<p>I have read a bunch in these forums about how interviews don't really matter, and in short could have negative value but generally don't sway much to the positive. Having just been through a reasonable number of interviews with our kids, I guess I am wondering about the likelihood interviews are not in fact important. Having spent some years hiring (and firing) folks, the power of impression through direct human interaction seems unarguable. As I understand the admissions process, at some point there is a holistic/qualitative advocacy moment whereby the admissions team discusses and reviews potential applicants. I have a hard time believing AOs really pound the table in advocacy for kids who did not have resonating interviews. </p>
<p>So, I would be curious to hear from anyone who is personally familiar with the admissions team process, with some perspective on how influential interview performance really is in the filtering and advocacy sequence...</p>
<p>When we went through the application process two years ago, my daughter was accepted to a couple of selective schools despite her truly abysmal SSAT scores. We were surprised, and at the revisits, I asked the AOs directly about that. In both cases, they told me that although her scores were much lower than their average, her interview was the thing that tipped the scales in her favor. They found her interesting and thought she would contribute something special to their community. So yes, I think it it is very important!</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone has ever said they don’t matter-- a bad interview (kid or parents seem obnoxious, kid doesn’t really want to go, no interest in anything ) can definitely matter in a negative way-- and lots of enthusiasm, great personality, interesting kid can matter in a positive way. I think what people have said (including myself) is that kids do sometimes get in with a lackluster interview-- not a terrible one, just one in which they didn’t seem to connect-- and that some quieter, less out-there kids can still get in, despite not sparkling at an interview. That’s just true, from personal experience-- but that’s not saying the interviews don’t matter a lot for some kids.</p>
<p>Cameo43 & Daykidmon both right and interviews are a decent slice of the pie. Cameo43 comments hold true for many applicants whose ssat scores were not all that impressive. It’s been discussed / debated before but IMO the parents are checked out as well. I am also aware of instances where the kid is great and the school accepts despite parents that fail. Attached again, detailed insight from the Episcopal High School Admission Team initially provided by i70’band.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.admission.org/data/files/gallery/MemberandaPDFs/2012SpringMemberanda72.pdf”>http://www.admission.org/data/files/gallery/MemberandaPDFs/2012SpringMemberanda72.pdf</a></p>
<p>As I’ve posted many times before, we were never aware of being interviewed, never saw the inside of any AO’s office. CK interviewed with alums, so no one was in the room pounding the table for him. I do believe in the human factor, though, and agree that good rapport can be helpful and disconnects are neutral at best.</p>