for schools where interviews are only optional, does admissions even look at it? i really want to do interviews if they’ll actually matter but unfortunately i don’t have the time if they don’t. anyone know? thanks.
<p>if they ever ask you (either by phone, mail..) to do an interview , even though it's optional, i think it's good to say yes.</p>
<p>from my impression many colleges tell you unless you have a really unqiue story or are outgoing, it doesnt really help because its just some random alumni person doing it.
i think i heard from USC's adcom</p>
<p>I think it depends on the school. My interviewer for Georgetown said significant weight was put on the interview (it is also required), and he took extensive notes to send into the school with a letter.</p>
<p>For those of you who are interested, here is a good article by Jay Matthews, Washington Post staff writer, entitled "Confessions of a College Interviewer":</p>
<p>While a good interview may not get you in a bad interview will certainly keep you out</p>
<p>heh, true. i hafta admit, i'm not the most outgoing person ever so there's a higher chance that an interview would be detrimental for me.</p>
<p>"from my impression many colleges tell you unless you have a really unqiue story or are outgoing, it doesnt really help because its just some random alumni person doing it.
i think i heard from USC's adcom"</p>
<p>Which makes me curious. My son's interview was done by an assistant director of admissions who happened to be in town. Some good info exchanged according to my son, but it still came through as a sales job.</p>
<p>The Jay Matthews article was very good, btw, both because I thought it was useful and I think I'd like him.</p>