I disagree @mathmom. I think the average interview simply has little effect on the outcome. The OP cited an earlier thread on the parents’ forum that’s now been deleted. It discussed an article by a blogger, Ben Orlin, a teacher in England, who said he quit, in frustration, his role as a volunteer alum interviewer for Yale. In his article, he cited how little he felt his interview write ups could actually affect the outcome and other criticisms of top school admissions.
While I reject the author’s ultimate rationale and decision to stop interviewing, I concur with the fact that most interviews sway little. But for me, that’s not the point (which I’ll discuss further).
At a school like Yale, let’s assume that applicants are sorted into four groups:
- 100% slam dunks: super athletes, super development kids, major celebrities, super genius kids, etc. (very very few)
- extremely notable applicants – clearly superior even in the ultra competitive Yale applicant pool. These kids go to committee and get haggled over, eventually comprising the bulk of the admitted kids, and some get offered the wait list (small percentage)
- solid applicants – but lacking the extra attention grab of kids in pile 2 (vast majority)
- zero chancers – kids clearly outside the academic range and possessing forgettable attributes (small percentage)
Right off the bat, I assert that the interviews for kids in groups 1, 3 & 4 will have zero effect on the application outcome. 1s are basically guaranteed offers. 3 & 4 are eliminated based upon early app appraisals. I assert that interviews have meaning only for those truly on the fence – those in my hypothetical 2nd group.
What this also means for the alumni corps is that the VAST majority of their write ups will mean little. It takes an alum to have his/her eyes focused on the bigger picture to not fall into the miasma that seems to have overtaken Ben Orlin. I’ve interviewed and recruited for over 25 years for Yale; I’ve shared why my energy hasn’t waned. Firstly, I do it because I’m acting as additional eyes and ears for Yale.
Let me share this story: A few years ago, two extraordinary applications were submitted by young men in the very large, but poorly resourced, urban school district in our region. On initial read, Yale liked what it saw – but one aspect was missing: the teacher recs weren’t what the committee had hoped – not sufficient to decide yes/no. Not that the recs weren’t supportive – they were. But as often is the case with schools who don’t send kids to higher tiered colleges, the recs, while filled with praise, were formulaic and contained bromides. This isn’t uncommon and the committee decided to defer its decision. Later, when 2 extremely supportive alumni write-ups were rec’d, which certified the applicant’s superior academic potential and depth – it was all that was required for the committee to push forward an “accept” recommendation for both young men – the alumni action was heavily weighted in this circumstance.
Of course I’m aware that the numbers are against any single individual. But I interview because it also serves a purpose to (hopefully) be a positive interaction between the applicant and a live Yalie. Given the randomized nature of interview assignments, I have almost no insight on the kid’s chances before I meet him or her. I’ve had wonderful meetings with many rejected kids. I’ve had even poor meetings with accepted kids. But I want to be a good ambassador for Yale, regardless of the one individual I meet over coffee/hot chocolate. It’s PR, clearly – but for the student: not for me. After all, some do get in – and then we actively court them to choose Yale. Can’t do that if we’ve been snobs to them during the interview.
Finally, I do it b/c I enjoy meeting these striving students. Sure a dud gets thrown in occasionally but I genuinely enjoy them overall. The trap I refuse to let myself fall into is that of being some sort of personal advocate for any single student per se. It’d be unusual not to root for the super likeable/accomplished ones. But when I meet the admitted students at our spring reception, my confidence in Yale’s choice is boosted once again.