<p>Alright guys, as I'm applying to all of my regular decision schools, I'm realizing that I'm going to be offered interviews for most if not all of my colleges. This should be great, but I really don't think that I do well in interviews. Not that I sound like a toddler or an anti-social freak, but I just don't think that I sound very eloquent, or ever end up saying what I mean to say. Basically, interviews are not an enjoyable experience for me. However, if not getting an interview will hurt my chances significantly (b/c of demonstrated interest in everything), I'll do them. </p>
<p>What is your take on the importance of interviews for admissions? Assume that I have the opportunity to have an interview for every school.</p>
<p>Where are you applying?
If you're applying to places like Harvard, interviews are very imporant and turning it down because you don't interview well would probably lead to a rejection.</p>
<p>Interviews are a big part of life. Doing well on interviews is a skill that you need to learn, and the time to start is now. There's much more forgiveness for h.s. students who don't interview well than for college grads who are looking for jobs and don't interview well.</p>
<p>There are plenty of threads on CC with good advice on how to interview. In fact, many have said that a post that I wrote on the subject long ago is one of the best, so use CC's archives, read the threads, and then start practicing your interview skills. The more that you interview, the better you get it at. It also helps to interview first at a safety or lower choice college so that when you interview at your preferred colleges, you know what to expect.</p>
<p>Even if it is just for informational purposes or to sell the student on the college, it's a good idea to have the interview because it will be good practice for the inevitable important interviews the student will need ot have later to get jobs or into graduate school.</p>
<p>happyggal: your interviews are like my college essays, they get better everytime i revise them, and i can't believe i actually submitted the earlier drafts</p>
<p>i missed the deadline for my swarthmore interview :( ... But I interviewed with all my other schools and with the exception of one school, they all went very well. The practice definitely helped.</p>
<p>If you have the opportunity, definitely interview. Just practice beforehand and you'll feel more confident. I wish I could have done an interview.</p>
<p>If an interview is offered, you pretty much have to do it because of the demonstrated interest factor. Often interviews are given by volunteer alumni. Interviews can be evaluative or just informational. At any rate, you can decide how much they are going to rank a half hour interview with a volunteer alumni against your school record, standardized test scores, EC's, essays and teacher/GC recs. I doubt if the interview ever counts for too much so long as you don't raise any red flags by being arrogant or completely tongue-tied. You still have to take it. Imagine the adcom saying "well, he doesn't even care enough to show up for the interview." This is critical for certain schools like WashU, Tufts, and Emory.</p>
<p>flipsta, the rice interview doesn't matter. I called them after the deadline and they said dont worry about it. I'm applying for the Rice/Baylor program.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips, guys. I think I'll just try to tough 'em out; I don't want to have to look back after a rejection and wonder "What if I took that interview?"</p>
<p>I think I'm just going to make this into my own personal question area for questions that aren't worth their own thread. Question #1: Is there a website where I can find out when admissions decisions come out, without having to look at every single college's website? Free delicious chocolate-chip cookie to the first person that responds.*</p>
<p>:( I called Pomona for an inteview, and they said it was STRONGLY suggested especially for those living in the area (as I am), but they were out of room. I would've had to wait after a list of about 90 people. I guess I'm screwed?</p>
<p>Pomona won't expect you to have an interview if they can't give it to you. You should check back later.</p>
<p>schoolisnotforfools: The universal RD reply date for colleges is April 1st. Some colleges will get it out a few days earlier, but their official date is still April 1st. Look for schools that have online websites where you can logon and check your application status. They will mail you a userid and password for their system. In addition to accept/deny info, you can also see what application items they still need to receive/find.</p>
<p>Thanks dufus3709. I've been so focused on applications that I never even thought about regular decision dates. That's going to be crazy! I may have an emotional overload after finding out all of those decisions in that short of a time frame.</p>