My daughter just came from her alumni interview. We weren’t sure if she should accept it only because she hasn’t done one before and didn’t want to negatively impact her chances of getting in. Anyway, she thinks she did ok, not fabulous. Any input on how much they weigh the alumni interview? Anyone else interviewed by alumni yet?
Most people think alumni interviews do not matter much. Colleges like to keep alumni involved with the school and interviews are a great way to do that. But, if you are offered an interview and turn it down, that looks bad. So, be happy that she went ahead and did it. Letters of recommendations matter so much more than a 45 minute interview in a Starbucks. So, if she only thinks it went ok, don’t worry too much about it.
As an interviewer for my 3rd cycle for Stanford, I don’t think they matter very much. I enjoy doing them, and at least my observation in participating in mass interview sessions with multiple applicants/multiple interviewers is that they are low stress informal affairs for everybody involved. I think mine are easy; I only make you talk about what you know.
Because they can’t offer interviews to everybody, I don’t think turning it down looks bad. I actually don’t think they know if you turned an interview down, as we are not queried if a connection is not made. Worst of all (but probably invisible to the school) is not even responding to the interview request; seems rude, and we explicitly state the interview is optional.
@DHMchicago I interview for an Ivy and the home office definitely wants to know if the student outright rejects the interview offer. I suspect that is a very bad mark for the student. We also cannot interview everyone so not being interviewed isn’t penalized. But a student’s rejection? Oh heck naw.
As to how much they matter? After interviewing for +25 years, my thoughts are summarized here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/20037525#Comment_20037525
@T26E4 We were specifically told during interviewer training that declining an interview does not have a negative affect on a Stanford application. Our undergraduate admissions website also states as much. I can’t go into specifics beyond on the declination process that because those tidbits are confidential, so suffice it to say that I believe them. There are many valid reasons that a student might decline an interview, especially since interviews are assigned based on their reported home zip code–perhaps they are overseas on an exchange program, or out of town that week visiting an ailing relative to be with them in their final moments–and Montag Hall recognizes that. Each school does things a bit differently from what I’ve seen.
@6zibellis I agree with all of what DHMchicago has to say above about Stanford interviews. If the interviewer also thought she did “ok but not fabulous,” I wouldn’t expect that the interviewer would write up a strongly enough worded report to have a significant positive or negative impact on her app. The most important thing about the interview–and we interviewers are fully aware of this–is to allow the applicant to hear about what it’s like to be a student at Stanford from someone who has firsthand experience. I’ve posted this link to an interview with Dean Shaw by the Stanford Daily a few other places:
http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/05/27/admission-students-reflect-on-pilot-interview-program/
@Era991 – travelling overseas or something viable is certainly acceptable to my alma mater. But a declination is noted.
@T26E4 We note declinations as well, but it is done in such a way that it doesn’t negatively impact an application. Stanford does not require that a reason be given for declining. Directly from the mouths of Stanford AO’s, as well as our website.
@Era991 Thanks for your insider’s perspective. I hope you enjoy interviewing as much as I have over these many years.