<p>Obviously the "important" ones he will do. I just think about trying to schedule 8 extra interviews during football season and college app season and I'm recoiling. They would be local alumni interviews if there are any around--there's no way we can get back to the schools.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Can you visit the schools this summer for interviews? That is what we did for any where interviews were considered or important. Granted, these schools were all within a four hour drive. </p>
<p>If the schools are further away, can he inquire about Skype interviews this summer? I do agree that you want to keep the fall free as you described and for any unanticipated college-related activities. </p>
<p>Many schools also consider work experience, geographic residence, and a host of other factors. That doesn’t mean you should move to Wyoming and have him start working in the coal fields. </p>
<p>There are other ways to show a school you’re interested in them without actually visiting. Things like watching a YouTube video put out by the school, liking said schools on Facebook, visiting the website, and writing a non generic essay in the school’s CA Supplement. </p>
<p>@usernamelm: My Ivy alma mater’s CDS says that interviews are “considered”. I imagine all the other Ivies who have interview programs say the same thing. While on campus and alumni interviews are offered, I think they minimally must check that box. However, an interview for successful admission is NOT required. While nice for the college, it’s simply impossible to interview everyone and they know it. But they are secure in admitting w/o regards to a submitted interview report.</p>
<p>Like others have said, if it can happen, fine. If not, don’t stress it.</p>
<p>We have already visited them all- the closest one is 5 hours away and they are all in different directions. It would be 8 different trips ;). Just doing the important ones will be difficult. He has football and an out of town internship this summer- the kid isn’t even getting to have a vacation. </p>
<p>However, I hear you- we will at least try to Skype. I guess we should have interviewed when we visited- but how do you know whether you want to go there until you’ve seen it?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t decline an interview at any college that considers degree of interest. </p>
<p>How competitive are admissions at his college choices? How much does he “love” these schools? I’m with Hunt on this. Without an interview, the only view of a kid is via the app and LoRs. There are times when an interviewer’s comments bring a kid to life. And, it can fall flat when one says, sorry, my hs schedule makes this just too much to fit in. For any that aren’t local, you can always ask for a phone interview. </p>
<p>I agree with Hunt and lookingforward. I would figure out a way to do them. Alumni interviews don’t take very much out of his schedule. I personally don’t think they’re as effective as on-campus interviews or those with the Admissions rep for your area, but better than nothing!</p>
<p>Oh- I just realized there’s another way to avoid driving. Check the web site -or call the school- to see if/when the admissions rep will be in your area for high school visits in the fall. Schedule an interview during that time locally! My D did this for two schools. Especially if you’re looking at small LACs, this can be great since that person is likely the one to do the first read on his application.</p>
<p>Also, you can try to find out whether the various schools consider interviews “evaluative” or “informative”, ie more for them or for the student. </p>
<p>I’d personally still do a campus or admissions rep interview at any school he really loves. This is entirely anecdotal, but the one school my D did an alum interview at (she decided to do that, rather than drive 6 hours, because the school stated that interviews were purely informative) was one of only two schools that rejected her. And it was no more of a reach than others she was admitted to. It probably had nothing to do with that, but…</p>
<p>Perhaps important is how well can the student interview. If the student does not interview well, an interview may harm his/her chances of admission more than it may otherwise help (with “level of applicant’s interest”, if considered).</p>
<p>I’d like to clarify that I don’t think actually having an alumni interview is likely to make a significant difference very often. But declining one might have an impact for a school that considers level of interest.</p>
<p>The potential fruit is when the interview does go well. It’s the adcoms’ eyes and ears. Yes, there is some luck of the draw (who interviews you,) but that’s out of your control. You focus on what you can present.</p>
<p>And “level of interest” isn’t completely mechanical- whether you liked on FB, eg. It’s in what you do say and convey, in an interview and the app/supp- not just the school’s rep, mission or your future job chances with that diploma. It’s having a reasonable feel for your match, academic and other, for the four years. That sort of interest.</p>
<p>MIT has a much lower acceptance rate for students who could have interviewed but don’t. (I think they assume you are excessively anti-social if you avoid the interview.) I don’t know any other school that has been this forthright about the importance of interviews. Interviews generally take less than an hour and can be done by alumni, though I suspect they may count more if done on campus. They aren’t just about showing interest.</p>
