I had a pretty good interview day (can't compare to other schools thoughthis is the only one I've attended so far.). I think mine was their second interview day of the cycle.
My interview day had 7 people (very interesting, diverse group of people). In the morning we met with Mr. Silverman (the
Director of Admissions, not
Dean!) at the admissions office; he was a very nice, very chatty guy. I stayed with a student host, and the admissions office is in the dorms, so it was literally 4 floors down; really convenient.
In the office, Mr. Silverman gave us a briefing on what was to happen that day, then sat with us in the lobby to answer any questions until each interviewee decides to leave for their morning interviews (we had different times).
I went to my first interview which was ~5 mins away in another building. I had no surprise questions; everything that was asked was in Yale's SDN interview feedback page. It was semi-conversational, but mostly Q&A for me.
Then I came back to the admissions office, and talked to the other interviewees until lunchtime. I was surprised to find that most of them (if not all) weren't from HYPMS/Ivy/super-elite schools!
Lunch was supposed to be with one faculty and one student, but not sure what happened to the faculty. Instead, we had a fifth-year student (Yale has that free fifth year that a lot of people take advantage of). He was really nice, really straightforward. Lunch was a-OK. Sandwich, chips, fruit, water. Sandwich might have been good, but I don't like sandwiches in general
😳
After lunch was the tour. There were three students taking us around the school. Every student we met seemed really happy; really good sign. Every person constantly emphasized how you should go there only if you feel that you would fit into the Yale system (right... like I was choosing whether I would accept Yale? I think they got it backwards).
Then it was time for my second interview. Again, no surprise questions. This interview got me a little worried, because the interviewer was really brief. It was hardly conversational at all: the interviewer would ask a question; I would answer; a short "OK, good!" and then on to the next question. I was out in 15 minutes
🙁
There was no formal farewell because each interviewee had different times, but I came back to the admissions office and some of them were still there. Asked them how it went, and I freaked out because their interviews were 45mins-1hour but mine were 30mins and 15mins
Then I met with my (really nice) host again to change out of my suit and say bye. Host told me the person who interviewed me for 15mins was a really busy person; I tried to convince myself that was why it was so short, and not because I bombed it.
🙄 As a consolation prize, I got my 2nd II while sitting downstairs waiting for my cab
All in all, I really loved Yale, but didn't feel like my interview went awesome.. Wished it wasn't my first one. But we will see in March! And that's my long ramble about my interview day.
