<p>Would I ruin my chance of getting into Columbia if I prefer to not have an interview?</p>
<p>Pretty much, if you deny an interview request.</p>
<p>^is that sarcasm?</p>
<p>no, he’s telling the truth. columbia (or any school) dislikes it when folks deny interview requests. its like here is an opportunity that not everyone gets, and you’re saying no? how interested could you be in the school if you do that.</p>
<p>i guess when schools stress it’s truly optional, they’re pretty much lying lol. i know many things, like optional essays, essentially mean required, but i’ve never heard of that for interviews. good to know for the future.</p>
<p>um, columbia is very up front what they mean
a) the interview is not required for admission. it is a way of saying - well we can’t guarantee everyone will get one, so we wont make it mandatory for admission, yet it is not the same thing as it being truly optional.
b) i’ve heard the speech enough times at a cu info session: they often stress that denying an interview request is bad form.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Uh . . . I’d say that generally, optional essays are optional. I didn’t submit the optional essay for UChicago and I was accepted EA.</p>
<p>harvard521, were you contacted recently about your interview?
i really wanted one and figured my chance was gone</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Columbia never says that it’s “truly optional” and never conveys the message that it’s okay to deny an interview you’re offered. They say it’s not required to have an interview simply because they can’t offer everyone an interview. If anything, it’s Columbia’s option to interview you.</p>
<p>ok guys, just an innocent observation.
i was referring to all colleges, not specifically columbia. i’ve gotten the impression from CC that interviews are weighted surprisingly little, so denying an interview would hardly ruin a person’s chances for admissions.
@evertheoptimist: yes i’ve read that many people were admitted without writing the optional essay, but the general consensus is that they are strongly recommended. i will work on my word choice in the future.</p>
<p>They say the interview gives no unfair advantages and they’re telling the truth. The only thing they take from interviews is whether the student made it obvious they’d be a poor choice to accept by: a. denying the interview or b. interviewing terribly. The interview just weeds kids out it doesn’t give anyone unfair advantage.</p>
<p>No, I haven’t applied, yet. I’m applying next year, but I was just wondering because I get nervous around people I don’t know, especially if its an interview.</p>
<p>hey kid - yeah its weird, but the rest of your life will involve interviews. so use the next year or so to get comfortable in your skin, the only way to impress folks is to become effective at communicating who you are and balancing between being confident, engaging and when necessary humble.</p>