The Importance of the Interview

Applying to College
1

<p>I've only been on this site a few days, but I've seen a lot of discussion about grades, GPA, ECs, guidance counselors, supplemental material, and a lot of other stuff. </p>

<p>However, I learned in my application process and seeing where I got in that the most deciding factor, especially with some of the Ivies and top tier universities, is the interview. </p>

<p>On paper, we look a like alike. Great grades, dedicated to ECs, glowing recommendations. Some of us might have done cool research, others might have won prestigious awards, and some shine in other things. It's hard to get through our personality on paper - and that's the most important part when matching a student and a college.</p>

<p>I did three interviews for my admissions process: Duke, MIT, and Yale. I got into all three. I really connected with my interviewers and still keep contact with them, even though I'm only going to MIT. They really got to see my personality and see my passion. I really think that my connections with my interviewers really gave me a leg up in my application because they can tell by my personality if I'd 'fit' in the school.</p>

<p>I got rejected from the only school I did not interview with, WashU in St. Louis, even though the interview was mandatory. Rotten luck might have been a part of it, but I really think that my lack of interviewing also showed my lack of interest in the school. (It was my back up of back up schools.)</p>

<p>Interviewing is a great way to set yourself apart in your personality (and talk yourself up), make connections with interviewers that can last a lifetime, and shows your interest in the school. I thought I would share my views and urge all those applying to interview if poosible with every school you truly want to go to, and even your fifth and sixth choices (if you have that many).</p>

2

<p>I see no evidence that shows that the "most deciding factor... is the interview."</p>

<p>You show part of your personality in the essay. An interview is just a conversation. It's not a big part of the admissions thing, for most schools. It's rarely an important factor.</p>

3

<p>No offense but your perspective is extremely limited (congratulations regardless). Your blanket conclusion (based on your single experience) fly against my experience and the frequently repeated statements by other interviewers and admissions professionals. I've interviewed for near 20 years for one of the schools you mentioned. </p>

<p>There is no set rule on interviews' utility to the individual school. Some interviews matter, some don't. Period. If there was someone on the cusp, I'm sure the interviewer's thoughts would be more closely scrutinized for texture and subtleties not found elsewhere in the file.</p>

<p>My area officer told me that three inner city applicants of a HS that I personally recruit got the final nudge forward with an offer exactly due to the strong interview reports. The fact is that the HS teacher and GC recs offered very little despite the students having very strong metrics -- the recs were all pithy and formulaic. By having an alumni interviewer speak to them, other details of the kids' background and context were given to the admissions committee -- allowing them to confidently offer admissions.</p>

<p>I'm sure if the student displayed some very bad behavior, that would be a strong red flag to the file readers. Once, the student espoused clearly racist views to the interviewer. That was strongly highlighted in the report. An H interviewer (who posts frequently here) once had a student display socially inappropriate hygiene in her presence. This was noted as well. Both of these situations are legitimate facts for the adcom to consider, in my opinion.</p>

<p>I've never had any bizarro behavior in the 100 or so kids I've met. Most have been solid kids that I genuinely could see attending my alma mater -- the fact is that I know they have tremendous competition and I only see one slice of them. In the years I've interviewed, I've had about ten of them offered admissions -- I seriously doubt that any of them got in needing my positive write up. I've also seen some that I thought were very viable get passed over. Such are the numbers and it doesn't bug me.</p>

<p>One year I felt rather cold about one student and wrote a neutral report. Despite this, he was offered a slot (which he turned down). C'est la vie.</p>

<p>I just plainly disagree with your perspective of the importance of the interview across the board.</p>

4

<p>By the way, T26E4, do alumni interviewers ever find out, out of all the applicants who were interviewed, who got accepted into the college and enrolled in the college?</p>

5

<p>Congrats on Duke, MIT, and Yale. Can you post your stats/ECs?</p>

6

<p>dchow: absolutely. Of those offered admissions, we hear almost at the same time as they do. We don't contact them for a few days (to make sure they've rec'd word or due to NCAA regulations if they're recruited athletes). But we heartily offer congrats and immediately invite them to an area reception for admitted students hosted by our alumni chapter. It's an opportunity to gather the families together, offer them congratulations and frankly decrease any likelihood of their turning down our offer (which happens occasionally of course).</p>

<p>Afterwards, we find out if they matriculate or not. For this past season, I had one admit (matriculated) and one WL. We offer any support the families need in coordinating w/other families traveling to campus, etc.</p>

<p>EDIT: we find out about the students WE personally interviewed. Of course we meet the others admitted but we have no info on those interviewed by others nor who they were.</p>

7

<p>I got rejected from the only school I did not interview with, WashU in St. Louis, even though the interview was mandatory.</p>

<p>If the interview was mandatory than I see no reason as to why you are surprised by your rejection. You didn't fulfill all of WashU's requirements for prospective students and so they basically ignored your app. It's like applying to Princeton with only 2 SAT subject tests</p>

8

<p>The interview probably isn't that significant. It's just the perspective of one guy. Yeah, it can assess the traits of the applicant well, but so do essays and recs and application questions. </p>

<p>I think the essay is most important, then the recs, and then the interview.</p>

9

<p>Having read only the Op and skimming the others, it appears that I echo the fact that the interview wasn't all too significant; there's really no deciding evidence that the interview was the deciding factor. It may have been contributing, but so have (I would guess) many many other qualified students who show interest and can speak eloquently. Interviews alone just do no justice. I would assume that you have good stats, EC's, essays.</p>

<p>Now if you had horrible stats, EC's, essays, recommendations, and such and got in solely with the great interviews, then it might say something more substantial, but I doubt this to be the case..</p>

10

<p>At some schools it's important, like MIT especially (6% acceptance for non-interviewees, more like 20% for people who were interviewed.)</p>

<p>Others, like yale, only give an interview for basically your benefit (aka the alumni answers your questions) and the interview doesn't factor in as much. However, if you completely screw it up, it might hurt you.</p>