<p>I'm applying to Holyoke as an international for next fall.</p>
<p>I'm trying to arrange an off campus interview for next year. I'm travelling to the UK for it, but want to know, where these interviews are normally held (alum home, etc), so that I know what to expect.</p>
<p>Also, when should I arrange it for? All the forms have to be in on Jan 15, so should I arrange it for February?</p>
<p>I'm just really nervous and that's why I have millions of questions. I would really appreciate any help. Also, is the interview REALLY going to aid my application?</p>
<p>Interviews matter at the extremes. A really good one or a really bad one can certainly affect an application. For example, should a candidate arrive at an interview never having encountered soap (the cleaning product rather than the simple object access protocol). The encounter would be telling the university something that might affect the student's life on campus but which would not show up elsewhere on the application.</p>
<p>I was admitted to MHC last year (with a lot of fin aid) without an interview. I could have had an interview within my country but it would have taken me 6 hours by train to get to the interview site (the home town of the alumna; I don't know if we would have met in her home or some public place like a restaurant) and I figured it wasn't worth it.</p>
<p>Frankly, I wouldn't go abroad for an alumni interview. I think alumni interviews generally don't have an impact on admission decisions except for extreme cases as Mikalye pointed out or for ultra-selective colleges (HYP...).</p>
<p>My current college even displays a notice for prospective students saying that interviews rarely affect their admission decisions but are meant to create some personal bond between the college and the applicant. Go figure.</p>
<p>Thanks b@r!um. Are you still at MHC? I feel I need the interview as I'm not like every other candidate (I graduated high school 4 years ago, have done 2 years at college, I can't transfer as I'm currently in full time employment and haven't been in education for 18 months). The fact I can't transfer makes it much more difficult. Plus, I was never an A+ student, although I did very well in college.</p>
<p>Do you think a campus interview would be better?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Have you had an interview outside the US or travelled to the campus for one?
[/quote]
This is kind of tricky to answer. I am an international interviewer for my university, so I am involved in quite a few interviews each year, but I'm not sure I count as "having" an interview outside the US.</p>
<p>Oh, no that's cool! Maybe you would be able to help me? It's just a little thing though: when you interview prospectives, do they go to your house or a restaurant, etc? I know it'll be up to my interview, but I just want a fair idea!</p>
<p>Also, and you completely DO NOT have to answer this as I know it'll probably get spun but, on average how many (%, ratio, whatever) of internationals have been aided by your interview?</p>