inappropriate questions/racist comments from interviewer

[capybara]

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I'm in need of advice about a pecular interview situation I was in a while ago. At one of my interviews about 10 days ago, my interviewer was purely focused on asking me personal questions. Some of these seemed inappropriate in retrospect: he asked me about the marital status of family members and who I lived with now. He also dropped a few comments during the course of the interview that I felt were kind of racist (or at least gauche). For example, he asked me in depth about my friends, and when I mentioned one was Asian, he immediately remarked that "she must have been very hardworking and good at science". He also asked me for the name of my second interviewer, commenting that it had an "all-American ring to it". I'm Asian, and his comments made me feel a little weird. More importantly, we didn't talk about anything that would be normally considered relevant to my application. It was all personal stuff.

What made it difficult was that the interviewer was very friendly throughout the interview, so I didn't want to seem standoffish by refusing to answer his questions. But after the interview, the more I thought about it, the more irritated I became by his questions. I started considering mentioning the situation to the admissions office. I researched him a bit and found that he's been on the adcom for decades, and is even featured in the admissions bulletin. So it's unlikely that reporting him would make any difference on any level. My family told me that anything I did say would just make me look like a complainer.

At the same time, I feel like the questions and comments were inappropriate enough to merit some sort of response. I'm not sure what kind though, and whether responding will just kill whatever paltry chance of admissions I currently have (unfortunately, it;s one of my top choices). Another problem is that some time has passed, so maybe the window of opportunity has closed.

Can anyone give me some advice about this situation? Has anyone been in a similar situation? I feel confused. 😕

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I'm not sure what kind though, and whether responding will just kill whatever paltry chance of admissions I currently have (unfortunately, it;s one of my top choices). Another problem is that some time has passed, so maybe the window of opportunity has closed.

unfortunately then i'd say do nothing. it's not worth risking them holding it against you even if you are right. If you didn't care about the school and were more concerned about rendering ramifications of his actions, then i'd advice going ahead and reporting it. Right now you have too much to lose.

 

[ravi]

I know it is kinda hard to accept these things, but you don't want to geopardise(sp?) your admission. Accept the fact that some people are like that, and just learn to deal with nuts like this in future. Good luck .

 

[iamcanadian]

I'm in need of advice about a pecular interview situation I was in a while ago. At one of my interviews about 10 days ago, my interviewer was purely focused on asking me personal questions. Some of these seemed inappropriate in retrospect: he asked me about the marital status of family members and who I lived with now. He also dropped a few comments during the course of the interview that I felt were kind of racist (or at least gauche). For example, he asked me in depth about my friends, and when I mentioned one was Asian, he immediately remarked that "she must have been very hardworking and good at science". He also asked me for the name of my second interviewer, commenting that it had an "all-American ring to it". I'm Asian, and his comments made me feel a little weird. More importantly, we didn't talk about anything that would be normally considered relevant to my application. It was all personal stuff.

What made it difficult was that the interviewer was very friendly throughout the interview, so I didn't want to seem standoffish by refusing to answer his questions. But after the interview, the more I thought about it, the more irritated I became by his questions. I started considering mentioning the situation to the admissions office. I researched him a bit and found that he's been on the adcom for decades, and is even featured in the admissions bulletin. So it's unlikely that reporting him would make any difference on any level. My family told me that anything I did say would just make me look like a complainer.

At the same time, I feel like the questions and comments were inappropriate enough to merit some sort of response. I'm not sure what kind though, and whether responding will just kill whatever paltry chance of admissions I currently have (unfortunately, it;s one of my top choices). Another problem is that some time has passed, so maybe the window of opportunity has closed.

Can anyone give me some advice about this situation? Has anyone been in a similar situation? I feel confused. 😕

Hi,
I can very much relate to your situation. I was asked a number of questions pertaining to my family background, ethnic origin and religion during one of my interviews. It turned out that my interviewer was of an ethnic origin that had a history of violence and discord in relation to my own. Alas, the interview became centered on a sticky political issue with respect to our two nations, which made me feel uncomfortable to say the least. Shortly after the interview I found out I'd been rejected from that school and I couldn't help but think that my interviewers biases heavily influenced the adcoms decision. So, I e-mailed the admissions office with a message addressed to the entire adcom stating my concern. A week later I received a call from the dean of admissions assuring me that the interviewers biases had no bearing on the adcoms decision and that they considered giving me second interview but didn't think it would change the adcoms decision. In any case, I was advised by one of my mentors that I should not pursue the matter any further lest the word get around and cast a dim light on me. This advice sat well with me and I decided to leave the matter alone. I think if I were faced with a similar situation in the future I'd face it right then and there with the interviewer. Hope this helps.

