Planning and Preparation FTL

Remember that post about our first intern interview and how my careful planning and preparation allowed the day to go smoothly? Too bad the same thing couldn't have been said for basically THIS WHOLE WEEK....

What a crazy week this has been! Why? Because it was intern interview week, of course! Four straight days of 6 interviews each, with a couple of out-of-area phone interviews sprinkled in there to make things extra complicated. I'll give you the brief highlights of the week before finishing with the week's (surprisingly un-)dramatic conclusion:

Monday - One professor requesting a room change hours before interviews are to take place (requiring changes in reservations, assignments, labs). Another professor not present in the assigned interview location and requiring a hunt down.

Tuesday - Now that room locations are all sorted out, things should go smoothly, right? Nope. One applicant never showed (BIIIIIIG no-no!). No working phone jack in room assigned for phone interview, so it is relocated to my office at the last minute. I am locked out of my own office for 45 minutes.

Wednesday - Okay, this day was actually rather uneventful... but TOO uneventful. Lousy weather. Everyone was tired. My 15 minute pre-interview spiel seemed to drag on for centuries. I seem to remember the same thing happening on last year's Wednesday of interview week? Had my first parent stay throughout interviews.

Thursday - Original room change request from Monday had to be reversed and alternative room once again reserved. Two phone interviews this day, one with the same problem as Tuesday so a different room (other than my office this time) was secured, though my phone was used. The other room reserved could not seem to dial out - the number would be dialed and the phone would go right back to dial tone. (We found out later that the room could not dial out long distance). Labs doing the phone interviews somehow got switched such that they were in the opposite locations they were supposed to be, which got complicated when it came time to switch for the 2nd interview. Awkwardness ensued.

"The best laid plans", right? And then finally we conclude with today, Friday, the intern draft. Although judging by the length of the previous 4 paragraphs things got more complicated as the week went on, today defied all expectations and ended up being smooth as can be. All the labs got their first choices for interns, no trading or bargaining needed. On top of that, the selected group just happened to be almost evenly split male-female, and had a nice variety in school districts represented. Perfect!

The only thing not perfect is that we just can't take everyone - all 27 of the kids who interviewed were really great, but we only have the bandwidth to hire 13 interns (unless some extremely generous benefactor comes to our rescue). So while I'm very excited for the 13 who were selected, I really feel for the alternates...

Well, what a great way to end a Friday, especially after such a crazy week! Offers go out on Tuesday!