Yale Interviews

As we head into interviewing season, I wanted to share my experience as a Yale interviewer for over 25 years. Others are welcome to supplement their experience here or post questions they may have. A good place for any candidates to start is the podcast on interviews https://admissions.yale.edu/podcast-transcripts#Interviews

What does getting an interview mean?

Yale has in recent years limited the number of interviews granted. The official position is they conduct interviews for students for whom they need more information/context. There are students who get in without interviews and most of the students who get interviews do not get in. However, given that Yale now prescreens applications https://admissions.yale.edu/podcast-transcripts#reloaded, if you get an interview, you have made it past the prescreens. There are about 9,000 reports submitted annually, so getting an interview means you are at least part of 9,000± applicants still in the running for 2,200± spots. Don’t give up hope if you didn’t get an interview, but understand your chances were less than 5-6% to begin with.

What do Interviewers look for?

We are able to conduct interviews however we want, but the AO has asked us to look for several traits:

  • Intellectual strengths/energy. Was this person thoughtful, insightful on complex topics?
  • Academic interest. We look at depth and breadth of interest. Breadth is important because one thing that is asked is if this person will make good use of a liberal arts education.
  • Flexibility/openness in thinking. How receptive is the person to differing viewpoints and opinions.
  • Expressive abilities. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
  • Nonacademic interests. How committed are they to their EC’s. How will they contribute to the Yale community outside of being a student. I always consider empathy and willingness to give to others (would include own family).
  • Personal qualities. How do they engage with other people, quiet/shy, assertive, friendly, easy natural interactions?
  • Distinctive, unusual talents or circumstances.

Note, we are not given a resume of the student or any stats. We are given their indicated area of interest. The AO’s are not interested in us getting a list of awards/achievements since that is already in the application. They want to know level of commitment and interest.

What happens at an interview?

A live interview with an alumni should occur in a public place, such as a Starbucks. Interviews should not take place in the interviewer’s home or office. If you are uncomfortable with the venue, suggest somewhere you would be comfortable. Interviews with Yale students and AO’s (and some alums) will be virtual unless conducted on campus. They will take between 30 minutes to an hour typically. Dress comfortably but appropriately – can’t go wrong with pullover sweaters, polo’s, blouses/button downs. Jeans are ok as long as they are not ripped. Khakis definitely work.

Every interviewer has their own routine. Here is mine, which is probably not atypical.

I start by asking how the student’s year is going and what is taking up most of their time. This hopefully is an easy start for them because they can talk about what they are interested in. I try to spend some time probing this, whether it is an academic or non-academic interest. I try to make this a conversation and may challenge the student with questions or contrary views. I will do this throughout the interview.

I will ask about their favorite classes and teachers and will want to know why. Often I will connect this with their intended major. I will ask how they think Yale will benefit them in this pursuit.

I will also ask about their major non-academic interest if they have not already covered it. I will ask about what they actually do and what gives them joy.

There is not a set script or order. The interview will be driven by where the conversation naturally takes us. I will at some point give the student a chance to ask me questions about my or my son’s experience at Yale.

Afterwards, when I compose my report, I try to connect the traits listed above with what I saw in the interview and will use examples from the interview to support my view.

How important is the interview?

IMO, with the reduction of interviews granted, the interviews are probably more meaningful than in the past because every interviewee is still in the “ballgame”. This is not to say that a “no” becomes a “yes” or vice-versa, but it does give the applicant an opportunity to put color and context to their application. Treat this as a conversation about things you are interested in. Be prepared, but not robotic. Listen to what the interviewer asked/said and be interactive. Have fun with it. The vast majority of alumni interviewers want to submit a positive interview report.

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Totally not true. I used to work in a private high school and contacted AO all the time. The truth is schools just try to make alumni feel they are important. Schools simply don’t care much about the interview report unless there are significant red flags. Therefore, I want every student to know that you don’t need to overly prepare for any school interviews. As long as you don’t say stupid things, you are fine.

