I know colleges try and say that it doesn’t matter if you don’t get one, but why even have them if it doesn’t affect applicants? Clearly, there is an advantage in some way to having a good interview over someone who doesn’t even get the chance, right? Am I screwed in the process if no one has contacted me for an interview this late into November?
If the college says that not having an interview will not impact the application, then what are your options? You can believe it or you can work yourself into a tizzy and not believe it. That’s it.
Without knowing the specific college you are talking about, in general, the interviews are conducted by alumni volunteers. So there need to be enough volunteers with availability in a certain geographic area. Remember, these guys are volunteers, so they fit it what they can when they can. And if they can’t, well, then they can’t.
As far as the weight of an interview, I’m of the opinion that a bad interview won’t hurt you unless you are totally belligerent and an outstanding interview won’t make up for a so-so application. At the end of the day, it is what it is.
Many colleges offer informational interviews as a benefit to you, the student, in your search, not as an admissions considerations. It is a way for you to ask questions one on one. Many schools will say outright on their website if interviews will affect the admission decision or not, so look each one up. You can look up the colleges Common Data Set to see how important the interview is.
If “no one has contacted you” for an interview, that depends on each schools’ process. Some, you have to go online and schedule the interview yourself. Some, the interview scheduling will come from the school to you, and will be triggered by your application submission. Again, check to see each college’s process. If you’ve taken all the steps, and haven’t heard in few weeks (from a school that is supposed to contact you), check your email, check your spam folder, and then contact the school to follow up.
It’s for Columbia. Here’s what they say on their site: “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, we respectfully ask that you do not call or write to inquire about receiving an interview. You will be contacted directly if an interview is available in the same area as your high school.”
My friend, who applied the day after me, got his interview for Columbia. I think that’s the main reason why I’m kind of freaking out about interviews. We go to the same high school, so we’re in the same pool, yet he got his interview before me even though he applied later.
You’re worried because a college has not contacted you with a request to interview you? I have 2 students in college and none of the schools have contacted them for an interview. Some smaller LACs offer interviews but it’s initiated and scheduled by the student, not the other way around.
Columbia stands behind its statement of the interview not impacting an applicant’s chances for admission.
Our child’s experience attests to that.
@Jleto18, what’s your friend’s profile? Top of his class? I suspect that a school like Columbia might use interviews more as a tool to promote themselves with top candidates. To sell themselves to the student rather than evaluating the student. I’m only guessing though.
If Columbia is like most selective schools that offer alumni interviews, the list of interview candidates go to a regional alumni coordinator who then assigns interviews to volunteers who are free for that cycle (ED/EA or RD). The number of interviewees for the region may easily exceed alumni who are available. Some interviewers are quicker than others to contact interviewees. I don’t know if the lists are prioritized in any way or if they are completely random. Some guesses, legacies may be prioritized (alumni goodwill purposes); URM’s may be prioritized as part of the outreach to those groups. It sounds like from @Waiting2exhale post that an interview is not a prerequisite for a positive decision.
Are you able to visit at all on your own? If, as WilliamNYC states, “the interviews [are more] a tool to promote themselves with top candidates,” and you feel you are such, you could see if you can arrange to sit in a meeting with a department head and make the requisite inquiries about the program you are interested in. Of course, this would allow for you to show a little of something that you are able to bring to the table as well.
I do know that the engineering school is probably the most sought after, and, therefore, the most besieged, and I would be cautious about seeking a private conference with someone there if you do not think you are able to make a powerful impression on your end.
All in all, though, I would say not to worry about it. Good luck.
Since this is concerning you, I’d try and figure out if the alumni association gets just a list of applicants with contact info and interviews are selected randomly or is there a prioritized list as BKsquared posted. Don’t contact admissions of course and maybe don’t talk about admissions stuff with others.
Is this for ED since RD interviews are usually done in the spring?