<p>My son is a junior and we are starting to consider colleges in the midatlantic region. His GPA is 2.6, fairly active in sports, community service, 1000 combined SAT math and CR. I am wondering if he will increase his chances of admission if he travels to schools and meets admission officers. His major is undecided.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/246098-thread-college-interviews.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/246098-thread-college-interviews.html</a></p>
<p>You might want to consider asking your question on that link. You would probably acquire more feedback. </p>
<p>I don’t think that it has too much significance though.</p>
<p>Check to see which colleges say that interviews matter and which say they are merely informative. The Fiske Guide does this at the end of each college description, but also check the website. If the college puts some weight on it and the college is a slight reach, I would say to plan your visit, if possible, in connection with an interview because it could make a slight difference. Some of the colleges really do care about demonstrated interest.</p>
<p>Larger schools, like state publics, probably won’t do interviews–they get too many applications and admit “by the numbers.”</p>
<p>Smaller schools, like liberal arts colleges, often will do interviews and will appreciate a visit by your son. Spring break is a good time to visit schools–you can hit five or more in a week, provided the college is not on spring break.</p>
<p>Your son might want to consider taking the ACT–many kids do better on it than the SAT. Good luck!</p>
<p>Google for a school’s “Common Data Set” and check section C7. It gives the school’s view of Interview as Very Important, Important, Considered, or Not Considered.</p>
<p>Interviews can often be arranged near the applicant’s home town.</p>
<p>I think they do matter, for smaller schools especially.</p>
<p>I think the top 10-15 schools use them primarily to weed out socially awkward applicants (just my opinion, I have not data on this). For the socially awkward therefore, an interview is a huge risk.</p>
<p>I have read lots and lots of posts here from volunteer alumni interviewers for top 20 National Universities, and have never concluded that a positive interview does much… it is expected. It seems there is primarily a downside risk to the interviewee … when an interviewer finds an interviewee rude, offensive, unhygienic, or reports a troubling inconsistency between the application and the interview.</p>
<p>However, as noted above, the interview is gererally an important part of the admissions process for LACs</p>