The Official "Why Didn't I Get An Interview" FAQ

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Q: I haven't been called for an interview. Is it too late?</p>

<p>A: No. Interviews can happen up until March 1.</p>

<p>Q: What does it mean that I didn't get an interview?</p>

<p>A: Nothing good. Nothing bad. It means that there aren't enough interviewers in your area relative to the number of applicants in your area.</p>

<p>Q: Does it matter that I applied late/early?</p>

<p>A: No. You're in the interview system as soon as you submit Part I.</p>

<p>Q: I still haven't been called for an interview. What can I do?</p>

<p>A: Nothing. Don't worry about it.</p>

<p>Q: My friend/classmate got called for an interview but I didn't. What does that mean?</p>

<p>A: Nothing.</p>

<p>Q: Did Columbia (select me) / (not select me) for an interview because I have (good) / (poor) / (borderline) grades and/or scores?</p>

<p>A: Nope. Qualifications have absolutely nothing to do with whether you get an interview.</p>

<p>Q: Will it hurt my chances that I didn't get an interview?</p>

<p>A: Not directly. Columbia interviews less than 2/3 of its applicants. Tons of people who don't interview get in. However, you are denied the opportunity to have a great interview that could potentially help you get in. But, you're also avoiding the risk of having a poor interview that could hurt you.</p>

<p>Q: I heard that ... (insert rumor / speculation / BS about who gets an interview). Is it true?</p>

<p>A: Probably not.</p>

<p>Q: You didn't answer my question. (not really a question)</p>

<p>A: Chill out. There's nothing you can do.</p>

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<p>Q: Ok, I got an Interview what do I do?</p>

<p>A: Well, first contact your interviewer. Use E-mail, or even better, call them. Set up a date and time. Don't forget about the location. Don't get lost or miss your interview.</p>

<p>Q: How do I dress?</p>

<p>A: The best way to know is to just ask the interviewer. Casually ask them "How should I dress." That way, you sound casual enough for a relaxed conversation in a coffee house, or formal enough for a meeting on the top floor of a big buisness.</p>

<p>Q: Should I confirm the interview?</p>

<p>A: Yes! Call a day in advance and confirm your interview. Make sure you know the day, time, place, and dress code.</p>

<p>Q: I forgot to figure out the dress code! Help me!</p>

<p>A: Well, just use your reasoning skills. If you are going to a coffee house, dress casually. If you are going to an elitist attorney's law office, dress formally. (In a full suit for the guys.)</p>

<p>Q: What do I do during the Interview!?!</p>

<p>A: Relax! The interview is just as much for the school as it is for you. (Remember the schools are competing for you too!) The interviewer is not going to try to make your life difficult, just relax and go with the flow. You're not on trial!</p>

<p>Q: I blew my interview! What do I do?</p>

<p>A: Once again, Relax! Interviews don't count very much in the application process. Only one person gets to interview you; your essays are much more important because many adcoms might read your essay.</p>

<p>Q: So what is your Overall advice?</p>

<p>A: Relax!</p>

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<p>If I am applying ED, around what time will I get the interview?</p>

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<p>There’s an interview?! Crud. I mean, I feel like that may make me or break me. But, by submitting Part 1, is that the supplement or the actual common app? I’m not done with the common app just about yet because I may be getting and internship soon, and I would like to put that there, so would it delay the opportunity of getting an interview? </p>

<p>Oh, and I wanted to ask a similar question as the one above me; I’m applying ED, and wanted to know of they would do the interviews maybe before or after the deadline to have all the application in and such.</p>

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<p>I may be mistaken, but I believe schools conduct interviews based on when you submit. So if you get your app in earlier, you’ll be interviewed earlier, without regard to the deadline. </p>

<p>Columbia, however, was the only school to offer me a phone interview as there were no local alums. That, was however, optional. But I feel it contributed greatly to my subsequent acceptance.</p>

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<p>Just a statistic for whoever wants to know. I applied early decision, turned in my application around October 25 (deadline was November 1st), got an interview (in person, not phone) on November 24 (my interviewer emailed me on November 23, lol), and decisions came out December 10th.</p>

<p>I live in Seattle and was accepted early to Fu Foundation.</p>

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<p>Thanks this is really helpful, am a Zambian student (Zambia is a country in southern africa between zimbabwe and congo), I have an interview today with columbia teachers college. I am encourage by the positive feedback but what are my chances now with an interview? Then how long after the interview should I wait? I hate this waiting game!</p>

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<p>Columbia Teachers College?</p>

<p>I think you are in the wrong forum. </p>

<p>Correct me if I’m wrong but there are only 2 undergraduate colleges at Columbia University IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK (This is disregarding, of course , the school of General Studies)</p>

<p>-Columbia College.
-The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.</p>

<p>There are very many tertiary Education Institutions that are called Columbia, Check if you got the right one. :)</p>

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<p>Helpful tips! (things that, in my experience, helped me with my Columbia interview)</p>

<p>–Practice practice practice! Do not go in clueless. Google typical interview questions and have a pretend interview with a friend or a parent. That helped me TONS. If I hadn’t practiced before hand, there would have been a ton of awkward silence. </p>

<p>–Do NOT wear jeans. You don’t have to dress up in a two piece suit, but please try to be somewhat formal. Don’t wear a battered sweatshirt, don’t wear a cami, don’t wear your favorite pair of ripped jeans. It makes it seem like you don’t care. Wear clean, smart, informal formal clothing. </p>

<p>–Be yourself. The interview isn’t about spitting back what you put on your common app. It’s about allowing the interviewer to get to know YOU. Try not to be too nervous and just go with it. Most of my interview I was laughing or smiling or talking too fast, but apparently it was charming. Don’t be too self conscious. </p>

<p>–Use this time to explain any… mishaps in highschool. I used it to explain why my GPA was so bad (I have heart issues and it effected my highschool career a lot). It sounds a lot less like an excuse IRL than it does on paper.</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

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<p>thanks kimathi and isabelwhatx! kimathi am actually supposed to be going to the graduate programme in arts administration, so perhaps and lost here but I will soon find my way to the right thread. </p>

<p>isabelwhatx, my interview got rescheduled because the prof. did not turn up, he must have forgotten about the whole the. I will be doing it again after next week. Your tips are very informative, this interview thing is very different, I mean the whole process of going to school here is very different from our system in Zambia but am learning! </p>

<p>So did you get in? Am also trying UB, its a fulbright process so I do not know the other universities they are trying.</p>

<p>thanks! did you get in?</p>

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<p>I got into SEAS ED (:</p>

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<p>Columbia has three undergraduate schools: Columbia College (CC), the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), and the School of General Studies (GS), and is very closely affiliated with Barnard College (BC). </p>

<p>Columbia has something like 19 graduate schools, the most well-known of which are the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (this is your typical liberal arts grad school), the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS for grad students), the School of the Arts (for artsy grad students), Columbia Medical School, Columbia Law school, Columbia Business School, Teachers College, the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the Journalism school, the Mailman School of Public Health, and the Graduate School for Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP).</p>

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<p>Lol this was funny</p>

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<p>Congrats and all the best!</p>