HYP Interview - only 30 min

[Anonymous]

30 mins is a good amount of time - there are zoom limits and interviews are often interviewers are volunteers. Send the thank you note! Always send a thank you note. This is good practice for school and job interviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Side question -- when a student writes a thank you note, do the interviewers ever respond back to acknowledge? Something as simple as "it was nice to meet you, and good luck."

Is this still a thing? What do you say in your Thank You note?

I'm an alumni interviewer. First of all, I am fairly sure that they almost always mean nothing except to screen for weirdos.

That being said, I expect a thank you e-mail. We set up the interview over the e-mail so they just have to reply - very easy. All I expect is "It was nice to meet you. I enjoyed discussing myself and your school. I remain very interested." Short and sweet is great. I usually hold off writing my review for 24 hours or so to see if I get a note or not. I would say I only get from about 50% which is truly sad. Especially for ED. I usually do not reply to the thank you - I probably should but I don't want to lead them on. Occasionally they will ask a question in the follow-up so I respond to that. Don't read into whether the interviewer responds to the thank you - it means nothing.

How petty. Seniors are in the thick of the process and this would be a simple thing to overlook. Emailing right after would look neurotic and waiting a day might mean it slips because THIS YEAR IS CRAZY.

I interview and honestly don’t expect any follow up — for them it’s so fraught

It’s common courtesy and standard practice to send a quick thank you after an interview of any kind. Literally two sentences via email.

This is not rocket science - it’s a tiny demonstration of basic courtesy. Just remind your kids to send the email later that day or the next morning. Nothing about that seems “desperate.” (Seriously, do you think that being polite is “desperate?” 🙄

It is the identical basic courtesy that the interviewer (likely you) is withholding by not responding. The interviewer should not provide input on post interview items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC just finished her HYP interview over zoom, slightly under 30min. Is that a bad sign?

Not necessarily but I would assume the chemistry wasn't great. Occasionally these interviews are like pulling teeth (simple answers, nothing to "chew" on), and you're just relieved when they end. Doesn't mean you dislike the student or would write a bad report though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of years ago…DC’s interview at H was 30 minutes. Was admitted and interview made a difference. Same at another HYPSM — admitted but interview does not really count for it. Meanwhile another kid I know had a 90 minute interview for H and was rejected. Good luck!

How do you know that the interview made a difference at Harvard (or did not at a different HYPSM)?

You can request to see your application file once you're on canvas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it doesn't matter. it's a screening step for crazies. 99% of kids it doesn't matter

+1 I think 30-45 minutes is normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Side question -- when a student writes a thank you note, do the interviewers ever respond back to acknowledge? Something as simple as "it was nice to meet you, and good luck."

Is this still a thing? What do you say in your Thank You note?

I'm an alumni interviewer. First of all, I am fairly sure that they almost always mean nothing except to screen for weirdos.

That being said, I expect a thank you e-mail. We set up the interview over the e-mail so they just have to reply - very easy. All I expect is "It was nice to meet you. I enjoyed discussing myself and your school. I remain very interested." Short and sweet is great. I usually hold off writing my review for 24 hours or so to see if I get a note or not. I would say I only get from about 50% which is truly sad. Especially for ED. I usually do not reply to the thank you - I probably should but I don't want to lead them on. Occasionally they will ask a question in the follow-up so I respond to that. Don't read into whether the interviewer responds to the thank you - it means nothing.

They didn’t screen you out for being a weirdo. Intentionally disrupting the review process to serve your own vanity is wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people not just say the actual university name??

HYP means Princeton but they wish it was Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you not aware that Ivy League interviews mean nothing? there are thousands of threads on that subject here. they mean NOTHING. They exist to engage alumni to make them think they are a part of the "HYP" process so they give substantial bucks. Google it. The fact that you got 10 min, 30 min, 45 min. means nothing. My kid has five Ivy League interviews and was waitlisted at all, even as a (not big funder) legacy at two.

They are used to filter out phonies, which is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you not aware that Ivy League interviews mean nothing? there are thousands of threads on that subject here. they mean NOTHING. They exist to engage alumni to make them think they are a part of the "HYP" process so they give substantial bucks. Google it. The fact that you got 10 min, 30 min, 45 min. means nothing. My kid has five Ivy League interviews and was waitlisted at all, even as a (not big funder) legacy at two.

They are used to filter out phonies, which is important.

False. They exist only to cultivate the alum-interviewers. I did it for Harvard

[Anonymous]

Don’t stress about the duration. 30 mins is fairly normal.

[Anonymous]

I was told as an interviewer for one of these schools that my interviews should be 30-45 m. Which seems short to me but I stick to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you not aware that Ivy League interviews mean nothing? there are thousands of threads on that subject here. they mean NOTHING. They exist to engage alumni to make them think they are a part of the "HYP" process so they give substantial bucks. Google it. The fact that you got 10 min, 30 min, 45 min. means nothing. My kid has five Ivy League interviews and was waitlisted at all, even as a (not big funder) legacy at two.

True from what I understand - I can't comment as much on the influence they have, but everyone gets one if possible for the HYP I interview for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t stress about the duration. 30 mins is fairly normal.

+1 You interview, an alum writes up a brief report. Whether it's 30 min vs. 45 is irrelevant. And on the thank you notes, I personally have never cared whether or even retained if an applicant sends me one. Most of the time, I write the report the right after I interview the applicant while it's still fresh in my mind.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to remind DC to send a thank you email. I meant to remind her and I forgot. DC probably didn't send one (first interview, how would she know?) How bad a mistake is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Side question -- when a student writes a thank you note, do the interviewers ever respond back to acknowledge? Something as simple as "it was nice to meet you, and good luck."

Is this still a thing? What do you say in your Thank You note?

I'm an alumni interviewer. First of all, I am fairly sure that they almost always mean nothing except to screen for weirdos.

That being said, I expect a thank you e-mail. We set up the interview over the e-mail so they just have to reply - very easy. All I expect is "It was nice to meet you. I enjoyed discussing myself and your school. I remain very interested." Short and sweet is great. I usually hold off writing my review for 24 hours or so to see if I get a note or not. I would say I only get from about 50% which is truly sad. Especially for ED. I usually do not reply to the thank you - I probably should but I don't want to lead them on. Occasionally they will ask a question in the follow-up so I respond to that. Don't read into whether the interviewer responds to the thank you - it means nothing.

How petty. Seniors are in the thick of the process and this would be a simple thing to overlook. Emailing right after would look neurotic and waiting a day might mean it slips because THIS YEAR IS CRAZY.

I interview and honestly don’t expect any follow up — for them it’s so fraught

It’s common courtesy and standard practice to send a quick thank you after an interview of any kind. Literally two sentences via email.

This is not rocket science - it’s a tiny demonstration of basic courtesy. Just remind your kids to send the email later that day or the next morning. Nothing about that seems “desperate.” (Seriously, do you think that being polite is “desperate?” 🙄

+1

My kid sent out thank you emails within 24 hrs. Only took a minute.