<p>I checked online for the available time and realized I will be busy. How important is the interview for Northwestern?</p>
<p>I seem to get the impression that these interviews suddenly being offered are purely informational and primarily for your benefit. It shouldn't hurt your chances if you don't go, though having one might show extra interest or something.</p>
<p>According to the interview site on Northwestern's site:</p>
<p>"You will meet one-on-one with a Northwestern alumnus/a. The atmosphere is friendly and conversational. The alumni interviewer will ask you some questions to learn more about you and your interest in Northwestern. You will also have the opportunity to learn more about Northwestern by conversing with the alumnus/a"</p>
<p>"The interviewer will complete a brief written report, summarizing the interview, which will be sent to the Undergraduate Admission Office to be added to your file."</p>
<p>So I would say it is, somehow, beneficial to have one.</p>
<p>Alumni interview reports are of very limited importance in the admissions decision. If an applicant is not a good interviewee, he should presumably pass, unless s/he is really just interested in the informational aspects of the interview. If s/he is great in interviews, then it might be worth doing, but the benefits to the applicant are really limited in terms of improving one's chances of admission - except, of course, for those limited schools (usually, but not always, small LA colleges) which require interviews.</p>
<p>When did you all apply? My D applied by the Jan. 1 deadline, but I wouldn't have expected to received any sort of response so quickly.</p>
<p>The notification was sent by e-mail; I applied on Jan 1, but they sent me the info. on interviews the next day. Very prompt and professional IMHO</p>
<p>I didn't give an interview myself, and I'm still here, so I wouldn't sweat it. :)</p>
<p>I'm still waiting for an open spot. Since I'm so far away from NU and in an obscure area, there probably isn't an alumni here</p>