How important is the interview?

<p>How critical is the alumni interview in terms of early admission to Wharton? In theory, the interview could act as a screening process in order to test an applicant’s interpersonal skills and potential success in the corporate world. Any opinions?</p>

<p>If you are applying ED to Wharton, how do you even get an interview?</p>

<p>It can't be that important since a lot of people don't even get called for one.</p>

<p>Wow, that's surprising... I was sort of hoping for one.</p>

<p>You're dreaming chaotic, they don't have the time or money to screen applicants that way. Interviews mean nothing.</p>

<p>Didnt even have mine...got in</p>

<p>The Penn interview is very informal, compared to MIT's comprehensive interview. It's more for informational purposes and for you to make a good impression. There's hardly any way to screw it up. Don't freak out, just be prepared. And don't worry if it only lasts fifteen minutes, be glad.</p>

<p>According to the admin adviser who presented the talk prior to campus tour,interviews are not compulsory(as opposed to Harvard,when called,must go)for Upenn</p>

<p>The interview at Penn is not informational, it is evaluative, so I wouldn't recommend going in with the attitude that it totally doesn't count. People who apply ED are called at random, just as in the RD round. Not everyone gets one, but for those who do, it is a pretty minor factor in the application, but one that could theoretically be used to tip a candidate one way or the other.</p>

<p>But would the interview tip one candidate over another if the second candidate did not get an interview?</p>

<p>Not at all. There's no disadvantage to you if you are not called in for an interview.</p>

<p>that is good to hear since from what i hear the chances of being called up for an interview are slim to none.</p>

<p>i think i read somewhere that it is around 50-50 for who gets an interview, but that seems a little inflated based on my admittedly anecdotal evidence.</p>

<p>It depends how many alumni are in your area. If you're in suburban Philly, probably 99.9%. If you're in Baalbek, Lebanon, probably .000000000001%</p>

<p>The interview in my opinion plays a very small role in admissions. Unless they write something pretty amazing it doesn't really help. Just look at it as an opportunity to learn more about the school from someone who went there. Didn't get an interview and got accepted to wharton anyways.</p>

<p>in your opinion is there a good chance that a person who lives in ny would get an interview?</p>

<p>I doubt it. Very few Penn grads make it across the Hudson.</p>

<p>Really? That surprises me. I'd expect that the Wharton Diaspora covers the entire world.</p>

<p>Check out the alumni location for jobs. There are more than enough alumni.
Not to mention Penn Club: <a href="http://www.pennclub.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pennclub.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>