 

[Medikit]

He seems to have a really positive stereotype in his mind of Asian people, maybe he thought he could compliment you and your friend at the same time and he just went about it in a way that made you feel uncomfortable? I wouldn't really consider positive stereotyping as traditionally racist since racism is nearly always used when the racist considers a particular race to harbor certain negative attributes. Unless you think that being hardworking and good at science could possibly be negative.

 

[MoosePilot]

You've heard of stress interviews? The point may very well be to make you uncomfortable. What if the interviewer wants to see how you'll balance the feeling of being offended with the feeling of wanting to please the interviewer?

 

[amnesia]

so if someone says all Chinese to you, is that better?

Sorry, but there is nothing racist in his comments at all. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM with people saying the truth?

Like my professor at a local college said "they can make anything as small as they want, but can't invent a damn thing."

nothing wrong with the truth, even if it hurts.

 

[Medikit]

so if someone says all Chinese to you, is that better?

Sorry, but there is nothing racist in his comments at all. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM with people saying the truth?

Like my professor at a local college said "they can make anything as small as they want, but can't invent a damn thing."

nothing wrong with the truth, even if it hurts.

But it's not the truth and in that case it's definitely racism. Another thing is that when someone seems to imply that the good things about your character are not a personal attribute but simply an aspect of your race you might feel a little cheapened.

 

[soprano]

so if someone says all Chinese to you, is that better?

Sorry, but there is nothing racist in his comments at all. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM with people saying the truth?

Like my professor at a local college said "they can make anything as small as they want, but can't invent a damn thing."

nothing wrong with the truth, even if it hurts.

The truth??? THE TRUTH??? What are you thinking?? He was spouting off a stereotype, that all asians are good or hardworking in science. That is NOT true! That is a STEREOTYPE, and it IS offensive! Whether or not it is something to be pursued is a different story, but I just absolutely needed to say something about your response to this situation.

 

[tigress]

so if someone says all Chinese to you, is that better?

Sorry, but there is nothing racist in his comments at all. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM with people saying the truth?

Like my professor at a local college said "they can make anything as small as they want, but can't invent a damn thing."

nothing wrong with the truth, even if it hurts.

dude get a history lesson, if you're implying Asians haven't invented anything -- you seriously ought to educate yourself before making statements like that

 

[cfdavid]

I'm in need of advice about a pecular interview situation I was in a while ago. At one of my interviews about 10 days ago, my interviewer was purely focused on asking me personal questions. Some of these seemed inappropriate in retrospect: he asked me about the marital status of family members and who I lived with now. He also dropped a few comments during the course of the interview that I felt were kind of racist (or at least gauche). For example, he asked me in depth about my friends, and when I mentioned one was Asian, he immediately remarked that "she must have been very hardworking and good at science". He also asked me for the name of my second interviewer, commenting that it had an "all-American ring to it". I'm Asian, and his comments made me feel a little weird. More importantly, we didn't talk about anything that would be normally considered relevant to my application. It was all personal stuff.

What made it difficult was that the interviewer was very friendly throughout the interview, so I didn't want to seem standoffish by refusing to answer his questions. But after the interview, the more I thought about it, the more irritated I became by his questions. I started considering mentioning the situation to the admissions office. I researched him a bit and found that he's been on the adcom for decades, and is even featured in the admissions bulletin. So it's unlikely that reporting him would make any difference on any level. My family told me that anything I did say would just make me look like a complainer.

At the same time, I feel like the questions and comments were inappropriate enough to merit some sort of response. I'm not sure what kind though, and whether responding will just kill whatever paltry chance of admissions I currently have (unfortunately, it;s one of my top choices). Another problem is that some time has passed, so maybe the window of opportunity has closed.

Can anyone give me some advice about this situation? Has anyone been in a similar situation? I feel confused. 😕

I had a similar situation just today, in fact. Not as bad, but similar.
I'm a pre-med (taking the MCAT in April), but a non-trad student (30 yrs young).

