Interviews and International Students

Applying to College
1

Hi all

I know interviews are an optional part of the college application process and don’t carry much weight anyhow, but I was wondering if an interview or lack thereof means anything for an international student.

I was told that I would get interviews if interviewers were available in my region and I have received one face-to-face request from someone in my region but also skype interview requests from people in completely different time zones.
How do colleges go about deciding these things? I can understand that someone would get an interview if there are interviewers available in the region but if there aren’t any, do colleges give skype interviews completely randomly?

I’ve read different things on CC: some say that no interview is a bad sign for an international student, others that it makes absolutely no difference and they got in without, and some that there is an initial sorting process before international interviews are assigned (especially if there is nobody in the region).

Could anyone shed some light on this? Should I be worried that my dream school has not contacted me and is it a sign of interest if others have?

Many thanks!

2

If you’re offered an interview - face to face or by skype, take it. Inform the college so that they stop forwarding your name to alumni/alumnae.
As for the impact or what it means… no one knows. It depends on unknown factors.

3

Each college and university sets its own policy about this. My undergraduate college finds a way to interview every single applicant - some in person, some by telephone, some by skype. It all depends on how easy it is for a potential interviewer to communicate with the applicant in question.