Anonymous wrote:My kid’s Princeton interviewer scheduled the interview at a Starbucks. At the last minute she changed it to the restaurant next door. They sat at the bar where she drank two glasses of wine, and ordered a third. The interview ended when her date, whom she informed my son was from an online dating site, showed up. We probably should have reported her.

This is amazing (in an awful and amazing sort of way). Sounds like something from a tv script.

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.

Yeah, I gotta say that's a little messed up. Sit in your car for ten minutes and do the call.

I have been a long-time interviewer for a school where the interview literally has no bearing on the decision because the only information you give the school is whether the interview occurred. People who are criticizing the student who did not pick up after being cut off at the soccer game should recognize that students take these interviews very seriously and are very stressed about them, even if you try to convince them not to be. They are scheduled in advance and only take about twenty or thirty minutes. If you can't find twenty minutes to give interviewees your full attention, that's fine, but don't do these interviews. If something went wrong and you ended up being somewhere you did not intend to be, apologize and be gracious, but don't treat the kid like this twenty minutes does not matter. Again, if you think the interview does not matter, you should not be an interviewer. Which it totally fine.

while i think its somewhat disrespectful/inappropriate to conduct an interview from a soccer game, i tend to sometimes sit a ways away from the other parents and only half watch my elementary school kids sporting events. i can kind of see someone who is very type a with an extremely busy job wanting to make more productive use of that time.

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s Princeton interviewer scheduled the interview at a Starbucks. At the last minute she changed it to the restaurant next door. They sat at the bar where she drank two glasses of wine, and ordered a third. The interview ended when her date, whom she informed my son was from an online dating site, showed up. We probably should have reported her.

Woah!

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s Princeton interviewer scheduled the interview at a Starbucks. At the last minute she changed it to the restaurant next door. They sat at the bar where she drank two glasses of wine, and ordered a third. The interview ended when her date, whom she informed my son was from an online dating site, showed up. We probably should have reported her.

Yikes! Super inappropriate.

alumni interviewers are human, busy, volunteer, mostly well-meaning, but its not always a top-priority for them. so they often do not reach out first, may occasionally forget or have to cancel for a higher priority and subsequently need to be reminded, and/or accidentally schedule you on top of something else. that said, if they fall off a cliff on you, there is probably a way to politely request another alumni interviewer with a short explanation as to why. to the poster above, your child probably should have answered the phone (or even emailed or called back later to voicemail etc.), stated that it didnt seem like still a great time for an interview, and asked if it made sense to reschedule, or something like that.

Interviews are just a way to keep alumni loyal. Unless there is a huge red flag, interviewer’s report wouldn’t be a factor. It’s more for them to inform you about the school and sell it you with their biased view.

My kid’s Princeton interviewer scheduled the interview at a Starbucks. At the last minute she changed it to the restaurant next door. They sat at the bar where she drank two glasses of wine, and ordered a third. The interview ended when her date, whom she informed my son was from an online dating site, showed up. We probably should have reported her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I can see why your kid is how he is.

You did not parent him well. Sorry, but that is how it looks.

It's she and she is at a top 10 and enjoying life, she's just fine but thanks for the advice. I self-reflect and hopefully will recognize my failures as a parent and work to do better with my second.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I can see why your kid is how he is.

You did not parent him well. Sorry, but that is how it looks.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. In life, you have to deal with rude authority figures. Hanging up is not a smart strategy. Teach your kid to manage a situation like that to their advantage. E.g. ask how the game is going, get engaged, or wait it out and then say "hey it seems like a great game, I don't want to distract you, can we try another time?"

I already posted at 12:36 that they respectfully asked to reschedule at a better time, the request was ignored due to the interviewer not listening due to cheering for a rec soccer game. What's the kid supposed to do, sit there with their finger up their nose? Get off your high horse people.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree. In life, you have to deal with rude authority figures. Hanging up is not a smart strategy. Teach your kid to manage a situation like that to their advantage. E.g. ask how the game is going, get engaged, or wait it out and then say "hey it seems like a great game, I don't want to distract you, can we try another time?"

Very smart, and classy. I hope that the other parent did NOT actually praise or support his child for handling the situation the way he did.

We don't need more boors in this world, and two wrongs still don't make a right.

Anonymous wrote: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.

I'm the one who posted about the interview decliners and agree that declining the interview is not a ticket to acceptance. My school is also an Ivy with a very low acceptance rate. I do think the decision to decline might relate to one of the factors you mention.

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.

Agree. In life, you have to deal with rude authority figures. Hanging up is not a smart strategy. Teach your kid to manage a situation like that to their advantage. E.g. ask how the game is going, get engaged, or wait it out and then say "hey it seems like a great game, I don't want to distract you, can we try another time?"