My interview at X school went very well. The interviewer (dean of admissions) told me things like: "I will be very upset if we lose you to Y school." "You are exactly the kind of applicant we are looking for." "A student of your caliber should not consider anything less than X and Y school, do not waste your time at A and B schools." (the other schools I told him I had applied to.) He basically TOLD me I was going to be accepted. It's been a few weeks now from the interview and I have not heard back from the school (which I really, really liked). Has anyone had this happen to them and then NOT get accepted to the school? If so, is this some kind of strategy/tactic admissions officers have? Was I naive to believe his words were sincere? If I don't get in, I will certainly think very little of the ethical standars of X school. It just isn't right to say such things in an interview unless you fully intend to accept the applicant. Agree?
Anyone out there basically told they'd be accepted by interviewer & not get in?
- Thread starter drrenrey
- Start date
Fortunately I got into one of my top two choices, UCSF 
But I was just as open to the other school, where my interviewer told me I was accepted. He also asked me however to not let it slip to the rest of the faculty, since I believe he'd done this before.
I had hoped to have a choice and weigh my options, it would've been nice. I was tempted to press harder with the other school, I think I'm still on their waitlist. But I can't 100% guarantee I'd choose them anyway. I don't want to make my interviewer vouch for me and possibly screw him over.
I think the lesson here is that unless you have the actual letter in hand, what they say in the interview doesn't mean much.
But I was just as open to the other school, where my interviewer told me I was accepted. He also asked me however to not let it slip to the rest of the faculty, since I believe he'd done this before.
I had hoped to have a choice and weigh my options, it would've been nice. I was tempted to press harder with the other school, I think I'm still on their waitlist. But I can't 100% guarantee I'd choose them anyway. I don't want to make my interviewer vouch for me and possibly screw him over.
I think the lesson here is that unless you have the actual letter in hand, what they say in the interview doesn't mean much.
i'm going through the exactly same situation. my interviewer actually said there would be no problem at all loking at ur stats and everything. he said you could hear from us probably next week, and guess what. it's been almost a month, and i heard nothing from the school. i'm getting extremly nervous now.. it's my top choice!!!!
it's my top choice!!!!
A friend of mine that applied last year was informed by his interviewer that he was an ideal candidate and would have no problem being accepted to the program. He was not accepted.
However... one person can pursuade the rest of the addmissions committee to swing things one way or the other! I do know that 4 sure...
yes, my interviewer at NYU told me i was an ideal candidate for their school. he even said i was good looking and that he could tell that i was trustworthy & charismatic....then he proceeded to tell me how i would be a successful dentist b/c of the mentioned attributes.
however, i received my waitlist letter yesterday
jb!
however, i received my waitlist letter yesterday
jb!
How do people get this amazing ability to judge someone's character by the way that they look? Please, tell me your secrets.
One of my interviewers told me straight up after the interview that he had no problems with me and that he would recommend me for admission. I did get admitted.
I think its a matter of, especially with late interviews, many qualified candidates competing for a dozen spots, etc...
I think its a matter of, especially with late interviews, many qualified candidates competing for a dozen spots, etc...
That may be, but why does the interviewer say that they are sure you will get in when they can never be absolutely sure, it seems to casue a lot of frustration and disappointement.answer is easy
there is more than one person deciding if you should be admited
"You are EXACTLY the type of student we are looking for"
I took this to mean I would get in. . . don't count your chickens before they hatch!!!
I took this to mean I would get in. . . don't count your chickens before they hatch!!!
I think probabably that most of these faculty members were used to the days when the volume of applicants was not that large, and if there were good applicants, those applicants would always be accepted. However, now that it has gotten to be so competitive, ALL the applicants are good. And in the end, good applicants won't be chosen because there just isn't enough room. Interviewers should just start holding thier tongue though, because they can't guarantee anything with the large number of applicants.
He didn't say "you're good looking; therefore you must be trustworthy"..... he said "you're a good looking guy & very easy to talk to... you'll fit in at NYU and you'll be successful b/c you have a way w/ people & seem trustworthy"
either way, it obviously didn't mean anything since i've been placed on the waitlist.
jb!
Bottom line: interviewers should not talk like that. It's just wrong. If they are going to say something like that, they should at least preface it with "Now, I can't make any promises, but I think you are a great candidate for this school and I will recommend you, blah, blah."
If you have THE DEAN of Admissions say something like "I would hate you lose you to [the other Ivy I was accepted to]." then how do you not get your hopes up???
If you have THE DEAN of Admissions say something like "I would hate you lose you to [the other Ivy I was accepted to]." then how do you not get your hopes up???
At my first interview the dean of admissions talked about how great my application was and how he hoped I would choose their school. He then said goodbye and told me "Dont worry, I will be seeing you again soon." That was in December and I got the rejection letter last week.
At another interview I was told by both the interviewing prof and a Dean that I was definately getting in, then i got my waitlist status. It was a pretty fun rollercoaster ride.
At another interview I was told by both the interviewing prof and a Dean that I was definately getting in, then i got my waitlist status. It was a pretty fun rollercoaster ride.
A lot of times interviewers want to leave you with a positive impression of the school. They could say you'll fit in here because if you do get accepted they want you to come to their school. However their could be things with your application that that the rest of the committee could be unimpressed by or you just may be up against other amazing candidates. It does suck though because they obviously wouldn't tell you that you that you should be accepted if they didn't think you were qualified. Admissions is a crazy proccess-thats the one thing that I've learned from all of this.
At my first interview, my interviewer pretty much told me that I would get in in a very indirect way. I don't remember his actual wording, but when I left the interview I felt there was no way I was going to get rejected. However, he was one of the heads of the admission committee. It was still a relief to check aadsas on dec 1 though.
At my first interview, my interviewer pretty much told me that I would get in in a very indirect way. I don't remember his actual wording, but when I left the interview I felt there was no way I was going to get rejected. However, he was one of the heads of the admission committee. It was still a relief to check aadsas on dec 1 though.
the admissions works in a mysterious way. the only way to know what goes on is to become one of them. lol
yes, my interviewer at NYU told me i was an ideal candidate for their school. he even said i was good looking and that he could tell that i was trustworthy & charismatic....then he proceeded to tell me how i would be a successful dentist b/c of the mentioned attributes.
however, i received my waitlist letter yesterday
jb!
Haha it sounds like we were interviewed by the same guy. Exactly what happened to me.
I would say:
"Excuse me sir, are you hitting on me? Because while i'd really like to attend your school, I'm not gonna go bat for the other team for it, if you know what I mean"
Lol, that's funny. Erm, I kinda think a guy saying that to another guy (scratch that, any interviewer saying that to any student, regardless of gender) is a little inappropriate. I mean you can say "you seem like a charismatic person", but it's a little weird if they say "you're good looking, so you'll be a sucessfull dentist"
i didn't find it inappropriate (no, i'm not gay
). as a matter of fact, i think it would have been inappropriate if a female interviewer said it to me rather than a male.i just responded, "well thank you, i know how important it is for the patient to trust the dentist--if it works to my advantage, then so be it."
jb!