<p>At the MIT information session I went to yesterday, the admissions officer said that getting an interview increases your chances of being accepted fourfold. </p>
<p>Good thing I live in NYC and am essentially guaranteed an interview. :p</p>
<p>Found this interesting and thought I would share for those who didn't know.</p>
<p>But it’s also true that if your interview is waived (no interviewer in your area) you have the same chances as someone who was interviewed. Not having an interview only reflects on you negatively if you chose not to have one.</p>
<p>To be honest, I don’t really think the relationship between interviewing and being accepted is really that simple.</p>
<p>People who don’t choose to have interviews may be different from people who choose to have interviews in ways other than their interview choice. For instance, it’s reasonable to assume that people who don’t choose to have interviews aren’t as serious about their applications, and therefore may not have put very much effort into other parts of the application, as well. </p>
<p>I certainly don’t think the admissions officers look negatively on applications without interviews – the interview really is optional. But it’s a chance for you to show yourself in person, not on paper, and many people are more compelling in that environment. Not having an interview when one was available doesn’t reflect badly on you, you’re just giving up an opportunity to make your application better.</p>
<p>^While I doubt it’s as simple as the OP put it, your point is not dissimilar to his/hers. The interview very rarely decreases your chances, and almost certainly increases them. It shows an interest in the school, and if it shows that it’s one of your top choices [if it genuinely is the interviewer will notice and as far as I can tell they recognize dishonesty and faking], probably more so. As far as I can tell by the admins’ and ECs statements about the interview [ones I’ve read on this site], it’s a pretty important optional part of the application, and has a noticeable effect.</p>
<p>mollie - as always - is correct.</p>
<p>I went to an information session and you are misquoting. They said people who have an interview are four times as likely to be accepted, but does not increases one’s chances. </p>
<p>Self-selection</p>