The hiring process was enjoyable, filled with fun conversations with smart people.

Unfortunately, Google has a 'magic' decision process. Fantastic interviews can still result in an opaque "no" without logic, reason, or feedback, even when feedback is explicitly promised by the recruiter as a condition of proceeding.

Every single discussion was upbeat, fun, exciting, and completely positive. Rarely have I laughed so hard in interviews.

The fact that the refusal was surprising, opaque, and the promise of feedback was not delivered shows that real power is held by those who never talk to the candidate, making decisions by proxy and eyewitness interviews. This is very frustrating and offers nothing to the candidate for improvement.

Google cashes in on its well-known and desired working environment, but it seems they only want students fresh from school.

What's your University GPA?