Conflict of interest with one of the interview day students?

[inismeain]

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Hello!

I have a bit of an odd question. So I'm a non-trad and I recently got a II to a school close to the college I graduated from. The school has "Student Admissions Directors" listed on the interview day schedule and I have a prior conflict of interest with one of these student directors who also went to my undergrad. Quite frankly, we just didn't get along and disagreed on some things during my undergrad years (though we rarely interacted with each other). Now, I don't see why this should have any bearing on my ability to get in given the situation between us isn't at all academic and completely removed from anything related to my activities, etc. Does the title these students have (they're also MS2s, if it matters) imply anything that might affect my chances of getting in? Is there anything I can or should do at this point?

For context, the name only shows up on the schedule during the morning and the actual interview is later in the day so I don't know if they're just there to show us around or if they play some pivotal role in our chances of acceptance. My undergrad years feel like they happened a lifetime ago. I don't want to be haunted by them moving forward and seeing that name on the day's schedule really put a damper on the whole thing.

Thanks for any and all advice! If @Goro or @LizzyM have any thoughts from the adcom side of things I'm all ears.

 

[Goro]

Just tell the Admissions dean your concerns

 

[inismeain]

@Goro Thanks, will do! Didn't know it would be that easy.

 

[deleted480308]

@Goro Thanks, will do! Didn't know it would be that easy.

It’s that easy to tell them. You cannot however control their reaction

 

[candbgirl]

It’s not a conflict of interest on your part. It’s a personal conflict! He might feel the same way and take steps before the interview to recuse himself from the group. Or maybe you have both grown and can move on from the past issues. I’d wait and see what actually happens at the interview day. Just go in with your confidence bursting through and do what you have to. Offer your hand and ask how he is and then move on. If you really and objectively get bad vibes stop by the Deans Office on the way out. Tell him you’d didn’t say anything before the interview because you had hoped there wouldn’t be an issue but you feel there was. Good luck!

 

[mw18]

@Goro knows more about these things than I do. But I would just handle myself professionally and not mention anything about it. I really doubt that student would mention anything, but offering up information that may give the perception that you take part in petty arguments or grudges may not be a good look.

 

[LizzyM]

Everything you do and say from the moment you step foot (or drive) on campus until you leave can be taken into account in an admission decision. Always behave as if you are being watched and judged.

Is there a chance this M2 does not remember you? You might be surprised that what was a big deal in your mind is water long under the bridge for the M2.

In all likelihood, an M2's responsibility in admissions is handling the giving of a tour and/or a little chat about what the school has to offer. Be cordial and friendly. If you get a bad vibe from the M2, report it to the dean of admissions or whomever on staff is "in charge" on interview day. I wouldn't suggest reporting a "conflict of interest" on the part of the M2 preemptively.

Interestingly, my school has started asking us about our undergrad institution and I suspect that there is a process for assuring that we (and particularly the student interviewers) aren't assigned to interact with applicants from our alma mater. So, you might not even be paired with that M2 or be required to have any interaction.

 

[inismeain]

@Goro, @sb247, @candbgirl, @mw18, @LizzyM thank you all for your advice. I won't mention anything prior to the interview day and just go through the process. If I notice anything off I'll approach somebody but, before then, I'll assume the M2 has moved on and stop adding on unnecessary stress.

 

[subdermallight]

Everything you do and say from the moment you step foot (or drive) on campus until you leave can be taken into account in an admission decision. Always behave as if you are being watched and judged.

Is there a chance this M2 does not remember you? You might be surprised that what was a big deal in your mind is water long under the bridge for the M2.

In all likelihood, an M2's responsibility in admissions is handling the giving of a tour and/or a little chat about what the school has to offer. Be cordial and friendly. If you get a bad vibe from the M2, report it to the dean of admissions or whomever on staff is "in charge" on interview day. I wouldn't suggest reporting a "conflict of interest" on the part of the M2 preemptively.

Interestingly, my school has started asking us about our undergrad institution and I suspect that there is a process for assuring that we (and particularly the student interviewers) aren't assigned to interact with applicants from our alma mater. So, you might not even be paired with that M2 or be required to have any interaction.

What if the conflict of interest is with a previous professor who was a PI and things didn’t end well (he is an often invited interviewer out of maybe 15-20?). His name is barely on my app at all so they may not catch it. Would you preemptively declare a personal conflict or should I just walk in there and hope he won’t be interviewing me? Maybe stop the interview before it happens and ask for another person in the moment?

 

[LizzyM]

What if the conflict of interest is with a previous professor who was a PI and things didn’t end well (he is an often invited interviewer out of maybe 15-20?). His name is barely on my app at all so they may not catch it. Would you preemptively declare a personal conflict or should I just walk in there and hope he won’t be interviewing me? Maybe stop the interview before it happens and ask for another person in the moment?

At my school, the interviewers receive the list of applicants they'll be interviewing about 24-48 hours in advance. We are instructed to contact the office immediately if there we know someone we've been assigned to interview. Our applicants get the list of people doing the interviews about 1 hour before the interviews begin. Again, there would be time for an applicant to say, "I'm sorry but it appears that my old PI, Dr. Jeckel, has been assigned to interview me." [insert sheepish smile] 99 times out of 100 there will be a switch to move you out of your PI's queue.