Hello,
I was contacted by Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and Dartmouth for alumni interviews. Do I have to accept them(I know Harvard’s is required but the other ones)? I’m not much of a talker and interviews in general freak me out. And what’s the worst possible thing that can happen if I decline. Will it lower my chances drastically?
Hard to say, but admissions will wonder why you decline the interview. They will likely assume you are not interested, or are fearful, so both conclusions could affect your outcome. If you really want to attend a topnotch school, you need social and speaking skills. Professors often include class participation in grades.
Why not use this as an opportunity to stretch yourself? The interviewers are normal people who want you to feel at ease. Perhaps you could practice with an adult and ease your nerves. (Google possible interview questions to prepare.) Good luck.
Thank you! Also, if you don’t do too well in the interview, will it reduce your chances of admission?
I agree with @fauve, it’s going to be really suspicious if you decline the interviews, especially because they are very prestigious schools. Just do a mock-interview with a parent or friend. Think of questions they might ask you. Maybe what you might bring to their school, your intended major, stuff like that. You just have to be confident 
Best of luck! You’ll do great.
Thanks! I just read somewhere that interviews don’t pay a huge role in the admission process anyway. I’m just hoping they don’t drill me with hard questions.
Interviews are not a test. They are not designed to get you or hurt you. If you are afraid of “hard questions” from Harvard, Stanford and Princeton interviewers, then why are you even applying there?
Thank you. Interviews from any college can drill you with hard questions, not just Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. Since these colleges are the only ones that contacted me for an interview, I just used their names.
Interviewers are not asking you to recite, they are usually asking about opinions and feelings. You get to talk about yourself and ask questions about going to the school. Where’s the drilling?
My D is very shy, but none of the interviewers have been harsh. She found it helpful to come prepared with a CV which she handed to the interviewers, so they had a source of information about her that they could use to ask questions.
Don’t worry about being drilled. The interviewer’s job is to answer your questions and get an idea of your personality. There are plenty of shy students at the top Ivies. Just be genuine and honest about your interests and talents. You will be fine.
This.
Elite colleges are not interested in just delivering their benefits to you, nothing expected in return. They deliberately assemble a class where students learn from each other, the synergy making it better for everyone. They want kids that take part in class discussions, that build friendships while in school that lead to networking for the years after college.
You don’t have to be the light of the room, but if it “freaks you out” to sit and have a conversation with someone for 30 minutes then you are probably not the type of student they want. And so the interview is going to work for the purposes the elite colleges want. Decline and you’ve flagged your app. Accept and come across as completely socially inept and that will be noted.
A big public sounds like a better match for you, with large classes where you can sit silent and not be noticed. Hopefully you’ve applied to some of interest to you.
Thank you everybody for your advice and information! I have decided to do the interviews.
Good decision! Generally a person who openly tells about his/her weakness does well in the real situation. I am sure you will do well! Good luck and all the best.
Just be yourself, Sciencer. I’m sure you’ll do fine. Good luck.