There's a lull at his kids' game and he figures, good time to call. (If interviewers don't call the second they are assigned, they're evil, right?) Then suddenly his kid gets the ball and he gets distracted. And your kid reacts like this? Embarrassing.

Do you conduct job interviews from the sidelines of your kid's soccer game? That is f****d up.

Oh puhleeze - these are not job interviews and have no impact on admission decisions.

[Anonymous]

My kid struck Swarthmore off his list after a poor interview situation. From the scheduling to the no-show, to the difficulty in getting rescheduled, to the utterly snotty attitude of the alum during the interview, DS was turned off. That alum is like a one-woman recruiting wrecking ball for her alma mater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid had one that was on the sidelines of his kid's soccer game half listening and cheering for his kid. My kid hung up, they called back and my kid let it go to voicemail.

And you're proud of your child for doing this? Sorry, but that was entitled, obnoxious behavior on the part of a 17-year-old.

+1 Sounds like the interviewer made the crucial mistake of thinking he was dealing with a normal person.
There's a lull at his kids' game and he figures, good time to call. (If interviewers don't call the second they are assigned, they're evil, right?) Then suddenly his kid gets the ball and he gets distracted. And your kid reacts like this? Embarrassing.

Do you conduct job interviews from the sidelines of your kid's soccer game? That is f****d up.

Oh puhleeze - these are not job interviews and have no impact on admission decisions.

These kids are so busy and scheduled to the hilt. It is flat rude. What it tells the kids is that the interviewer is disrespectful. Who wants more of that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's that common -- most alum interviewers take it seriously -- but I also don't think it matters.

Maybe they got sick or had a crisis. I wouldn't follow up anymore. Anecdotally I think there may be an advantage to refusing the alumni interview.

This is interesting. Why would you think that?

I did a ton of alumni interviews for my school and just noticed that a couple kids who straight out declined the alumni interview were waitlisted or accepted while excellent students for whom I wrote glowing reports were denied. I think it’s a fairly unusual move to decline the interview (not a scheduling conflict, just a straight out “I’m not interested in an interview” or “I decline” ) and maybe it speaks to other aspects of their personality or profile. There is a form where we report that we offered the interview and how they responded in these cases. Maybe it gives the applicant a little mystery 😀

I think there are also occasions when an interview helps, but I bet that most don’t matter one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

You are dealing with volunteers. They have varying levels of investment in the process. Many may also have become disillusioned, because their input has such a minimal impact.

BUT, I do agree that this is not respectful to your child, for whom this feels like a very high stacks moment.

[Anonymous]

One interviewer asked my kid what the focus of her DOCTORAL dissertation would be (she was a senior in high school). Ridiculous question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are dealing with volunteers. They have varying levels of investment in the process. Many may also have become disillusioned, because their input has such a minimal impact.

BUT, I do agree that this is not respectful to your child, for whom this feels like a very high stacks moment.

I agree, but I also think the child was far more disrespectful in hanging up on the interviewer. That was an arrogant and immature snub. It does not compensate for the lack of respect shown by the interviewer.

[Anonymous]

I’m a 20 year Ivy alumni interviewer and I’ve never seen a kid who didn’t interview get accepted. I’m not saying that’s how it works but I wouldn’t rely on anecdata and decline an interview in hopes it increases chances. I do hope colleges are in recent years more open to students who decline interviews. There may be thoughtful reasons such as fear of discrimination based on neurodiversity, race, disability, or other bases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid had one that was on the sidelines of his kid's soccer game half listening and cheering for his kid. My kid hung up, they called back and my kid let it go to voicemail.

And you're proud of your child for doing this? Sorry, but that was entitled, obnoxious behavior on the part of a 17-year-old.

+1 Sounds like the interviewer made the crucial mistake of thinking he was dealing with a normal person.
There's a lull at his kids' game and he figures, good time to call. (If interviewers don't call the second they are assigned, they're evil, right?) Then suddenly his kid gets the ball and he gets distracted. And your kid reacts like this? Embarrassing.

Do you conduct job interviews from the sidelines of your kid's soccer game? That is f****d up.

I interviewed a candidate while standing outside my child's school waiting for dismissal. Adults understand that other adults are just trying to survive, and we do that by multitasking. Adults understand that sometimes the babysitter cancels, your child's other parent gets sick, and you make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are dealing with volunteers. They have varying levels of investment in the process. Many may also have become disillusioned, because their input has such a minimal impact.

BUT, I do agree that this is not respectful to your child, for whom this feels like a very high stacks moment.

I agree, but I also think the child was far more disrespectful in hanging up on the interviewer. That was an arrogant and immature snub. It does not compensate for the lack of respect shown by the interviewer.

I'm PP and it is my kid. No it was not an arrogant and immature snub. The interviewer scheduled an appointment during their kids soccer game, was not engaged at all and my child after asking to reschedule and being ignored decided to end the conversation. Kids work hard and have pride, the interviewer representing the university was the one that acted arrogantly and snubbed an interested hard working perspective student. The fact that you don't get that is pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid struck Swarthmore off his list after a poor interview situation. From the scheduling to the no-show, to the difficulty in getting rescheduled, to the utterly snotty attitude of the alum during the interview, DS was turned off. That alum is like a one-woman recruiting wrecking ball for her alma mater.

This is such an important point. My kid had a fantastic experience with an interview that only made her more excited about the school. Some schools include info from them, but for all schools, they are marketing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid had one that was on the sidelines of his kid's soccer game half listening and cheering for his kid. My kid hung up, they called back and my kid let it go to voicemail.

And you're proud of your child for doing this? Sorry, but that was entitled, obnoxious behavior on the part of a 17-year-old.

+1 Sounds like the interviewer made the crucial mistake of thinking he was dealing with a normal person.
There's a lull at his kids' game and he figures, good time to call. (If interviewers don't call the second they are assigned, they're evil, right?) Then suddenly his kid gets the ball and he gets distracted. And your kid reacts like this? Embarrassing.

Do you conduct job interviews from the sidelines of your kid's soccer game? That is f****d up.

I interviewed a candidate while standing outside my child's school waiting for dismissal. Adults understand that other adults are just trying to survive, and we do that by multitasking. Adults understand that sometimes the babysitter cancels, your child's other parent gets sick, and you make it work.

You still had the decency to give your undivided attention. I’m not PP and I think it is wrong to hang up on them but it’s also wrong to not take this seriously. It means a lot the kids and they have responsibilities too.