<p>Hi again. I don't want to sound stupid, but how do I get an interview with an alumni. I think that an interview would really help my chances of admissions at UPenn ED, I think I'm personable. I found the addresses of the both Chairmen of the secondary school commitee interviews (they live so close to me :-0), but I don't know what to do now.</p>
<p>Do I call them myself or ask someone at the admissions office, or something else? Thanks!</p>
<p>You don’t contact them, the alum in your area will contact you. If they are close and active it is very likely that you will get an interview. My D had hers just days before ED results were announced; i don’t know how much it mattered in the decision process.</p>
<p>From what i have heard it is not a huge difference as they cannot offer it to everyone; so it wouldn’t be fair for it to boost someone’s chances. Someone high up in the admisions/higher ed. field once told me:</p>
<p>“a good interview may not boost your chances, but a bad one will hurt you”</p>
<p>This actually makes sense, we have seen so many articles and discussions on what are discussed in committees that make decisions, and I have not once seen “lets take this kid becoz he/she had a great interview” Your persona (and that you are personable) should come out in the application itself; don’t count on the interview to make that come across; as you may or may not get it. Sometimes even if there is an active alum. group, it may not be possible to get all the applicants in an area interviews, esp. if there are too many of them. And with the ED time crunch; it is hard to say.</p>
<p>There is no harm in contacting Penn admissions if you will feel better hearing it from them.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>This post really helped me too! Thanks!</p>
<p>the admissions officer of my region is coming to my school…and i’m able to get some personal time with her…what do you guys think of this? if we click, do you think it will do me any good? (im applying ED)</p>