I applied ED1 to Emory and I just got an email today for an alumni interview. He is only available on the 26th and 27th of this month, and I can’t go to either one because I already have a trip planned.
Although he mentioned that it might be difficult to meet because of thanksgiving and early decision admission notifications just right around the corner, would it look bad if I decline an interview?
It would be better if you express interest in rescheduling the interview, interviewing by phone, or Skyping, if the interviewer is amenable to any of these alternatives. Make the effort to attempt to make an interview work, and the interviewer can see and communicate that you are truly interested in the school (and value the opportunity to speak with the interviewer).
Tell him you are out of town and unavailable for those two days. Declining without a legit reason isn’t good. You have a legit reason and he’s only given you a tiny set of options.
It is fine to tell him/her you are away for the Thanksgiving weekend but I’d also ask if there are other options. If the interviewer can’t offer other dates, you may want to email your admissions counselor at Emory and let him/her know the situation (just state facts – don’t sound like you are complaining – keep in mind that alumni interviewers are volunteers) and ask if another interviewer in your area might have time available other than during the holiday weekend.
If you are away, you are away. Explain this to the interviewer and cc the rep in the email. Ask if Skype or FaceTime are options. They won’t hold it against you if there isn’t another opportunity. Not every accepted student will be interviewed. It’s you making the effort that will be remembered.
Remember - Google Is Your Friend & RELAX! No big deal - Per the Emory website, interviews are NOT REQUIRED.
“An interview is not required for admission to Emory College or Oxford College. The lack of an interview will not adversely affect an applicant’s chance for admission, as many successful applicants will not be invited to interview.”
Duke inteviewer here. Although most schools websites say the interview is ‘optional’, if you are offered an interview and decline, it doesn’t look good.
Try to find some way to make it work. The interview doesn’t count for a whole lot, but declining the interview makes you look uninterested.
Declining an interview with a valid reason, which is the case here, would not be held against the OP., IMO. While the OP can ask for alternate dates or ask for a phone/Skype interview, there should be no expectation that s/he needs to “make it work” beyond that if the only option is Thanksgiving weekend.
In Op’s shoes, I would listen to @T26E4 , who has been interviewing for an Ivy college for many years. @sgopal2 , I think that is downright unfair. Really, you would hold it against someone who was out of town on the only weekend they were offered an interview? Duke’s website states virtually the same thing as in post #5 above.
Life is not fair. This level of detail (that the interviewer only offered 2 dates which happen to be on Tgiving weekend) is probably NOT going to make it to the admissions file.
So what is left is that the admissions officer will see that the student was offered an interview and then declined. What is he/she to decide of this? Probably not a whole lot. In my past 10+ years interviewing, every single student who I offered an interview and declined was rejected. Committee deliberations are not about the facts. Instead they are about ‘gut-feel’ and other subjective BS. Declining an interview can go a long way to tilt the scale during a heated committee discussion.
Instead of going by “opinions”, best would be to contact the admissions officer responsible for the area and explain the situation and ask for his / her inputs. Explaining to the interviewer is also important.
I have not applied to Duke, but the last time I contacted the AO via email, I received a prompt response.
People declining interview being rejected is most likely a coincidence. People who have been interviewed also get declined (>90% of them, in fact).
In my write ups for an interview that didn’t take place, I would be requested to fill out the following for my college:
“Can you please tell us why were you unable to meet this applicant? Please clarify if the applicant was unresponsive to communications or if the applicant declined the interview. It is also important to share how you attempted to contact applicant or his or her reasons for declining the interview.”
If Emory has any logic and this interviewer is worth his/her salt, then the correct scenario will be conveyed to Emory. Geez – there’s enough craziness and fear and rumors that ooze all over this site that makes these kids nuts. Let’s not add to this with unfounded speculation.
As has been mentioned here a couple of times the OP can take control of the the situation by emailing his/her admission rep to explain the conflict and ask if another interviewer might have more availability. That way the (very reasonable) reason for declining the interview will be documented,
Thanks for the input guys. I emailed him about my situation and he was cool with it; he even acknowledged that he completely understands due to the short time frame.
@anxiousteen - thank you for the update. That seems like a very decent interviewer who - unlike some others - is reasonable and is not vindictive.