On November 1st, the majority of early action and early decision college applications are due. For the next four weeks I will share college application tips to help the whole process run smoothly. (Read previous advice about logistics, the common application form, the honors and activities sections, supplements, AI, campus visits, and the core essay.)
There is a lot of confusion about college interviews. This week, I will answer some common of the most common logistical questions about college interviews.
- Do college interviews “count” towards your application?
Sometimes! Don’t you love an ambiguous answer? In some cases, interviews are evaluative, and the interviewer’s assessment of your candidacy will be included in your file and reviewed by the admissions committee. In other cases, however, the interviews are purely informational, and are designed to help students learn more about the university. One note: if a college values demonstrated interest, informational interviews can still “count” as part of that metric, having a positive impact on your application, even if the content of your conversation isn’t part of the committee’s decision.
- What does it mean if a college says that interviews are “optional.” (Should you interview if you can?)
If interviews are optional, but they are considered part of your application, I usually recommend signing up for one. Why not take every opportunity to illustrate how awesome you are, how into their school you are, and how much you will bring to the community? In terms of the “optional” issue – technically, it’s true that colleges who phrase it that way don’t (technically) penalize applicants who don’t interview. Plenty of non-interviewees definitely get in. However, candidates who have connected with the admissions committee and shared more about their qualifications tend to have an advantage.
- If given the option, should you go/meet in-person?
If it works financially and logistically for your family, consider going to campus for an in-person interview, or opting to meet the interviewer in your community. Many people have trouble connecting and putting their best foot forward in virtual conversations. Also, again, going to campus telegraphs demonstrated interest, and also gives you a chance to check out the school.
- Can students initiate interviews, or do they need to be invited by the schools?
It depends! Please read about each school’s procedures. Many colleges, especially larger universities that get tens of thousands of applications, don’t offer interviews at any point in the process. Ivies and other highly selective schools are more likely to offer invite only interviews, and while the invitations are sometimes indicative of an applicant’s strength in the pool, in other cases it’s purely a reflection of interviewer availability. Small liberal arts schools are the most likely to allow students to initiate interviews, and the spots often fill up very quickly. Yet another reason to get your school list done early in the summer, so that you can schedule an interview before it’s too late.
Next Friday, more college application tips – Financial Aid.