So, I set up an appointment with an admissions person at a state med school that I will apply to.

Well, the discussion (it was all just to touch base, establish contact with the school, ask some questions etc. Not an interview-hence not as bad) was going well. But then she asked me if I was religious. I said that I wasn't brought up religious but that I was open minded. Then she asked me if I was spiritual. I fankly told her that I have reflected on that, but that no, I do not think I'm really that spiritual a person.

She said "cause some doctors are very religious and may not continue to see a patient that is thinking of having an abortion". We were kind of talking about ethical stuff. Then I stupidly said "yeah, well I'm very open minded about things". It's true. I'm pro-choice. Even though it was getting pretty obvious that she had some personal religious convictions.

It was an informal dialogue, but when I asked her about HER family, she mentioned a daughter being engaged. But she elaborated that her daughter was living with her boyfriend prior to the engagement and that "it was against my beliefs".

No big deal. I totally respect her beliefs. I really don't think that she saw me as some heathen or something. I just hope that she is as open minded as I try to be. Again, it wasn't an interview, but she's an important person at the school, and I'm sure I'll see her again down the road.

She was VERY nice and pleasant. But, I left feeling that the "discussion" didn't really go that well. Am I being an overly sensitive pansy??

 

[Old_Mil]

he asked me about the marital status of family members and who I lived with now.

Perhaps just trying to make conversation? I wouldn't automatically assume that this is inappropriate.

For example, he asked me in depth about my friends, and when I mentioned one was Asian, he immediately remarked that "she must have been very hardworking and good at science".

Again, he might have just been trying to be complimentary in a wierd way. While that's stereotypical, it's not insulting. Out of curiousity, when asked about your friends, why did you feel it necessary to say "one was Asian?" When asked about my friends, their race never comes up.

The bit about the other interviewer's name being "All-American" was a bit wierd, granted.

Unless you've got the interview taped, it's a he-said/she-said thing (especially if you get rejected) and it's pretty pointless to pursue it. That having been said - and I'm not fan of excessive government regulation - perhaps it's time for a law which forced companies and institutions of higher learning to preserve on tape employment and admissions interviews. If credit card companies do it when you call for customer service, surely this is something that is within the realm of feasibility.

 

[QofQuimica]

cfdavid: I don't think that you are a "pansy". lol. It would make me uncomfortable, too. I've lived in the South most of my life, and I'm certainly not surprised by the revelation that various people I run into are extremely religious. But I'm not religious. I never have been, and now, at 30, I don't see it happening. And since I'm not going to change the religious person's mind, and s/he isn't going to change mine, why even discuss it? Still, I don't think that anyone can fault you for being open-minded. I think we can all agree that doctors ought to be free to follow their conscience, and that they should abide by their personal convictions. This may lead some to refuse to see patients who want to have abortions, but others to be, well, open-minded about it.

To the OP: I agree that you should not do anything about your, ahem, unusual interviewer. There's no way that any of us can know his motives for acting as he did, and what good can you really accomplish by reporting him? Even if he IS biased, his bias seems to be pro-Asian, which works in your favor. I'd agree that he was wrong to make you uncomfortable, but you have to pick your battles, and this isn't one that's worth fighting.

To all: I guess the best thing that can come from these kinds of stories is that all of us will hopefully remember this discomfort when and if we get into a position where we are the interviewers rather than the interviewees.

 

[MoosePilot]

Some of these may be accidental, but I'm certain some of the interviewers are succeeding in doing just what they intend - making you uncomfortable to see how you'll react.

 

[aprilshyla]

One of my friends is an Iraqi. He got asked whether he was a Christian or a Muslim. When he said neither, all shot to hell. He later assumed it was a stress interview cuz the questions were just utterly ridiculous.

However your situation kind of rubs me the wrong way (heh) cuz none of the stuff seemed extraneously ridiculous like my friend had. I know a lot of people commented about how a "positive stereotype" is not as bad as a "negative stereotype," but understand that this is actually a huge politcal issue in the Asian and Asian-American community, who is seen as the "model minority." There are a series of serious problems with this view of Asians (oh, its just in your genes to be smart! But he's not a smart asian, wtf, he must be lazy.), and it would do us all well to be at least aware of this sensitivity, whatever your views may be.