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Pretty confident in your absolutes for someone who once worked in a private high school who had some contacts with various AO’s.

I have been an interviewer for Yale for over 25 years. In the past, when the policy was to interview as many candidates as possible and we interviewed like 27,000 applicants (over far fewer overall applicants) a year, I don’t doubt that many of the interviews were perfunctory. I definitely did interviews of applicants that had no real shot. More recently when interviews have become selective (9,000 vs 27,000), I tend to think (and logic would dictate) that they become more important because the applicants chosen are all competitive and the AO’s are seeking additional data to make their decisions. Will an interview turn a “no” to a “yes” or vice versa, probably not as I mentioned above. But in a highly competitive battle for limited spots, wouldn’t you want to color your achievements in a positive light from someone who doesn’t have a dog in the hunt? I think it is a disservice to tell Yale applicants who get an interview that “the decision has already been made, just don’t be a major jerk.”

Applicants can make up their own minds as to how they want to approach their interviews. I am just trying to add some transparency for them on what interviewers have been asked to identify.

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Yes, my experience as a Yale alum interviewer for over 10 years is that the practice has changed since the pandemic when application numbers spiked after going test optional. Someone in the Admissions Office wants to get more information about a particular applicant and not everyone gets an interview. Does it mean you will get in if you have an interview, or that you won’t get in if you don’t have an interview? No.

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I agree that students don’t need to overly prep, but any sensible student should have at least a few questions ready for their interviewer that can’t just be found on the website.

I also agree that they care about significant red flags. I disagree that they don’t care much about the interview. As mentioned by @BKSquared , the fact that Yale now offers significantly fewer interviews than in past years indicates that they do care about them.

Does that mean that a student should panic about the interview? No, and saying something dumb doesn’t necessarily doom you. Interviewers are normal people who understand that people get nervous. And sometimes, unintentionally saying something dumb can be endearing and relieve a bit of pressure. I doubt they are assessing anyone’s ability to maintain a poker face.

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Until when do you think an interview might be requested? My son is an International student. Thanks!

Looks like there is a “batch” around the last week in February.

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So there is expected to be a sizable amount coming soon? I haven’t received one and am worried

Usually interviews through Feb. I don’t know if there will a deluge as interviews have been cut back significantly.

Conducting interviews for over 25 years doesn’t mean they care or your input matters. They just try to engage with alum and make them feel good period. That is exactly what the yale Admission Office people told me in person.

Your opinion based on some conversation you claimed to have, how long ago? Circumstances have changed as I mentioned, from interviewing as many students as we could to narrowing down to 9,000 interviews for 50,000 applicants. I also talk to the AO’s every year, including small group sessions with Quinlan both in New Haven and on Zoom. People on this thread are free to take their own approach and believe who they want to believe.

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I agree. Interviews do matter. Yale finds them useful; otherwise they would not bother with all the time and effort both the alumni and the admissions office spend on setting them up and reviewing the results. Frankly, it does not ‘make me feel good’ to do 10 interviews and maybe see at most one of the prospects wait listed. But I think it is worthwhile to pay back Yale for all the lifetime benefits I received there

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Hey, I am an international student from India, and I haven’t received an interview yet. Is it true that most south asians who got accepted are people who received interviews ? Is it possible for a south asian to get accepted without getting an interview ? The deadline on some Yale documents for sending out interview invites is 14th February, is that a strict deadline or can interview requests be sent out till late February/early march ?

Regards

I don’t know if accepted South Asian students received or did not receive interviews. Interviews are assigned through February. On occasion some interviews are assigned in March. It is important to be realistic about admissions into highly selective schools like Yale, especially as an international from an over-represented (as in number of applications) country. Harvard reports 26 students in Harvard College from India, so 6 to 7 students each year. Statistics | Harvard International Office I suspect Yale has similar numbers.

D25 will be interviewed soon. Thanks for the information!

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He should relax, treat it as a conversation and good luck!

Any one still receiving interview requests this week?

Nothing😔

thank you!