<p>
The importance of interviews varies for different colleges, which makes it difficult to give advice without knowing the specific colleges and programs within those colleges. For example, Cornell marks interviews as “considered” in the CDS, yet interviews are mandatory for the art and hotels schools, and I understand that they play a major roll in admissions for at least the latter. Stanford also marks interviews as “considered” in the CDS, yet they are quite up front about the interviews being optional and having little impact on admissions. Their website states:</p>
<p>“Applicants who do not interview, whether by choice or due to program limitations, will not be adversely affected, and their applications will be considered complete without an interview.”</p>
<p>The thing you really want to know if if the college reads the interview notes they do get. No matter whether they are considered or very important, if they are read, they can form part of the holistic picture. Also nothing tells us how accurate that section of the CDS is or even can be. There was a time when the school I know best had interviews marked as not important- and I knew darned well they were reading and reacting to the them, depending on what they contained.</p>
<p>Ok, I’m convinced. No more whining. :-)</p>
<p>“Admissions rep will be in our area”–ha ha I wish! Out of 350 kids in our high school, only about 6 go out of state. Not a big recruitment area. But I will check just in case.</p>
<p>Thanks for the thoughtful comments and the kick in the butt.</p>
<p>Yes, if a school says it’s important, one should do them. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for schools to determine who really wants to come there and where they are in pecking order. The ones that are most selective care the least as they get first pickings anyways, but the next level of schools start getting very focused on demonstrated interest. I suggest getting a list where there are schools that do not consider interviews and just focus on those schools that consider them AND that your student likes the best. Also if you have a kid who is not going to come off well on the interview, it’s essential to make sure you have such schools. I know a great kid with top stats who was specifically told that the interview was not a good one, and some were at schools that supposedly did not count interviews in the process. Yeah, it happens.</p>
<p>A couple of things struck me. How many schools are on your son’s list. You mentioned eight alone for schools with interviews “considered”. Prioritization of these schools may be a better idea - maybe limit the interviews to “important” and the top three “considered”. </p>
<p>Many schools mentioned Skype as a medium for interviews. Heck, my daughter skyped for a local internship - it was more a matter of scheduling and location convenience. If your son decides to interview at all eight schools via local alumni or skype, I would flip the priority list and interview the lower priority ones first (practice, practice, practice) and then work his way up the list.</p>
<p>Even if an official admissions rep doesn’t visit your area often, some colleges do Alumni interviews with Alumni that live in your area.
The interview can help the college get a more rounded picture of you as an applicant…instead of just a listing of your activities, you can talk about them in a cohesive manner.</p>
<p>Yes, they are all selective colleges (and one absolute safety). We’ve got it down to 11 colleges. He is 4.0+, 35 ACT, full spectrum EC’s–he’s a competitive candidate and full pay. I’m worried about Tufts Syndrome. Important to interview: Case Western, CMU, Lafayette. Interview considered: Duke, Northwestern, Rice, USC, Vanderbilt, Cornell Interview not considered: Michigan, BU We have visited all except Vanderbilt and Cornell because they don’t consider interest according to the Common Data Set (and because I didn’t have his ACT score yet.) Safety is our state school.</p>
<p>We will practice practice practice. This is such a different kid than my last one. She was terrified–he is chatty but not always coherent–more stream of consciousness. Not a salesman.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>My take? I would not recommend to DECLINE an interview when it is mandatory. On the other hand, I would do my utmost best to avoid interviews and surely make NO efforts to participate in the most insignificant and wasteful part of the admission process. And, this does not even address the pitfalls of dealing with a clueless alumni who confused his or her role of a mere cheerleader with one of an admission ofiicer or … even worse some kind of PI who is in charge of checking your background and credibility. </p>
<p>Spend some time reading the “accounts” of interviewers on CC when dealing with students. It will make you understand why the exercise is best avoided. </p>
<p>All in all, the interviewers might be really nice people, but the reality is that they neither trained nor well-verses in evaluating the applicants, and rarely have access to the file. Their role is to “sell” you on the school in case of admittance. And that is about it! Unfortunately, they like to present a different role, including one that has a voice in the process. </p>
<p>Making it a simple. An interview cannot help you much (and that is charitable) and you cannot be blamed for NOT having had one. On the other one, a bad interview can sink your chances. </p>
<p>So why take the risk it it can be … avoided! </p>