<p>Will Vassar know whether or not you requested an interview?
How much of an evaluation are alumni supposed to give? A letter? A form?</p>
<p>from the Vassar website:</p>
<p>Q: How much do interviews count? Are they required? How do I schedule one?
A: Off-campus informational interviews are available for first-year applicants. These are conducted all over the world by Vassar alumni and are available from November through February. These conversations are non-evaluative and are not required, but they are a great way to learn about Vassar from a different perspective. Not having an interview will not affect your admission decision. Please submit your Common Application to us before you request an informational alumni interview. </p>
<p>Please note the deadline to request an interview for Early Decision I is November 8; Early Decision II, December 18; and Regular Decision, January 1.</p>
<p>There are a few Vassar alumni interviewers on this forum who said that they were supposed to write some sort of evaluation…</p>
<p>Yes, they write an evaluation based on your interview. The thing is–and this is characteristic of MANY schools–that it’s more of a character reference than anything else. In other words, they’re just confirming for the college/university that you have x, y and z characteristics, which probably confirm those you convey through your essays and ECs. A good interview doesn’t do much, to be honest; if you have a bad interview, depending on how bad it is, could hurt your application a little bit, but not significantly.</p>
<p>Really, don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>I am going to be doing an alumni interview with a prospective student/applicant next week! I am looking forward to it! Yes, we have a form to complete following the interview.</p>
<p>Most of the people I know, including myself, never interviewed and got in anyway. It probably can’t hurt, but I also don’t think it helps much. Your essays, grades, and test scores are what make them decide whether or not to take you.</p>
<p>I’m wondering, though, if you live, say, in NYC and choose not to have an interview, does that look as if you’re not all that interested in the school? I have a friend who teaches at a top college and she says, don’t listen to what they say – you have to have the interview or they’re going to think you’re not that committed to going to the school.</p>
<p>Why would you not request an alum interview?</p>
<p>It can be make a break. Two weeks before they sent out acceptance letters they offered me an interview (I previously didn’t request one). Two weeks later I received an acceptance letter. I think that was their way of saying “lets see if he really wants us.” I’m pretty sure if I didn’t do the interview I would’ve have gotten accepted. So I say def. do it.</p>
<p>sorry to burst your bubble, sadcollegestud, that the interview didn’t do anything. it just means that there weren’t a lot of people in your area who requested interviews and the interviewing alumni could handle more. More than anything, the interview is for YOU to learn about Vassar, and not the other way around. They want students to want to come to Vassar, and the more exposure you get to Vassar people, the higher the chance you’ll pick the school.</p>
<p>Big cities, especially with tons of applicants like NYC, most often cannot interview everyone who applies. Not having an interview has no impact on your application.</p>
<p>sssshhhhhh vassargrad! Don’t spill the beans!</p>