<p>Hey, does anyone know if Chicago requires/offers interviews? If they do, are they alumni interviews or actual interviews with admissions officers? When I go visit the campus, should I book one? Are interviews recommended, and when are they usually given?
Thanks guys :)</p>
<p>They don't require them but they are strongly recommended. You can ask for an alumni interview in your application or you can have an interview on campus when you come to visit with an admissions officer.</p>
<p>btw, i had mine on campus with an officer and he was really nice and knew what he was doing. I would prefer to have it on campus instead of with an alumni who might not have much experience interviewing and might not be able to write the best rec for you, no matter how much they like you.</p>
<p>Ok thanks for the info :) I guess I will definitely ask for an on-campus interview. When did you guys interview/visit the campus? Does it have to be after you've submitted your application. I'm planning to go around visiting universities this summer (I'm a junior this year). Do you think an interview the summer before senior year is too early?</p>
<p>Our son interviewed on campus during his visit there in October. He interviewed for ~hour on a Friday afternoon, spent the night in the dorms as a guest and took the tour/admin session on Saturday morning. (We stayed in a hotel in downtown Chicago) He had a great interview with an admissions officer. They really seemed to connect. The woman running the admissions office is a saint, btw! So kind amid all of the chaos. In fact, everyone we met at U of Chicago was very friendly, even the bookstore cashiers. Even the lady at the rental car counter at the airport was cheerful and happy.</p>
<p>I requested an alumni interview mid-october and I recently received an email stating that they could not schedule me an interview because i requested it too late.. even though i am applying RD and the app says i had to request one by Jan. 1. I cant afford to visit the university =( so I emailed them back about any options i may have, but havent received a reply. Moral: request it soon, asap, spiritedaway</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice wondrlst, but I'm still a junior this year :) haha, so there's still plently of time for me. The reason I was wondering is because I'm going on a tour of universities this summer, and I was wondering if I should have my interview on campus then, or whether I should wait until after I've submitted my application? Is it okay to interview before you send the school any sort of material?</p>
<p>Do it ASAP! Most schools dont care what part of the application you do first, so it should be fine. Contact their offices and confirm that</p>
<p>My S applied EA and when he submitted his app (on the deadline) he asked for a local alumni interview. We were called the next week and it was scheduled right away. Nice person, great interview.</p>
<p>I did an on campus interview before I submitted my EA app.</p>
<p>Living in MN the trip to chicago isnt a huge problem (especially for something as great as uchicago) and we have several people we can stay with so there is no dealing with a hotel. </p>
<p>My interview was nice, but I would reccomend taking the tour/info session first (maybe even sit through a class). When I called them, they offered me an interview on a monday morning that would be over so I could take the brief tour. I was able to visit and walk around the campus on Sunday, but I don't think the interview would have been as useful if I hadnt.</p>
<p>So basically, if you can do on campus, call early and try to take a tour first.</p>