Are interviewers random?

[acl3623]

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so, does your file fall on someones lap completely randomly, or do you guys think that higher up people (say deans of admissions) pick interviewees that they are most interested in to interview themselves? i really wonder how much goes on behind the scenes at the interview stage...

 

[51487]

I thought that it was random--based mostly on who was available...Because we generally pick our own interview days and times...It seems like that would make it so that only people available could interview us?

 

[dopaminophile]

I know at some schools I was matched with interviewers. One admissions coordinator told me she tried to pair with Dr. XX head of this program that I would be involved in. Others clearly had interests similar to my own. I think that if someone on the committee is interested in meeting you, which is often the case if they're interviewing you, then they get first dibbs. I'm sure it can't always work out that they meet you because of scheduling, but I think it's largely the case that they want to talk to applicants with whom they share common interests.