<p>Are interviews required, recommended, or neither?</p>
<p>As far as I know, interviews are not required, but recommended. The purpose of the interview is to help you as a prospective student, a chance for you to ask questions about WUSTL, as well as for the interviewer to learn more about your interests. It's a chance to discuss with the interviewer. It's meant to be a comfortable exchange, not a job interview. The interviewer can be a senior student, a parent, an alum, or from the office of admissions. College visits are ideal, but if not possible, often interviews can be arranged in your home town.</p>
<p>I'm a little worried because I went up to St. Louis for the Discovery Weekend, but I didn't get an interview. I hope it doesn't matter if I get an alum one instead...</p>
<p>To help assuage your concern....my interviewer was the parent(who didn't go to WashU) of a WashU kid....and I still got in. I would say that it's not a good idea to ignore the interview, but it's not THE deciding thing for your application.</p>