Does a waitlist mean a bad interview?

[Jabjab]

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Hey there,
I have been fortunate to receive a few interviews, some at top 10-20 schools. However, all of my responses so far have been waitlists (I am still waiting on some schools to get back to me). Do these waitlists mean that I am doing something wrong at my interviews? I am a pretty average Joe socially, so I know I am not blowing them away with personality, but I also don't feel like I am a social pariah. Do any of you have insight into this?

 

[mvenus929]

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on when you interviewed. If you interviewed early in the season, then it's more likely there was something with you that they weren't overly fond of, that made them hold back from giving you an acceptance. If you interviewed this week, then it's more likely that they just don't have enough spots to accept everyone that they want to.

But hey, at least they're not rejections.

 

[Ismet]

It also depends on the school. There are some schools where the interview is more of a deciding factor in the admissions decision, and other schools where the interview is just one factor that is considered when the entire application is viewed holistically.

 

[BurberryDoc]

How many interviews have you been on, and how many of those have become waitlists?

 

[darkjedi]

Not necessarily. As the other posters have mentioned, interviews are just one component of your overall application. An analogy that LizzyM used is that applicants tend to be all on a staircase, with some people higher up and some lower down. Generally interviews have the potential to move you up or down a several places, but it is pretty rare for an interview to really drastically change where you are on the stairs. If you are getting waitlists, don't take it personally, and don't assume it was due to a poor interview. With how obscenely qualified some applicants are nowadays, its just an enormously competitive pool now. There is always a chance that submitting a letter can help you as well from the waitlist.

I wound up getting waitlisted at 4 out of the 5 schools I interviewed at. I'd like to think I interview pretty well, and so I believe that it was my 'borderline GPA' that really held me back at a lot of places.

 

[juliuspepperwood]

Hey there,
I have been fortunate to receive a few interviews, some at top 10-20 schools. However, all of my responses so far have been waitlists (I am still waiting on some schools to get back to me). Do these waitlists mean that I am doing something wrong at my interviews? I am a pretty average Joe socially, so I know I am not blowing them away with personality, but I also don't feel like I am a social pariah. Do any of you have insight into this?

I'm in a similar situation for the three schools I've interviewed at and felt like it might be the same thing. Then I remembered I went through multiple committee interviews for my undergrad recs and they said my interviewing was fantastic, so who the hell knows. The application process is crazy.

 

[Jabjab]

Thanks for all the input, you all have some interesting thoughts.

I was interviewed pretty early at a lot of these schools, within the first month or 2 of interviews (was actually in the first batch for one school). So far I have 2 waitlists, 3 deferrals and 2 more interviews coming up.

 

[NavyDoc23]

I agree with all of the above. Some schools have it where the interview plays a really small part of your entire app and others where the interview actually has quite a bit of weight with the decision. I got waitlisted at 2 schools where I thought I interviewed pretty well (and they were state schools), so many times I just remind myself that this whole process is a crap shoot. Some things just don't make sense.

 

[wiloghby]

Sometimes, but not always. If you have a ton of interviews and they all turn to waitlists, you may be a difficult person to talk to for 30 minutes. But even then... you could just have a very borderline application in many other ways. It's hard to know.

Either way, you are still likely to get in somewhere. If you don't, just try to get feedback from schools around May/June and find out what the problem was. It might be interviewing; it might be something entirely different.

 

[pyrrion89]

What I thought were my strongest interviews were at schools where I got put on the waiting list.
A school where I thought I absolutely bombed my interview... got accepted there with a scholarship.

It feels so arbitrary.

 

[seeinghowitgoes]

I've often wondered this, but there are so many variables to take into account that I don't think a label can be placed on interview skills unless one is being rejected immediately following interviews.

For example, some interviewers may want the candidate to have a serious attitude, others may appreciate one that can hold a conversation about non-serious topic (breweries came up in one of my interviews). Some may appreciate pointed questions, others may find it arrogant. Then still is the question of what the school is looking for and whether their values (which aren't inherently good or bad) are reflected in your answers.

In the end, I imagine this complexity probably helps ensure candidates end up in an environment to which they are best suited.

 

[Captain Sisko]

What I thought were my strongest interviews were at schools where I got put on the waiting list.
A school where I thought I absolutely bombed my interview... got accepted there with a scholarship.

It feels so arbitrary.

+1

Out of 11 schools I've heard back from post interview , I got accepted to 9 but wait listed at two schools that I felt like I did the best. One was most likely due to yield protection and the other was simply very competitive with very few seats in the class. There are just a lot of variables at play here, including other candidates and their credentials!

Plus you can't really tell how well you did anyway, not objectively.

Relax, have a beer. You'll get in somewhere!

 

[NRC Advisors Program]

Congratulations, you passed the psychopathology screen - otherwise you would have been knocked off of the proverbial staircase. You didn't say those magic words to make the interviewer swoon and think you were the best thing since avocado ranch dressing (seriously, that stuff is awesome) to push you over the top step. Otherwise, it's difficult to say why you may be wait listed. Contacting programs to express continued interest can be very helpful. If it doesn't work out in the end, seeking information regarding the committee notes is key. Good luck!

 

[Chipster.]

avocado ranch dressing (seriously, that stuff is awesome)

Is this a thing? How long have I been missing out on this for?

 

[Zelda840]

it comes with the southwest eggrolls at chilis. 😀

 

[Member 0922]

it comes with the southwest eggrolls at chilis. 😀

OH MY GOSH. I have always loved that stuff but never knew what it was. Thank you for enlightening me!!!

 

[oceanmist]

It also depends on the school. There are some schools where the interview is more of a deciding factor in the admissions decision, and other schools where the interview is just one factor that is considered when the entire application is viewed holistically.

Do you or does anyone know which/any schools that fit into either of those models?

 

[Goro]

Not necessarily a bad interview, but borderline. That could mean your stats, or you.

Hey there,
I have been fortunate to receive a few interviews, some at top 10-20 schools. However, all of my responses so far have been waitlists (I am still waiting on some schools to get back to me). Do these waitlists mean that I am doing something wrong at my interviews? I am a pretty average Joe socially, so I know I am not blowing them away with personality, but I also don't feel like I am a social pariah. Do any of you have insight into this?