None of these comments that you got were outrageously offensive, but I can understand perfectly how they could have made you uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I don't really know what advice to give you because I also would have no idea what to do in that situation. The "stick-it-to-the-man" in me wants me to tell you to call the dean and explain your situation, but the "I-really-want-to-get-into-med-school" part of me wants to tell you to just blow it off. I don't know, dood. I think maybe wait until the end of this process, and then when you are deciding where you really want to go, let that be a factor in your decision. And when you either accept or reject them, I think it's appropriate for you to then bring it up with the dean.

 

[MoosePilot]

One of my friends is an Iraqi. He got asked whether he was a Christian or a Muslim. When he said neither, all shot to hell. He later assumed it was a stress interview cuz the questions were just utterly ridiculous.

However your situation kind of rubs me the wrong way (heh) cuz none of the stuff seemed extraneously ridiculous like my friend had. I know a lot of people commented about how a "positive stereotype" is not as bad as a "negative stereotype," but understand that this is actually a huge politcal issue in the Asian and Asian-American community, who is seen as the "model minority." There are a series of serious problems with this view of Asians (oh, its just in your genes to be smart! But he's not a smart asian, wtf, he must be lazy.), and it would do us all well to be at least aware of this sensitivity, whatever your views may be.

None of these comments that you got were outrageously offensive, but I can understand perfectly how they could have made you uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I don't really know what advice to give you because I also would have no idea what to do in that situation. The "stick-it-to-the-man" in me wants me to tell you to call the dean and explain your situation, but the "I-really-want-to-get-into-med-school" part of me wants to tell you to just blow it off. I don't know, dood. I think maybe wait until the end of this process, and then when you are deciding where you really want to go, let that be a factor in your decision. And when you either accept or reject them, I think it's appropriate for you to then bring it up with the dean.

Remember, too, that it might just be one interviewer. If you get rejected, that might be time to bring it up.

I can totally understand any stereotype being offensive. I just don't think anyone is giving enough credit to the thought that an interviewer might take a position they don't really believe in order to be offensive in order to cause stress in order to evaluate how you deal with stress. Not ever interviewee is going to be stressed enough and there are only so many ways to stress you. I don't know if I agree with that technique, but I can see why an interviewer might choose to do it.

 

[aprilshyla]

Remember, too, that it might just be one interviewer. If you get rejected, that might be time to bring it up.

I can totally understand any stereotype being offensive. I just don't think anyone is giving enough credit to the thought that an interviewer might take a position they don't really believe in order to be offensive in order to cause stress in order to evaluate how you deal with stress. Not ever interviewee is going to be stressed enough and there are only so many ways to stress you. I don't know if I agree with that technique, but I can see why an interviewer might choose to do it.

I completely agree. And just for peace of conscience, it would be nice to know whether it was just a stress interview or ignorance.

 

[MoosePilot]

I completely agree. And just for peace of conscience, it would be nice to know whether it was just a stress interview or ignorance.

Oh, yeah. I mean I would completely judge a school differently if they're choosing interviewers (who are after all one of their ambassadors to a group they're trying to impress) who are such blatant racists that they say something racist to a member of the particular minority during an interview without it being an interview tactic. That's downright "Deliverance".

 

[Law2Doc]

You've heard of stress interviews? The point may very well be to make you uncomfortable. What if the interviewer wants to see how you'll balance the feeling of being offended with the feeling of wanting to please the interviewer?

While I'm certainly not a stranger to stress interviews, and think they are probably a useful tool to determine who has the temperment to handle the stress inherent in medicine, I seriously doubt that an interviewer would make comments and ask questions that are borderline illegal. (It is illegal to ask questions relating to ethnicity, national origin, age, marital status etc.) Thus I doubt that is what was occurring here. More likely he was just being stupid and just didn't comprehend how his "complimentary" statements would be taken.

 

[MoosePilot]

While I'm certainly not a stranger to stress interviews, and think they are probably a useful tool to determine who has the temperment to handle the stress inherent in medicine, I seriously doubt that an interviewer would make comments and ask questions that are borderline illegal. (It is illegal to ask questions relating to ethnicity, national origin, age, marital status etc.) Thus I doubt that is what was occurring here. More likely he was just being stupid and just didn't comprehend how his "complimentary" statements would be taken.

Is it illegal? I see from your screenname that you have experience in this area, can you explain?

