<p>Hey everyone!</p>
<p>I'm trying to get a head start on my application process for the fall and am thinking about applying to a bunch of private schools. Do you know if you have to request interviews for all the schools? I know some of the schools on my list say you can contact the admissions office for an interview. I'd love to know and how you guys tackled your applications.</p>
<p>Michela</p>
<p>Some Ivies, like Yale, have on-campus interviews that are conducted by undergraduate seniors. Not everyone can do those interviews, so they are separate from alumni interviews, which are scheduled by the local alumni chapter near your town AFTER you have submitted the Common App and Supplement. You cannot schedule an alumni interview for any ivy league school without having first submitted your application – that’s just how it works.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information! Did you interview at Yale?? How was it?</p>
<p>Both my son and daughter had alumni interviews at HYP and about 10 other colleges. Neither of them did on-campus interviews at any school. All of the interviews were scheduled by alumni after their common app was submitted. To get a handle on what might be asked on the alumni interviews, see: <a href=“http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/12/current-interview-questions-harvard.html”>http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/12/current-interview-questions-harvard.html</a></p>
<p>Thanks!! I’m going to bookmark this. I’m months away from any interviews. Just trying to get all my eggs in one basket this summer to prepare! Congrats to your kids!! I hope I can make my parents proud!</p>
<p>You really have to check each college’s website - most schools will say that you just need to sign up online for an on-campus interview, which usually takes place in the summer or very early fall. Some schools - Middlebury and all of the Ivies, I believe - will contact you on their own after you’ve applied for an alumni interview in your area. These schools specifically ask that you not contact them to set up an interview. Furthermore, some top schools - Williams, Amherst, etc. - either don’t offer interviews or don’t use them as a part of the admissions process (not sure if there is a difference between those two things, but just trying to stick with their terminology). </p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you live somewhere kind of obscure, schools like the Ivies may not have an alumnus or alumna near you to conduct your interview - this will not be held against you. If you look, interviews are technically optional for all of those schools.</p>
<p>I interviewed for University of Rochester, Harvard, Yale, and Bowdoin if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Hope this helps; best of luck :)</p>