Didn't get an offer for University because I'm black.
I (F21) am a black girl, currently in my final year of university. I am doing a teaching degree and applying to universities for my PGCE. I had my first interview last week at a 'prestigious' university that claims they're not snobby, but they are. I was based on my fundamental skills, which they said, students would get support if they have learning disabilities (I do), and not to worry it doesn't get fully marked. (Insert clown face) The whole experience was awful because the interviewer I had, made a judgment based on what I looked like. I have a small arm tattoo of two butterflies (representing my late mum) and two nose stud piercings. Normally, this isn't an issue when it comes to interviews, but they were giving me a look of disgust the entire time.
During the interview, they were incredibly rude, they kept interrupting every time I answered questions and they had my personal statement out; pointing things out that were not related to the initial interview. I have AuDHD and I just felt extremely uncomfortable; it was so cold they kept refusing to close the window, so I was physically shivering the entire interview. Anyway, I'm extremely gifted with my academics which I am grateful for, as I get Firsts on most of my assignments and upper second-class on some. Currently, I'm working with a teacher advisor who has read all of my work and helps with my applications. So, in the feedback, they claimed my SpAG was awful, I could not speak critically, and my personal statement was weak? I immediately was upset because I knew I was a victim of poor judgment and a biased interview.
I asked my lecturer and my advisor about the feedback and even they were shocked because it looked as if they made up an excuse to not give an offer, and didn't want to use the actual reasoning that I was stereotyped. What made it worse was that my friends who were part of the same interview as I was, got offered on the spot and said that their interviewer had helped them the entire interview. FYI yes, they are. I'm just really confused and distraught because I wanted to go to this university, I just wanted to know if there was anyone who experienced this? or similar? What did you do to overcome it? Sorry for the long post, it's so long to explain.
Posted Jan 15, 2024, 4:11 PM UTC