Those of us that haven't gotten interviews yet...

<p>Are you guys just going to wait for one to come eventually?
Or would you recommend calling someone and requesting an interview / making them aware that you still haven't gotten one?</p>

<p>I think during one of the Penn conferences I went to the admissions director said that if we haven't gotten an interview by Thanksgiving or something we're probably not going to get one at all.</p>

<p>Is anyone going to call and request an interivew?</p>

<p>[I live in Silicon Valley btw, and submitted my application on Oct 21]</p>

<p>You're not allowed to request an interview unless you're a legacy and want one on campus from the legacy alumni network.</p>

<p>You're either going to get one from an alum, or not.
They have lives too.
Just sucks for you to live in such a crowded area with so many other applicants.</p>

<p>Plus, interviews aren't important to the bearing of your admission. It's more informational, but it also weeds out people who have no interest in the school.</p>

<p>So really, not having one won't hurt you. Going and doing a crap job would.</p>

<p>Oh, we're not?
I thought the admissions director at the Penn conference I went to said that we could call for one if we don't hear from an alum by Thanksgiving.</p>

<p>yeah you cant request one..i havent gotten one either but i'm not worried its not that big of a deal..a lot of people said that they're just informational anyway</p>

<ol>
<li><p>You might not get an interview - it doesn't mean you are an unfavorable candidate- just that you aren't in an area with many alumni interviewers. If you think you're likely to improve your chances with a face-to-face interview, well, then you ought to feel not getting one is bad luck.</p></li>
<li><p>I would not assume an interview is child's play informational. It all depends on who you draw- you could be grilled or it could be a nice little chat as if you're talking to a family friend.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I called them a while ago and they explained that they only offered interviews to about 50% of the people who applied, so don't feel too left out.</p>

<p>Aww rawr.
50% of Silicon Valley applicants or overall applicants? haha</p>

<p>i'm from the silicon valley too, and yeah i heard that admin officer say "by thanksgiving." but i think she said you could call and ask if it was possible.</p>

<p>then again, i submitted on the 15th and i haven't heard anything... so maybe this is just random.</p>

<p>I think it was overall, heh. Definitely not just silicon valley since I am nowhere near there.</p>

<p>I spoke to someone who applied ED last year - he was one of five applicants from his high school. He was the only one who did not get an interview from his high school and he's the only one who got in.</p>

<p>hmmm interesting! :)</p>

<p>our valedictorian said colleges usually give interviews to people they're on the fence about...so if you dont get one you def did get in or you def didnt get in..is that true?</p>

<p>That would make sense...
But I thought that interviews were done randomly? Or is that just naive thinking/what they want us to believe? Haha</p>

<p>i'm not sure..it doesnt seem like the interview is a make or break part of the admissions process anyway...a girl that graduated 2 years ago got accepted to harvard without an interview</p>

<p>I think that's true for on-campus interviews... I don't think they would use an alum interview as the deciding factor. I know that for kids from certain areas close to Harvard admissions will ask them to come in for an interview if they are on the fence. But again, I think that is an interview with an admissions counselor and not an alum.</p>

<p>Ahhh.
Well, we still have a little over a week to get notified about interviews.
But after hearing the part about interviews possibly only being for applicants who are maybes, I don't even know if I want an interview! Haha.</p>

<p>I hate waiting soooo much though.
Everytime my phone rings I think it's Penn.</p>

<p>At least for Penn, I don't think it's true that alumni interviews are only for the "maybes". It's really more of an oportunity for the applicant to ask questions, and, unless you come off as a total loser, I don't think it really factors that much (if at all) into the admissions process. I was called about my interview about 1 week after I submitted my application in mid-October. I was surprised that I heard back that quickly. My interviewer was really great and totally laid back.</p>

<p>Just because the interviewer was easygoing and didn't ask hard questions doesn't mean s/he didn't make careful note of your answers or your questions about Penn and form an opinion on it for his/her writeup on you.</p>

<p>honestly... interviews really don't matter. even if there are alumni in your area, if they dont wanna take the time to interview you, then you dont get one. last year for ED, couple of my friends who got interviewed didnt get in but i didnt get interviewed and i got in. O.o;; we live in the same area so its really availability i guess. then during the regular admissions time i got a call to be interviewed and i was like "umm.. i already got accepted?" turns out the person didnt get his list of interviewees until after the acceptances had gone out or what not. don't sweat it. ;)</p>