@elenadel
Hey! First of all: break a leg!
I’m assuming you’re interviewing on campus, so here’s a few things to mentally prepare for 
In the interview room, probably expect up to 9 people to be around the table. My classmates and I had less than 7. Those who did Unifieds had 1 or 2. Though this may sound intimidating, I promise it is not nearly as freaky as it comes across. If it makes you feel any better, they sort of switch off on who pays attention to each interview because it gets tiring after a while. Check out the faculty page on our website if you want to be familiar with faces. All the faculty are really sweet and want to get to know you, even if they have a little bit of RBF, haha.
They want you to be honest with them! Share a little bit of who you are, what you like to do, what kind of worker and learner you are. They want to see you as a student and an artist (managers are artists too!). Use this as time to sell your skills and your willingness to learn.
My interview was a little different (PreCollege exit interview), but I believe with the RD ones, they have all the auditionees (performers as well if they’re there that weekend too) go to a room with current students who will answer questions you have. I think you wait there till it’s your time slot and then you go for your interview.
The time slot you have is 30 minutes, and it will go by FAST. The unique thing about CMU that I noticed in comparison to the other three places I applied was that the interview was a FULL conversation about me and my goals. I was asked a few questions about grades, where I was applying - generic stuff. Then we jumped into talking about my portfolio and time in theatre. They will ask you questions about your work as they go through it, so you won’t feel like you just have to talk AT them. Once we were done with that, I asked them a few questions. ALWAYS have questions to ask (especially ones that can’t be answered by the website). If you feel like you might not remember them, write them down on an index card.
What made me choose CMU above the other programs I applied to was the rigor of this program (and they didn’t mess up my financial aid like Emerson and BU, so I got an okay amount). I got taste of it at PreCollege and really loved the way they do things here. I wanted to be somewhere that I would HAVE to work hard to do well, because I know this industry can be like that. I wanted professors that were experienced, give work that has proven positive results for decades, and that I felt like would support me but still be blunt about what I needed to work on.
On a more specific level, CMU does 20-ish shows a year, and so far I have worked on all of them in some way or another; the experience you get out of it is massive. You only are required to take a few non-drama classes, so you have a full opportunity to focus on your passion. I also knew about the community that forms between the DPs here, and it is one of the most valuable things I’ve ever been lucky enough to be part of. The people in my class are so talented, supportive, and they are truly friends I will have for a lifetime. Spending so much time with the same 26 people will do that, but it makes this program so much more effective because you are learning with and leaning on people with similar goals, and you never feel like you’re going through it alone. I didn’t feel like I would find this at any other school I applied to.
I hope your interview goes well!! Please feel free to stop by the freshman studio (the door with the wooden painted frame around it on the third floor, ask someone where 33 is!). We love talking to prospective students! There are three shows loading in, teching, and performing next weekend (Cabaret, It’s In the Bag, and Dark Play Or Stories for Boys), so stop by and see one of those too! If you want free tickets to any shows, message me and I can get you some (School of Drama perks, haha).