<p>I know there is already a thread for college interviews, but I wanted to create a thread that answered pragmatic questions rather than detailed experiences. </p>
<p>I’ll start off with a couple questions:</p>
<li>When should a senior interview?</li>
<li>How do you schedule an interview?</li>
</ol>
<p>Well, it works out in different ways. Some colleges send out invitations via e-mail in the fall when college admissions people visit your town. You can respond that way. Or you might request one online. Or if you visit the school you have the option to have the interview there. Your interview can happen during the summer or during the fall or even winter of senior year. I recommend you schedule an interview as soon as you know that you're going to apply to that school.</p>
<p>Thank you...this has been the one part of the application process that still really confuses me, and you have helped already!</p>
<p>And if anyone else has any questions, please feel free to ask them on this thread.</p>
<p>Is it better to have an interview on campus or with an alumni in your hometown?</p>
<p>I'd say if you can interview on campus then you should do it. i don't think the alumni interviews are given as much weight because sometimes they can't really trust the interviewer. sometimes you don't click with an alumni interview, maybe you're interested in biochem and he/she was an art history major. the alumni are just people, they can be affected by anything and that can affect your report. i once had an interview with someone whose daughter went to my "rival" high school school. as soon as she discovered this, her demeanor and attitude changed.</p>
<p>Most of my potential schools are back east (I live in Arizona). Trips to all the schools could become very costly and very time consuming. Any suggestions based on this?</p>
<p>I personally don't think it really matters whether it is on campus or off. If you're on campus it might be better because you might have more to talk about, such as the tour you just went on or the class you just visited. However, I have always found alum interviews to be very comfy. All of my interviews have been quite pleasant, whether in a coffee shop, an alum's home, or their office.</p>
<p>As for when you should do your interview, I'd say do it when you're ready. If you do it early and demonstrate a strong interest of the school and are knowledgeable, this can be favorable in the sense that it shows you are organized and responsible. I'd say interview between October to December, depending on whether you're applying ED or RD.</p>
<p>so interview around December for RD? And what about EA?</p>
<p>Thanks guys for all your help...</p>
<p>Interview ehn you're ready, as catsushi already said. I would interview right when I know that I'm going to apply there anyway and have some ideas in mind about why I want to go to that school. Also, don't do interviews around winter break.</p>
<p>If the school you apply to even has interviews in your area, it would be one very organized group to start doing RD interviews before January -- since the deadline for apps is end of December. If they have an EA/ED option, then these would take precedence -- from the time your file is completed until early Dec would be the alumni interview window. I'm sure they wouldn't do any RD interviews until EA/ED ones are done.</p>
<p>Now you know, you might not even GET an interview, right? It depends on the # of available alumni volunteers in your area. If thin or none, you won't get interviewed most likely</p>
<p>So is it bad if I don't get to interview?</p>
<p>Considering that the vast majority of schools don't require interviews and an alumni interview is the least-considered portion of your file, I don't see how it would be deleterious.</p>
<p>I have just seen from some school's information that interviews are considered when evaluating the possible admission of an applicant...</p>
<p>Yes; many times they're considered, but there's no reason to worry if you don't get one. If they're that important, they would be required.</p>