 

[ekimsurfer]

ah... how PC we all have come.

i hope to god taht none of you get accepted, and if you do get accepted, i hope you live miserable lives.

stop reading into everything and realize that not everything is some plot by the Man to get on your minority ass. i mean you want to talk travesty... look at the difference in scores of the white male and how much harder he has to work... that's a travesty.

so in retrospect, suck it.

 

[aprilshyla]

ah... how PC we all have come.

i hope to god taht none of you get accepted, and if you do get accepted, i hope you live miserable lives.

stop reading into everything and realize that not everything is some plot by the Man to get on your minority ass. i mean you want to talk travesty... look at the difference in scores of the white male and how much harder he has to work... that's a travesty.

so in retrospect, suck it.

oo ooo oo! ekimsurfer, thanks for letting me do it again!

😀

 

[ekimsurfer]

oo ooo oo! ekimsurfer, thanks for letting me do it again!

😀

why must you be so racist... you are obviously making bigotted gestures about the white midgets of the world!!!

woe-is-me!!

 

[aprilshyla]

why must you be so racist... you are obviously making bigotted gestures about the white midgets of the world!!!

woe-is-me!!

LOL! (dood, i actually did lol on that one). nice.

 

[visualwealth]

It is quite obvious that positive sterotypes can in fact be negative. That is, not all cubans can swim, not all black people are athletic, not all jews care only about money etc etc !! Sterotyping is wrong and, it puts the person you are talking about in an uncomfortable position especially if they don't have the " skill/desire" they are stereotyped to have.

 

[constructor]

stereotyping... like... sucks... and stuff... yeah.

 

[MoosePilot]

It is quite obvious that positive sterotypes can in fact be negative. That is, not all cubans can swim, not all black people are athletic, not all jews care only about money etc etc !! Sterotyping is wrong and, it puts the person you are talking about in an uncomfortable position especially if they don't have the " skill/desire" they are stereotyped to have.

How is caring only about money a positive stereotype?

 

[Medikit]

How is caring only about money a positive stereotype?

Yeah that one had me confused. Plus the Cubans comment isn't about swimming, it's about Cubans being illegal immigrants, so it's also a negative stereotype.

 

[vhawk]

But saying black people are wicked awesome dancers is still positive, right?

😱

 

[Law2Doc]

Is it illegal? I see from your screenname that you have experience in this area, can you explain?

They would certainly be illegal in a job interview setting. Not sure about med school application interviews, but I had heard and assumed they abided by the same rules. (If not, the same questions definitely are going to be illegal in the residency interview setting). For good articles on illegal job interview questions, check out the below links. Hope that helps.

http://www.collegegrad.com/jobsearch/16-31.shtml

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/interview/...1118-1632.html?subtopic=Interview+Preparation

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Some of you people seem to be over-reacting. It probably was an innocent statement/question just trying to test out your reactions. I think you're looking way too much into it.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

To the OP: maybe in a case of positive stereotyping, I would just laugh off the "smart" or "hardworking" part. I would challenge the "all-American" part, if you are indeed American, and especially if you, or even your parents, were born here.

That said, a friend of mine was interviewed several years ago and was asked questions along the lines of "would you be able to get along with members of ______ ethnicity at our school?," since members of my friend's ethnicity and this other ethnicity were at war. Anyway, he swallowed it and didn't get in, although he was fully qualified.

In a situation like that, I would definitely challenge it and say something like "I hope I am not being discriminated against for my ethnicity" - that sets off alarm bells vis-a-vis discrimination, and could actually help your application more than being bashed for your ethnicity and taking it. Just make sure you don't explode in the interviewers face - but do set him straight!

 

[capybara]

They would certainly be illegal in a job interview setting. Not sure about med school application interviews, but I had heard and assumed they abided by the same rules. (If not, the same questions definitely are going to be illegal in the residency interview setting). For good articles on illegal job interview questions, check out the below links. Hope that helps.

Thanks everyone for your comments and support. It's been really a consolation to hear the advice and stories of all of you. Part of the reason I was so surprised about the interview was that I've been to many job interviews, and they were never remotely like this one. It made me wonder if med school interviews were subject to the same boundaries. I'm guessing they're not, but they really should be.

