<p>I think it really depends on the how the school weighs the “conversation” or the interview. From what I gathered about my own interviews, in the situation of the “alumni interview”, the school had already more or less put me into the acceptance pile pending the alum meeting with me to make sure I wasn’t a psycho. When I met with the alum, it was like having a convo with an old friend I had never met. No mistake that when I attended the school, it had the same feel as the conversation with the alum, which was, in turn, one of the reasons I selected the school. Other interviews were not the same, and some were pressure-cookers.</p>
<p>I assumed that the student WANTS an alumni interview has to show some interest of the college on the students part. It surprises me that some students show up not knowing specifics about the college.</p>
<p>Honestly, calling it a “conversation” would scare me more. Much easier for the student to let their guard down and disclose things they should not.</p>
<p>Polar Bear, I don’t know where you were interviewing. I know my own alma mater really tries to find an alumni interview for every applicant who wants one, and there is no evaluation or screening done before local alumni clubs assign interviewers to applicants. In other words, at this university, having an alumni interview means that your file is otherwise complete, but it says nothing else at all about whether you’re likely to be admitted.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC</p>