Waitlisted - ask for a second interview?

[AnonGuyisAnon]

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Hey all,

I had an interesting situation happen at an interview at my top choice school. My first interviewer of the day forgot he was supposed to interview me and was 45 mins late to the interview. This meant that (A) my first interview ended up getting cut short (was only a 20 min interview and was supposed to be an hour) (B) I was late for my second interview (C) My second interview was cut short and (D) I never quite recovered from the nervousness of my first interviewer being late, which made me nervous/do a less than stellar job on both interviews. I've interviewed at several other schools and have been accepted at all of them except this one, so its not a "nerves" or general interviewing skills problem that got me waitlisted.

Since this was my top choice, do you think I could contact the admissions office of that school, explain my concerns, and then ask for another interview? How receptive are schools to problems like this? Will this make them view me negatively for trying to "blame" my waitlist on this problem? What do you folks think?

 

[NickNaylor]

You should've told someone at the admissions office the day of the interview about what happened. They likely would've been able to get another interviewer in for you (or otherwise make a note of the problem).

Since that didn't happen, you can try and send them an email, but I doubt it'll do much good. You should've tried to take care of it before you received your decision. At this point it just looks like you're making excuses.

 

[4ksibe]

Hey all,

I had an interesting situation happen at an interview at my top choice school. My first interviewer of the day forgot he was supposed to interview me and was 45 mins late to the interview. This meant that (A) my first interview ended up getting cut short (was only a 20 min interview and was supposed to be an hour) (B) I was late for my second interview (C) My second interview was cut short and (D) I never quite recovered from the nervousness of my first interviewer being late, which made me nervous/do a less than stellar job on both interviews. I've interviewed at several other schools and have been accepted at all of them except this one, so its not a "nerves" or general interviewing skills problem that got me waitlisted.

Since this was my top choice, do you think I could contact the admissions office of that school, explain my concerns, and then ask for another interview? How receptive are schools to problems like this? Will this make them view me negatively for trying to "blame" my waitlist on this problem? What do you folks think?

At this point im not sure it can hurt you but is that even accepted? a second interview? well you can try... are you gonna tell them that you got accepted at other skuls thats how you know you got good interview skillz? wouldnt they just tell you to matriculate at thos other skuls? well on the other opposite end they could see it as strong interest !!?!! We are not adcomms and cant really tell you what they will think but its a risk and if you are willing to take it good luck to you.

 

[AnonGuyisAnon]

You should've told someone at the admissions office the day of the interview about what happened. They likely would've been able to get another interviewer in for you (or otherwise make a note of the problem).

Since that didn't happen, you can try and send them an email, but I doubt it'll do much good. You should've tried to take care of it before you received your decision. At this point it just looks like you're making excuses.

I actually called them and told them that my interviewer was late on my interview day, so they knew that it happened. The only thing they did for me was notify my second interviewer that I would be late and that it was by no fault of my own. So they knew about the issue - and now I believe that my interviews were the reason for my waitlist. What would you recommend I do? Talk to their dean of admissions and explain the situation and ask him for recommendations on how to proceed? I could explain to him that I feel the problem that occurred during my interview didn't allow me to put my best foot forward and ask him if they would be willing to give me a second interview or reconsider my application with that in mind? Would that be appropriate?

 

[4ksibe]

I actually called them and told them that my interviewer was late on my interview day, so they knew that it happened. The only thing they did for me was notify my second interviewer that I would be late and that it was by no fault of my own. So they knew about the issue - and now I believe that my interviews were the reason for my waitlist. What would you recommend I do? Talk to their dean of admissions and explain the situation and ask him for recommendations on how to proceed? I could explain to him that I feel the problem that occurred during my interview didn't allow me to put my best foot forward and ask him if they would be willing to give me a second interview or reconsider my application with that in mind? Would that be appropriate?

If they took not of it, they likely considered it when reviewing your file, the first interviewer might have included it on his report of the interview (if he is nice) but saying that your interview got you WL to the dean might be risky and you are not 100% sure that was the issue. You might wanna ask maybe if that is possible this early in the process y you got WL if it is the interview then you can explain.

