<p>How much of a difference can a outstanding recommendation from an interviewer make in an admissions decision? I interviewed for my early school recently and was told that they would highly recommend me at the end of the interview. Any experiences suggesting that these recommendations can make a significant impact?</p>
<p>Interviews really make very little difference. An interview can only hurt you if you really are strange or do something bizarre like get angry. I have heard about this anecdotally, as I’ve also heard of interviewers who routinely submit poor reports not getting asked to interview anymore.</p>
<p>Interviews are more like a confirmation that you’re conversational and do not alarm your interviewer. Interviewers don’t know your school record or anything about you, and are not supposed to comment on your appearance.</p>
<p>If your interviewer sets off alarm bells it might be an issue. I really hate interviewers that use the opportunity to lord their legacy over any 17 year old.</p>
<p>Anyway, don’t worry about it - but as said in the “crazy interview” thread which is here somewhere on CC - if you really have a bad experience, like your interviewer did something really inappropriate, let the admissions office know.</p>
<p>A bad interview can hurt you. A good interview may not help you.</p>
<p>It depends on the school. For some schools, it just confirms your interest and allows you to ask questions. For others, the interview does have weight.</p>
<p><a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/do-college-admissions-interviews-matter[/url]”>http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/do-college-admissions-interviews-matter</a></p>
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<p>It’s highly uncommon for an interview to make a negative impact on an application. </p>
<p>In our D’s most recent interview, for a school where interviews are “considered” according to the s common data set, the interviewer flat out told D he was not allowed by the college to submit any negative information.</p>
<p>^^ That’s odd, as I was under the impression that most Admissions Offices wanted alumni interviewers to discuss if an applicant seemed, for whatever reason, inappropriate for their college.</p>
<p>Every school has a different policy - you will need to check each school’s CDS to determine how much value it places on the interview.</p>
<p>Gaining information for use in the admission decision is only one aspect of how interviews are used. Often interviews are used to help in the recruiting process of applicants as well as a PR campaign to keep alums involved with their alma mater.</p>