Just received an email from U of Mich with an invitation to an alumni interview in my area. It says it is optional.
It also said that it cannot “adversely affect my chance of admission”.
I did a quick search and seems most schools use the interview to gauge your level of interest, get a better feel of your personality, social skills and give you a chance to ask questions. If that’s true, how can it not potentially adversely affect my chance?
I think they just mean…you won’t be penalized regardless of how it goes, or if you decide not to go. But you DO have the opportunity to get some extra brownie points…I’d take advantage of that!
Think of it as extra credit.
Good luck:)
My understanding is that they only do alumni interviews in select areas. Maybe in regions where there is an over representation of applicants? This is just a guess…but if they’re getting five times as many applicants for one particular region, maybe it’s an extra tool that they use to find the most engaged, most interested students in a pool of very similarly talented people that is just too large? I’ll admit that’s a blatant guess…pure speculation…so take it for what it’s worth…just a guess. Is there a high population in your area, or a lot of really good schools producing a ton of applicants?
I am in South Florida - Fort Lauderdale Miami area.
If they use the interview for selection…would it “adversely” affect some applicants and not others? They said even if you decline it wouldn’t affect your chance of admission.
If I do well at the interview and gain a few points versus someone who passed on the invite those are adversely affected, relatively speaking…no?
That is why I am wondering what is the purpose of it?
It will not be counted against you if you don’t go. It can, however, be counted for you. Again, think of it as extra credit. If you’ve got an A in a class and skip the extra credit…you’ve still got an A. Your “grade” won’t go down if you opt out. But you might be able to boost it a little bit. It’s a terrific opportunity that not everyone gets. You should go.
Where are some of these regions where alumni interviews are offered?
What college did you apply for @doraemon33004 ? Is it engineering, since other threads have mentioned that?
The interview is a good opportunity for you to ask questions that are not usually answered by the admissions offices or on Facebook.
I would do it.
yes it’s engineering. It seems every school is doing an interview. Now I have been sent an interview request by Vanderbilt, Case Western as well.
I have accepted the invitation to the interview. I just don’t quite get the “if you don’t accept it won’t count against you” claim. If there are 100 applicants with 100 interview invitations, if 50 applicants do the interview and 25 of them stood out and are given preferences, then effectively, realistically, the 50 who didn’t do the interview will be “adversely affected” no matter how you look at it.
@goblue81 No one here would have that information.
i thought they were not doing interviews. admissions specifically said they weren’t
Alumni interviews count very little because the alum is an unknown quantity. They do not know how reliable her/his recommendation will be. I was the chair of the Cornell alumni interview committee applicants in Dubai for several years, and I saw absolutely no correlation between the interviews and admission decisions.
Here in the Northeast I got a request, filled out the information and received two emails back. Still waiting for a time and date…very psyched at the opportunity