<p>I had my alumni interview last week and it didn’t quite go as well as I had hoped it would.</p>
<p>Most of it was quite general, he asked about my interests and hobbies, etc. But it got sticky when we got to politics. I’m heavily involved with an advocate group for women’s rights and such, he took an issue with feminism and really challenged me on my views and beliefs. I defended myself and I made sure to be polite the whole way through, but I could see it written clear as day on his face that he did not like, let alone agree with, a single thing that came out of my mouth. At one point he dismissively waved his hand when I was talking about increasing sentences for people who physically abuse women.</p>
<p>It got quite…heated and I could easily see that he was not, let’s say, taken with me.</p>
<p>I’ve been known as an interviewer to challenge the applicants on political matters, if they claim particular interest in/passion for a political issue. Sometimes I challenge simply as “devil’s advocate” and sometimes I actually disagree with the applicant. Either way, I’m measuring the depth of the applicant’s interest and the ability to articulate his/her views, not whether I agree or disagree with the views. I’d be very surprised that this interviewer was doing something different.</p>
<p>Let me add that especially where issues relate to feminism (and I assume you are female), I would think most male interiewers would be extra-careful to avoid issues of sexism and the like. This makes me think he was just challenging you to assess you – otherwise, do you think he thinks people who physically abuse women should not be punished (strikes me as unlikely)?</p>
<p>There are a few troglodytes on women’s rights, alas, even here. It sounds like you got one of them as your alumni interviewer. The interview is by far the least important part of the application, but if he tries to ding you for being a feminist, the admissions committee might even take that as a positive.</p>
<p>Even if he truly was the jerk he made himself out to be, your application is WAY WAY WAY more important than your interview, so I wouldn’t worry :)</p>
<p>Thank you, guys! That’s very reassuring to hear.</p>
<p>@csgnyc, Your comments really gave me the most peace and, in retrospect, I can see that that was what my interviewer was doing. Well, I’m reasonably certain that that was what he was doing.</p>