I’ve just been invited to an interview via email by an alumna. I’m just wondering why they give out interviews this early in the review process? Probably because interviews don’t weigh in much, but just wondering. I’m almost having a nervous breakdown :^)
My child was offered an interview last week via email. Met at a local library within days. The volunteer interviewer was wonderful, informative and encouraging. I wasn’t there so cannot tell you much more. Good luck with your interview!
@Sam-I-Am Thank you for the kind wishes! Did your son/daughter apply RD? I hope he/she gets in! 
@writernwriters, the reason you are wondering about why they are scheduling an interview this early in the review process is because you think that the interviews are assigned based on some level of review. They’re not. Thus, it is best to assign early and often, so that as many applicants as possible get an interview.
Don’t read anything into it. Don’t have a nervous breakdown :). Good luck.
I have already had my interview. Usually the interview process is triggered by the submission of an application.
^ This is correct. Once your application is received, your contact information is given to the area coordinator, who assigns you to an interviewer, who contacts you.
Interviews are just going out. I just got some to do. They are due in February. They go out so that the interviewers, who have jobs, families and other obligations have time to contact the student, conduct the interview and submit the report. Good luck to all of you!!
@IxnayBob I already went through the college app process years ago and am aware that the interviews don’t really mean anything (hence this line in the original post: “Probably because interviews don’t weigh in much”). The reason I asked was why this early, because I’d submitted the app the day before I received the invite! That seemed a bit odd to me, because usually colleges seem to give us some time to mentally prepare. That’s all!
Anyway, thank you so much! I, too, hope the inner introvert me survives this. Good luck to all of you!!!
The timelag on applying and being contacted for an interview has nothing to do with waiting for you to be mentally prepared. It has everything to do with how fast the Alumni Chair sends out the referrals to alumni, when they read the email and accept the interview, when they contact the student and when it is scheduled. This can be hours (if the starts align) or days/weeks. Maybe in your case, it all lined up perfectly.