<p>And his wife is not an alum of that college and in fact has no relationship with the college, only with him. I do not believe he is disabled or otherwise needs assistance, or that she takes notes for him.</p>
<p>What’s your reaction to that? Am I just being weird to find that odd? (And the fact that the student was not asked if it was all right with her, merely that he announced it as a matter of fact.)</p>
<p>It seems to me that adds a stranger into the picture.</p>
<p>You’re talking about a college interviewer, right?</p>
<p>Your post is very vague. I had to read it multiple times…</p>
<p>While it may seem unusual, there really isn’t anything “bad” about it. Did he indicate that she would participate in the interview? Or just sit quietly at the table or somewhere else? </p>
<p>There may be a logical reason that she comes along for the ride, but it would seem really odd if she actively participated in the interview.</p>
<p>LOL, “your post is very vague.” Are we not on a College Discussion forum? In my 9+ years of being on the forum, I have yet to be accused of writing “vague” posts, even though I’ve been accused of less alarming behaviors. 
</p>
<p>College interviews anyone? :D</p>
<p>By your use of “her” presumably the student is female.</p>
<p>The interviewer may prefer to bring his wife along so that no one can question what happens between him and a young lady who he has not met in person before. Terribly Georgette Heyer perhaps, but something to bear in mind.</p>
<p>^^^ding ding ding Betcha that is EXACTLY why she comes along. Same reason a lot of alum interviewers meet students (male or female) only in public places.</p>
<p>Alternative: It may be that the spouse needs to do the driving for medical reasons a student doesn’t know about (and is none of the student’s business). There are a lot of illnesses and conditions that are invisible to others, but are VERY real to the person dealing with them. (I am one of those folks with invisible conditions.)</p>
<p>Thanks to CountingDiown and Happymom for figuring out the obvious. Duh! (Ding-ding indeed!) My isn’t some self slow. Or, it merely reflects my lack of jadedness. Gosh, what a world: A public interview, cleared by an Ivy League U, needs a witness. So sad, but unfortunately probably so true. <sigh></sigh></p>
<p>There have been threads about this before. I can understand wanting a spouse visible so no one accuses a man of trying anything funny with a young girl at his home, but in a public place?? That’s bizarre. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what Ivy League U has to do with it, though. It’s not as though Ivy League status precludes one from trying something funny. (The odds are quite low, of course - but whether it’s Ivy doesn’t offer any more protection than East Nowheresville State U.) </p>
<p>“Alternative: It may be that the spouse needs to do the driving for medical reasons a student doesn’t know about (and is none of the student’s business). There are a lot of illnesses and conditions that are invisible to others, but are VERY real to the person dealing with them. (I am one of those folks with invisible conditions.)”</p>
<p>While the concern about a false accusation may be likely, I was thinking it was either something above or maybe dealing with some other logistics. </p>
<p>My mom did all the driving after my dad’s driving abilities worsened. Some people have “night blindness” or other health reasons that affect driving.</p>
<p>And some people have silent medical conditions (taking anti-seizure meds for example) that render them unable to drive- either permanently or temporarily. It seems silly to make a big deal out of what seems to be a non-issue.</p>
<p>I have co-workers who will not go to lunch with a member of the opposite sex unless a third person is present. I find it ridiculous, but evidently their spouses don’t. They won’t even walk down the street for a cup of coffee without a “chaperone”. That’s just the way some people (or their spouses) are.</p>
<p>
I agree with PG that I don’t see what Iv League U has anything to do it, and I also want to point out colleges do not “clear” their interviewers. They do not do background check on their interviewers and they are not responsible for their interviewers’ behavior. </p>
<p>Did the wife sit beside her husband and listen to the interview? That would be a little weird for the kid - perhaps a bit off-putting. </p>
<p>I can totally understand if he needs driving help but she could certainly wait somewhere else. And, if they are meeting in a public place, I don’t really get the need for a “chaperone”. But, again, she could sit at a different table and still “watch” them without sitting there. </p>
<p>If they were meeting at a public place, and the wife needed to drive her husband for medical reasons, presumably she’d be sitting elsewhere, so there would be little need to mention it to the student. Just like I drove my kids to interviews, but I waited in the car elsewhere. It sounds so though the wife is going to sit there, which isn’t appropriate IMO. </p>
<p>Another thought that comes to mind is religious reasons. Some religious groups would frown on men associating casually with women in certain situations. This looks like a male interviewer with a young woman, and while there is nothing technically wrong with this, the interviewer may feel more comfortable setting that boundary. </p>
<p>If a man chose to bring his wife to an interview, this is what I would assume. In fact, it may make the young lady more comfortable to have a woman present.</p>
<p><a href=“Do I allow my daughter to go to the home of Ivy alumnus to be interviewed? - #271 by jym626 - Parents Forum - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/855533-do-i-allow-my-daughter-to-go-to-the-home-of-ivy-alumnus-to-be-interviewed-p19.html</a></p>
<p>With this new format, I’m not sure where in the thread I’m landing, but this had relevant discussions about interviewing in public places vs not. </p>
<p>My mind instantly went to the “opposite gender interviewer being alone with the interviewee” scenario. I have probably done too many youth protection classes for coaching soccer and Boy Scouts but the number one rule is always- never be alone with a child. It’s for the protection of both parties really- no funny stuff going on and no false accusations of such. </p>
<p>No brainer. The interviewer brings his wife to protect himself from false accusations. Better safe than sorry…</p>
<p>I’m not sure why having the wife come along is a problem…regardless of the reason.</p>
<p>In a private home, I could get it. In a public place, that’s strange. </p>