<p>We're planning to visit about a dozen colleges over the next two months. All but a few of those schools include an interview among the admission options, and several of them strongly recommend one. </p>
<p>My question is, is it better in general to do the interview on the first visit, or is it OK to go back and interview after the school has been applied to (or at least, after you know the school has made the final cut)? </p>
<p>I think our son was hoping to fly under the radar a bit on these initial visits, digest the experience, pare down his list, and then go back for the interviews armed with a more definite sense of why he's applying to each school. But if this approach will hurt his chances, we need to know that.</p>
<p>This is actually a best-case-scenario approach. Your son will arrive on campus for the interview armed with enthusiasm and information that he might not be able to offer during an initial look-see and which should improve his admission odds.</p>
<p>Often, of course, this two-pronged approach is impractical. Many students simply can’t afford to spend the money (or the time) that two visits will demand. But if your son can swing it, it’s a good plan.</p>
<p>Note, however, that on-campus interviews, where available, are typically more effective than alumni interviews. So be careful that the double-visit gambit–which may seem like a good idea right now–isn’t derailed as your son’s life gets busier. If he can’t return to campus as expected, he might end up with alum interviews.</p>
<p>If this is your first time through the process, be aware that “interview” is something of a misnomer. These are nothing like job interviews and typically have little to no impact on admissions. They are sessions for you to gather information about the school, as well as to express your interest (just by showing up). Typical format is for the applicant to spend 20-30 minutes with someone in the admissions office (who is often an upperclassman, not an admissions officer), and then the parent(s) will be called in to ask any questions they may have.</p>
<p>Don’t stress it too much. If your son really has the time, I think narrowing down the list and re-visiting when school is in session is a good idea. For my oldest, getting a look at the student body was the most important part of the visits.</p>
<p>This is true in some cases but not entirely accurate. My little rule of thumb is that the more selective a college is, the less the interview “counts” (but there are definitely exceptions). The students who worry about interviews the most may be those aiming for the Ivies … where the interviews (usually with alums; sometimes with students or others) carry little wallop. </p>
<p>However, at many other colleges, especially some sought-after liberal arts schools, the interview can certainly help push a borderline candidate into the “Yes” pile. (And, at such schools, interviews with staff members are more common than with student interns.)</p>
<p>A bad interview can also sometimes propel a good prospect into the “No” stack, but this is less likely. </p>
<p>So I advise students to try not to stress over the interviews, because they probably won’t torpedo admission chances for qualified candidates, but interviews can indeed help a prospect who might otherwise be denied.</p>
<p>In some cases the interview can make or break an application. If the student is really gung-ho on the school, that will come out and will be noted. If the student is just applying because the parents tell him to, that too MAY come out and will be noted. If you are choosing between two candidates, guess who gets the offer?</p>
<p>If a student is marginal, but has a really great story/angle, that can come out in an interview too.</p>
<p>One interviewer said she just tries to get an idea of the student’s personality. In 10 years, she only vetoed 3 people.</p>