Is it true only "promising" applicants get contacted for interviews?

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay so I'm applying to colleges this year (obviously) and I have this question about interviews.</p>

<p>I always figured colleges that give alumni interviews "do their best" to contact every applicant within an area where alumni are, right? Regardless of who you are or how your application looks, I figured both the 4.0 and the 2.0 student have an equal chance of getting an interview with Harvard once they submit their application, (given that both submit it on time), right? Perhaps students who submitted their apps first will get contacted first, but that doesn't necessarily mean students who submitted apps later on won't get one (unless there's a specific interview deadline of course).</p>

<p>But now my friends and parents and counselors are giving me all sorts of conflicting information. </p>

<p>Like the following: </p>

<p>1) colleges contact students they like the best first after reviewing their application for an interview. is this true?
2) really poor students will not be contacted for an interview because that would just be "a waste of the college's time" since they're getting rejected anyway. true or false? (by really poor, i mean like a 3.0/1700 applying to harvard or something)
3) if you never get contacted for an interview, it's because you suck/have lower chances of being accepted than those who do get contacted. true or false?
4) "informational meetings" (one-to-one) with alumni to ask questions about the school and stuff aren't actual interviews. true or false?
5) the interview will make or break your chances. T/F?
6) the interview means virtually nothing. t/f?
7) never order any food or drink during an interview if the interviewer is paying. only ask for a glass of water if pressured just to be polite. t/f?</p>

<p>Thanks for your help!!</p>

<p>okay i mean seriously, i can't figure out how important interviews are at all. for example, supposedly you absolutely need one as an application requirement for georgetown...my alumni interviewer contacted me over a month after i got my ea acceptance!!</p>

2

<p>
[quote]

1) colleges contact students they like the best first after reviewing their application for an interview. is this true?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This probably depends on the college but most of the colleges that I have researched give interviews to as many applicants as they can.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2) really poor students will not be contacted for an interview because that would just be "a waste of the college's time" since they're getting rejected anyway. true or false? (by really poor, i mean like a 3.0/1700 applying to harvard or something)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I really haven't heard of this happening but I suppose it can?</p>

<p>
[quote]
3) if you never get contacted for an interview, it's because you suck/have lower chances of being accepted than those who do get contacted. true or false?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It probably depends more on whether or not there are alumni in your area. </p>

<p>
[quote]
4) "informational meetings" (one-to-one) with alumni to ask questions about the school and stuff aren't actual interviews. true or false?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Can't answer this one because I've never heard of these "informational meetings." I would imagine they're not the same unless they're actually called "alumni interviews" for the purpose of admission.</p>

<p>
[quote]
5) the interview will make or break your chances. T/F?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don't think interviews really hurt unless they're flat-out awful. But keep in mind that a failure to take an opportunity to help yourself stand out is essentially something that hurts your chances, right?</p>

<p>
[quote]
6) the interview means virtually nothing. t/f?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If it meant nothing they wouldn't waste time doing it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
7) never order any food or drink during an interview if the interviewer is paying. only ask for a glass of water if pressured just to be polite. t/f?

[/quote]

Absolutely not. I would find it rude if I offered someone something to eat or drink and they said "no" and watched me eat. Just don't order a lobster dinner.</p>

3

<p>Several interviewers (I wasn't interviewed by them...conflict of interests) have told me that the process generally involves the school sending a list of all the applicants in an area to the alumni coordinator of that area. He/she then distributes those names to the other interviewers in the area. They will interview as many students as possible; there is no "review" process prior to choosing applicants, and all the interviewers receive is the student's name and contact information. After the interview, the alumnus/a will write a report and send it to the school to be placed in your file. </p>

<p>Many applicants will not be able to be offered an interview due to a lack of alumni in their area, so there really can't be much weight in admissions placed on the interview. A absolutely horrible one might hurt your chances, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the interviewer could help you. Otherwise, it won't have much effect. </p>

<p>(This is just for Ivy League schools, by the way. Other colleges may have very different procedures, and the interview could mean a lot more at those schools.)</p>

4

<p>For my HYP alma mater, a lot of what you've cited is rubbish. Our +20000 applicants don't get sorted before their info is sent to the area coordinators. All we have is contact info w/o any knowledge if the interviewee is a shoo-in or a zero-percent applicant. OK?</p>

5

<p>No, they offer everyone an interview if there are alum available in their area.</p>

<p>And it does mean nothing, the point is to sell you on the school and give you an opportunity to ask questions.</p>

<p>If I interview a student at a meal time I'm happy to pay for their meal.</p>