Just wondering about the nature of interviews in the big picture. Does the interview count for that much? Also, among the following schools which should I get interviews for, ie which places the most importance on interviews…
Harvard
Dartmouth
Princeton
UVA
Rice
Case Western
WUSTL
U Wash
Stanford
UChicago
<p>i will preface this reply by saying interview typically do not weigh heavily in the process. on the other hand, they can be used to evaluate a student, so you should accept as many interviews as you are offered or able to arrange. while no school will say the interview means much, the fact is that, if you are a close call at any school, having an interview may end up tipping the scale in your favor. </p>
<p>if you plan on visiting a school, you should do your best to arrange an on campus interview if it is offered. on the flipside, don't go out of your way to visit a school simply to interview. finally, if a school offers an alumni interview to you, you should take it unless you are sure you have no intent of going to that school at some point in the admissions process. declining an interview theoretically should not hurt you, but why would you risk looking like someone who doesn't show interest in the process when hundreds of other applicants <em>do</em>?</p>