<p>My son just got an email invitation to interview with Northwestern reps here in Denver. He already did a group info session here and visited NU for a tour and info session. He applied RD. Is everyone getting this invitation or is this special?</p>
<p>I never got an invitation, and I did all those same things. Interviews are run by individuals in the area, so it’s possible that it’s just something the reps in Denver like to do. Or they want clarification on something in the app, or you just have a remarkable son. :)</p>
<p>I would like to think it’s that I have a remarkable son…but from what I can tell all the other kids applying to NU are pretty remarkable, too! The invitation came from NU, then I had to choose the location, so I don’t think it’s just the local reps doing it. They gave a list of time options and a specific date and place, so they must be inviting a number of applicants. Regardless, it’s a good thing to do to show interest and be more than just the numbers.</p>
<p>We got a similar notice here in Connecticut, will be interviewing</p>
<p>Interviews don’t mean much.</p>
<p>^ You don’t know that this cycle. Interviews are tough to figure out. Maybe the student is competitive but a rec gave them pause so they want to meet the applicant to get a better sense of what he/she’s like. It could be because he’s a superstar and they want to woo him. It could be because he had good stats but a lackluster app. Or maybe poor stats but stunning recs and essays. Or maybe it’s just random, who knows. There are many reasons.</p>
<p>They don’t mean much, if anything at all. I specifically asked an admissions rep about it and he said interviews are mostly informational and they see it but don’t really take it into account.</p>
<p>My S’s key stats are:</p>
<p>ACT: 32 best comp (36 on math section)/33 superscore (with 34 on science section)
SATII: 800 chem/740 mathII/740 physics
AP Chem 5 (taking calc and physics this year, didn’t take exams for Macroecon, 3 on Euro Hist)
GPA: 4.0 weighted/3.85 or 3.9 unweighted
Multiple school awards for Science, English and Community Service
National Merit Commended
Will have 13 hours of college credit (including Organic Chemistry I, II and labs at University of Colorado)
over 500 hours of community service
President of Temple Youth Group
Founder and leader of academic club
on Science Bowl team that placed 3rd in state
internship with aerospace/alternative energy company</p>
<p>I think he wrote great essays, but I’m just the mom!
I saw his recommendations and thought they were very personal and long, which I think makes them really good.</p>
<p>I think the GPA and scores might be a bit low for NU,so maybe he is on the borderline. However, it seems to me, especially from what I see on CC, that there are so many kids applying with much higher scores that they could fill all their spaces with just those applicants, so I don’t know why they would go to the effort of interviewing those on the borderline. We shall see, I guess.</p>
<p>so many people say interviews don’t matter and they are for student info, but then why, why at my interview was I asked questions the whole time? If it is just for student info they wouldnt being trying to see your character. I felt like my interview was a saving grace for my app. The lady had been doing it 20 years and said the school really considered her opinion. I think it is much more important than it is usually said to be.</p>
<p>Case in point: Friends dad does Princeton interviews. He’s interviewed 10 people over the years. He’s only dis-recommended 1. Guess which the only one who got in was?</p>
<p>My daughter received the interview email within hours of the application confirmation so I assumed everyone received it as a matter of course. She wasn’t going to do it as we’ve been to Northwestern twice (we live in the Chicago area) and she really doesn’t have any questions. Now I’m wondering about the real purpose.</p>
<p>Pawn, Personally, I would not decline an interview if one was offered. It may be taken the wrong way and you just never know…</p>
<p>Good point. Do you think its possible to be interviewed by someone who was in your major?</p>
<p>i wouldn’t go as far to say they don’t matter at all, but I think most likely work for you/against you at the extremes. If you are a blow-out person, that might help you in tough admissions. By the same token, if you suck as a person that could hurt you in the same light. They are informational too, for you to get a less-censored version of Northwestern from an alum.</p>