To me, going to an interview is a formal process, and I take it very seriously. The schools want to see if they really want you, and you want to see if you want to study there. Why do we dress up in a suit? Why should we get there at least 10 minutes eariler? Why do we send thank you notes afterwards? Would any of them pick me if I went in comfy jeans and t-shirt? Even though, clothings wouldn't change me in any ways (personality, intelligence, characteristics...), I dressed up in a suit because I wanted to look my best. Temple should have done the same thing.
I felt that I was prepared more than enough that day because Temple was one of the schools I thought I would enjoy studying at. I didn't think that Temple took the interview process as seriously as I did. PLUS, on my interview day, Brian mentioned that he did not know when we would hear from them... Who is Brian? He doesn't have a say in the admissions committee. How do they make up their mind if any of the committee members did not observe the interviewees? What kind of commitment did the school show me? I really don't get it. Maybe I'm too slow. Can someone explain that to me?
You seem to think that the interview is the determing factor for your acceptence. Im sorry bud, but its only a piece of the whole pie of your application. So when Brian said that he didnt know when you would hear from Temple, can you blame him? He is not the admissions committee and does not have the only say in your acceptence. The committee has to meet, look at your application (grades, DAT, essay, etc.), and read the comments that your interviewer made of you. Then other factors come into play, such as the number of deposits they got that week to determine the number of seats left, or any new applications coming in. Stuff like that....so how could he give you a definite answer on a final decision? EVERY SCHOOL IS LIKE THAT! At Columbia, I had a one on one interview, and then I was told that the committee meets every Friday to decide on candidates. Every member gets a vote, according to your applications stats, and what the personal interviewer says about you to the rest of the committee, and then they all vote. You expect every admissions committee member at every school to observe every interviewer all year???? I really dont know what Sarah wants!!
All of my interviews were disorganized in some way. Columbia was the worst and VERY disorganized....but that was because they were getting prepared for a dental conference in Seattle....at Tufts, Mark Gonthier, the one that took care of selling the school was late and we were just sitting there.....at NYU, no students were available in the cafeteria like promised, and they didnt even say farewell to us....I understand this gives a bad impression, but I looked past it and said to myself that the admissions department is only one small department of the school, and does not reflect the entire school. Think about it, after your first day of dental school, you wont even see the admissions department again....
Instead I looked at the other factors that WOULD affect me for 4 years...such as facilities, housing, financial aid, etc. These are more important, and that is why I think Sarah and aileen's logic are ignorant in choosing a school.
Sarah, may I ask what other interviews you've been to?
