<p>I sent in part 1 of my application in late september, but two of my friends who are applying to CC who submitted their part 1 later than I did have already been contacted by an interviewer. Does the interviewing process differ for each school or should I just keep waiting to see if I will be contacted?</p>
<p>have a smoke and relax</p>
<p>Interviews are given randomly based upon Alumni availability and number of applicants. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, as plenty of students who do not receive interviews are generally accepted.</p>
<p>It's the same interview process and randomness. However, CC alums sometimes don't like to interview SEAS kids so it might be slightly different in that respect.</p>
<p>soif you get an interview from a columbia alumni, does it mean you have better chance get accepted?</p>
<p>No..........</p>
<p>Actually, interviews are not random. If you get interviewed, chances are that they want to see if you're really worth admitting. If you don't get interviewed, you're probably already accepted.</p>
<p>MediocrePerson, please stop talking off the top of your head (or out of any other bodily orifice).</p>
<p>All interviews are assigned based on 1) when you submitted Part I (first come first serve) and 2) which region you are from.</p>
<p>An interview can only help you, and will rarely, if ever, hurt you.</p>
<p>Plus, they haven't made decisions yet. In fact, they're going to start conferencing and voting probably on December 1st and give out the decisions a week later.</p>
<p>I'm right. Don't listen to this guy; he doesn't want you to get in.</p>
<p>"MediocrePerson, please stop talking off the top of your head (or out of any other bodily orifice)."</p>
<p>lol. line of the day!</p>
<p>
[quote]
An interview can only help you, and will rarely, if ever, hurt you.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>They can hurt you if you act like a <a href="mailto:dumb@ss">dumb@ss</a>. If you get the lowest rating possible from your interviewer ("Not Recommended"), and the interviewer has good support for that rating, you're going to get rejected unless you're a genius. I would disagree with this. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Actually, interviews are not random. If you get interviewed, chances are that they want to see if you're really worth admitting. If you don't get interviewed, you're probably already accepted.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You're a mediocre person, but a terrible poster.</p>
<p>i take that kind of personally. do you mind taking that back please?</p>
<p>Mediocoreperson, Where do you come up with that idea? I know people admitted with and without interviews, and people not admitted with and without interviews. Interviewees are picked randomly, based on location, alumni availability, etc. etc.. I wouldn't start celebrating. If you haven't received an interview it doesn't hurt or help your chances at all. Interviews don't have near as much weight as your stats, essays, recs, etc.. Just look at the sheer volume of students applying every year, it would take a tremendous effort to interview every student. Columbia is very selective, therefore yields very well accomplished applicants. I can assure you that competition for these spots is fierce due to so many students with such similar stats. It is very difficult to judge a person by 1 short interview, especially considering how nerve-wrecking and intimidating these interviews are. </p>
<p>From office of undergrad admissions : Columbia</a> University Office of Undergraduate Admissions - First Year Admission</p>
<p>
[quote]
because we have a finite number of alumni volunteers to interview the many thousands of candidates who will apply for admission, we are unable to grant interviews to all of our applicants and can provide absolutely no guarantee that an interview will be available in any given area. Please note that interviews will be offered only in the area where your high school is located; if you have finished high school and are no longer nearby, an interview will not be available to you. The earlier you submit Application for Admission I of your application, the better your chances are for an alumni interview. If the Alumni Representative Committee is able to offer you an interview, you will be contacted directly by an ARC member. Please note that interviews are conducted only by Alumni Representative Committee members, are not offered on campus and are positively not a requirement for admission. Candidates who are not offered an interview are not at any disadvantage in the admissions process. Because the actual assignment of interviews is not conducted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, please do not call or write to inquire about receiving an interview.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As you can see the admissions office does not even arrange the interviews. Therefore they really don't hold much weight.</p>
<p>that's not what i heard.</p>
<p>by the way, please no more ad hominem attacks. let's debate this maturely.</p>
<p>^ok, let's not have these hypocritical standards of sensitivity, mediocreperson, you personally attacked truazn by categorizing his opinion as coming from someone who does not want others get in. I'm pretty sure truazn is a student at columbia and probably has applicants' interests at heart. You, on the other hand, not so sure.... </p>
<p>Your analysis of interviewing is not just wrong, it's counter-intuitive and bad advice, which makes me wonder where you're getting it from. columbia accepts a tenth of their applicants, and few alumni actually have the time to interview, so each year only a small/medium proportion of applicants can be interviewed. If they really want to take you, seeing that you are for example a published fiction writer or musical or scientific genius, they'll take you, and if you have poor grades and no way of showing that you'll cope with the workload, they really couldn't care less about your personality. </p>
<p>so an interview is to give them a better idea of students in the grey area - i.e. students they actually want to know more about, so that they make the right decisions. all this is deeply contrained by the ratio of applicants:interviewing alumni in your area. So you might not get an interview even if in the grey area. not getting an interview means nothing, whereas getting an interview means they're considering taking you, and then you have an extra chance to display why they should take you. since it's easier to stand out one to one in an interview than it is for your application to stand out among 20,000, an interview generally helps.</p>
<p>Let's just agree to disagree.</p>
<p>Voters, think carefully about the cases we've made for each side. Choose responsibly.</p>
<p>^no one's voting, we're trying to help hs students, and it's thoroughly unjust to give an applicant hurtful advice.</p>
<p>This is not a stage for you to show off your debating skills.. Please say things that can help us..</p>
<p>^whom was that directed to? please direct comments to people or make it obvious.</p>
<p>Confidentialcoll - I agree 100% which is why I posted the link in the first place. I have a feeling this poster is a troll. </p>
<p>MediocrePerson - Nobody is debating you, those are facts. Apparently what you've "heard" is just not true. This may different for other schools, but Columbia is an exception. The procedures posted by confidentialcoll are 100% accurate. Your "case" has absolutely no credibility. All you state is "I've heard otherwise." I understand you may a kid and it may seem like fun and games to provoke people on this board, cause you think it's funny to see Columbia alum/students/applicants/enthusiasts to get all riled up.</p>
<p>With that said, kindly refrain from posting this nonsense, if you would like to make a "debate." you must bring evidence of your gestures. This is a very critical time in the application process. Many students come here to seek advice that may directly effect their futures. Kindly quit the nonsense.</p>