 

[NickNaylor]

That's pretty surprising actually. In that case I would definitely send an e-mail to the dean of admissions. I still don't think much will happen, but it's worth a shot. Or you can play the dice and hope you get off the waitlist.

This probably doesn't happen often, so who knows what's "appropriate." I know I would be pissed and would talk to people about it, though.

 

[4ksibe]

That's pretty surprising actually. In that case I would definitely send an e-mail to the dean of admissions. I still don't think much will happen, but it's worth a shot. Or you can play the dice and hope you get off the waitlist.

This probably doesn't happen often, so who knows what's "appropriate." I know I would be pissed and would talk to people about it, though.

A number of interviewers are late to their interviews. with my few interviews I have had interviewers who were either late or had to shorten the interview cuz they had something important to do ...whether they forgot about it when they agreed to interview idk but it happens

 

[NickNaylor]

A number of interviewers are late to their interviews. with my few interviews I have had interviewers who were either late or had to shorten the interview cuz they had something important to do ...whether they forgot about it when they agreed to interview idk but it happens

Being late for an interview is one thing. Everyone deals with that. Being 45 minutes late is quite another and completely screws up your interview day.

 

[juliedi]

OP, I'd say you might as well try calling/emailing them. The worst thing that could happen is they say no.

 

[Asyouwereatrio]

Being late for an interview is one thing. Everyone deals with that. Being 45 minutes late is quite another and completely screws up your interview day.

I've had an interviewer 30 minutes to my interview and it didn't screw up my day, but that might've been because it was one interview and it was the last time slot (we didn't make up time for it even though it was late afternoon).

Unfortunately, I think there is much more to the admissions decisions process than we'd like to think. Even though the interviews were cut short, it's completely possible it was all taken into consideration during their decision-making process.

That being said, I'd encourage you to write a letter to the office (typed and snail-mailed if possible) officially informing them of the circumstances and that you'd love to have the chance to matriculate at this school (IE: letter of intent).

I wouldn't necessarily ask for a second interview, because that makes you look like you're assuming that it's just the interview that made them WL you, and that makes you look pretentious.

 

[Onres]

Hey all,

I had an interesting situation happen at an interview at my top choice school. My first interviewer of the day forgot he was supposed to interview me and was 45 mins late to the interview. This meant that (A) my first interview ended up getting cut short (was only a 20 min interview and was supposed to be an hour) (B) I was late for my second interview (C) My second interview was cut short and (D) I never quite recovered from the nervousness of my first interviewer being late, which made me nervous/do a less than stellar job on both interviews. I've interviewed at several other schools and have been accepted at all of them except this one, so its not a "nerves" or general interviewing skills problem that got me waitlisted.

Since this was my top choice, do you think I could contact the admissions office of that school, explain my concerns, and then ask for another interview? How receptive are schools to problems like this? Will this make them view me negatively for trying to "blame" my waitlist on this problem? What do you folks think?

I would contact them by email. You may say things inappropriately over the phone, but you can always revise an email before you send it.

You owe it to yourself to contact them. This is one of those situations in which you really can't lose by trying, but you could potentially lose the opportunity to be accepted if you don't try.

Good luck, I hope it works out.

 

[IlDestriero]

You're going about this entirely the wrong way. Don't whine about the interviews, someone being late, the wait list, etc. They know that you've gotten into other schools. Email the Dean of Admissions and explain why they are your first choice, why their curriculum, location, special programs, etc. are a perfect fit for you and why you will thrive there.
Positive NOT negative.
Saying your interviewer couldn't properly evaluate you in the time allotted, and that you were wait listed because of it, is presumptuous at best. It will not go over well.
You're welcome.

 

[UbuntuGM]

yes. Do not complain about your interviewer. even if the adcom cared, would you honestly expect them to move around everyone else's time slots and go through the trouble finding new interviewers for you despite the fact that your app has already been looked over?