I wanted to provide more details than I had the time to do yesterday. I would love to think that it was a stress interview, but the interviewer was unfailingly friendly. He said nothing outrageous. He was just very nosy (and i felt, improper). He asked me if my parents were overprotective. I explained that they were not, and that they wanted me to make my own decisions. But he seemed fixated on that and later he would ask me if my parents had "made" me do this or that. He asked me where my parents lived, and upon finding out that they lived near the med school, he made me swear that I wouldn't live with them to "save money" if I came to the school. I told him such an idea had never crossed my mind, which was the truth, but he was skeptical. His whole line of questioning seemed to betray a preconceived conception of me as a penny-pinching, naive, overprotected little girl who'd been pressured by her parents since infancy. I wouldn't bring race or gender into it at all, except I doubt I would have been subjected to the same line of questioning if I were a male of another ethnicity. However valiantly I protested, I was unable to sway his opinion of me.

In terms of personal questions, he asked my WHY my sibling wasn't married after college and graduate school. I told the interviewer he sounded like my mother, and that my sibling had been focusing on his career. I just feel questions like these have no place in a professional school interview. Why should med schools have different standards than corporate America? Attributes such as compassion and commitment to service can be determined without these kinds of questions.

But coming back to the issue of "what to do". The school gave feedback forms in which we could describe our interview experience. I've thought about several courses of action:

1) Mail in the feedback form, detailing the situation. It's doubtful, however, that the school would do anything about it. This guy has been on the adcom for decades. If I do this, I would have to decide whether to do it anonymously or leave some way for them to contact me (or both). As others have suggested, it would probably hurt more than help if they knew who I was.
2) Call up the admissions office and hint at the situation. See what sort of response I get. The riskiest approach.
3) Just let it go for now. Maybe let the dean know after I find out the result.

I'm leaning towards option three, based on people's suggestions. I do feel like something really needs to be done about these interviews, in general. Schools really need to give stricter directions to their interviewers about appropriate and inappropriate lines of questioning. I feel sorry for those here who were asked about things like religion/ethnicity and sexual mores in the first few minutes of their interviews. It's just really inappropriate.

 

[dmk724]

unfortunately then i'd say do nothing. it's not worth risking them holding it against you even if you are right. If you didn't care about the school and were more concerned about rendering ramifications of his actions, then i'd advice going ahead and reporting it. Right now you have too much to lose.

This is what bothers me about the medical profession. There is so much fear about losing one's position, sabotaging chances at promotions, etc, that people never open their mouths even when they witness something terrible happen. This example is relatively minor, but if the OP honestly feels that something was a little "off" about the interview, than she should definitely say something. It starts at the admissions level, but I really think that it has to stop. I think that I'm lucky to go to a school, and work with an admissions board, that seems to feel the same way.

I think that the last idea works well - wait until you hear from the school, and then mention that, although the rest of the interview day was wonderful, your interviewer said some things that bothered you. I, personally, might say something now. My reasoning is that, if they let an interviewer treat you like this, then how do you know that the entire school faculty isn't like this? But that's my take on it. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[indo]

It was probably a test to see if you had the huevos to say something about the interviewer's comments.

 

[Rankled Boar]

ah... how PC we all have come.
stop reading into everything and realize that not everything is some plot by the Man to get on your minority ass. i mean you want to talk travesty... look at the difference in scores of the white male and how much harder he has to work... that's a travesty.

Not sure how the travesty applies in this situation given that OP is an ORM rather than an URM. Correct me if I'm wrong but the general consensus seems to be that ORMs are taking URMs places, and thus ORMs are the first to go, even befoer the 'white male.'

 

[CarleneM]

Since you have the option to send the anonymous form in, I would do that. Maybe it won't make a difference but you never know. If a few people write in saying similar things about this interviewer, maybe they would speak to him. What can it hurt and it will make you feel better, i would think, to express to the school your thoughts. Keep it polite and professional of course but get your point across.. it doesn't sound like this was a stress interview. it sounds like this guy was a real piece of work. i mean the all american comment is weird and harping you about your brother not being married? ridiculous and totally irrelevant to your application.

Since it sounds like this interviewer really didn't focus on questions relevant to your qualifications i would be proactive and send an update letter expressing current projects and what you liked about the school/why you'd be such an awesome fit. Attach a CV if you have one. Do anything to make yourself shine because it doesn't sound like this interviewer will be a very good advocate for you come decision time. I did this for u of chicago when i had a really terrible (in a different way) interview with a man who seemed totally uninterested in conducting the interview. we'll see if it works...