If we are visiting 8 schools during a late summer college tour trip out east, (we’re from the midwest) should my D be attempting to have an interview at each one as well during the same trip? During spring break we visited 5 schools. At each school she met with either an admissions counselor or head of the theatre dept. since that is one of her main interests and followed up with short notes thanking each one for their time.
In making our tour appointments for this second round, should we again try to set up interviews even if she’s not absolutely certain which schools to which she’ll want to apply? I know showing an interest by visiting the schools is a huge asset when it comes time to apply. But is an initial interview at each school just as crucial in the whole process? We’re talking about schools with 35% acceptance rates or less.
Some of the schools you mentioned are far lower than 35%. Bates, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Colby are 20% and lower based on the latest class. In Regular Decision, mid-teens. Vassar even lower. Keep in mind those admit rates are based on a pool of top students.
If you are coming all that way for such selective schools, it makes sense to interview. It really matters at the small schools.
These five will be very tough for your daughter so cover all the bases.
I mentioned seeing Muhlenberg and Lafayette while you are here. Muhlenberg has one of the top theater programs in the country.
Under the “College Majors” section there is a set of forums for majors such as Theatre. If she is interested in that major then in that forum you can get advice from those experienced in the specific details applicable for it.
If you will be at the school and if your D has a clear idea of why that particular school interests her, it may make sense to interview. My D interviewed at schools she did not apply to (she got into her ED school so did not submit applications to other schools she was considering) . In those cases out of courtesy my D emailed the interviewers, thanked them for their time and let them know where she was accepted ED and that she would not be submitting an application to their college. Surprisingly, two of the three interviewers sent her very warm replies. The “extra” interviews were not a problem and if my D had not got in to her top choice ED she was well positioned to submit the applications to other schools she liked. No regrets about how she did things.
If an interview on campus can’t be arranged, she can try to get an alumni interview at a later date closer to home.
PS My D is at Lafayette and is a theater minor (science major) and has been involved in many shows/black box productions on campus. The department is not as large or as well known as other schools and if your D is a theater major she might have to look at it in a different light, but my D loves the theater classes she has taken and the productions she has been involved in. Any questions, feel free to PM me.
Your daughter needs to investigate each school’s individual admissions interview guidelines, normally found easily on the university’s admissions website (there are no standard or universal interview policies). To illustrate (and in the institutional category you appear to be focusing on): (1) some institutions do not interview; (2) a few interview on campus; (3) many use alumni to interview in your hometown; and (4) there are even some that offer either on campus or hometown/alumni interviews.
Please note that an admissions interview is not identical to a personal meeting with the Head of the Theatre Department.
Admissions interviews generally are not accorded until after an application has been submitted. In fact – for interviews that will be conducted by an approved local alum – once your daughter’s application is received and is fundamentally complete, a graduate in your region will frequently – but not always – be assigned to conduct her interview. In most cases, that alum will NOT have any access to the applicant’s grades, curriculum, standardized test results, etc. There are many dozen very thorough posts explaining this process in great depth in CC’s archives; you’d probably be wise to assimilate their aggregate wisdom.
It is just common sense to start a file at these schools and go on record as being interested. It will be noted once she applies that she traveled all the way from the Midwest to Maine to visit with admissions.
The smaller schools are not only looking for great kids, they are looking for great kids that fit and where there is demonstrated interest in the school.
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Not universally true; some schools track interest, however, others do not. Therefore, it may not “be noted.” The Common Data Set will identify which target universities and colleges consider interest.
@TopTier - My D did all of her interviews before submitting an application. While I agree it can vary from school to school, my experience of a couple of years ago has shown that many colleges are happy to schedule interview potential students in the early fall before applications would be submitted. A few schools even emailed my D to actively encourage her to interview.
@happy1:
I don’t disagree. However, I specifically said, “Your daughter needs to investigate each school’s individual admissions interview guidelines, normally found easily on the university’s admissions website (there are no standard or universal interview policies)” and I further qualified my experiences with, *“In fact – for interviews that will be conducted by an approved local alum – once your daughter’s application is received and is fundamentally complete, a graduate in your region will frequently – but not always – be assigned to conduct her interview”/i.
I understand you experiences, but I believe my post (#4) fully allowed for them.
A word of caution about interviews. They are treated differently at different schools. Some schools love them. They hold weight, they want to get to know the students and the interviews help them in that process. At other schools, even ones that tell you they like you to do the interview, they hold no weight. None. I know of a student a few years ago who was told that he had the best interview of the year at his top school. When he got waitlisted he went back to them to find out why and when he asked about the interview he was informed that the interview held no part in the decision. So, the lesson would seem to be ask up front. Ask not just should you do the interview, but will it count in the decision regarding acceptance. Best of luck!
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I might be a little embarrassed to “ask up front.” However, I would certianly use the Common Data Set to obtain much of the information your post has cited.
- Look at your college’s of interests Common Data Set and look at the section: “Relative importance of each of the following academic and nonacademic factors in first-time, first-year, degree-seeking (freshman) admission decisions.”
See what it says about interviews. Very Important, Important, Considered, not Considered?
See the same thing for “Level of applicant’s interest”
That can tell you how important interviews are.
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Sometimes colleges have alumni interviews that can happen closer to your home
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Some people can only visit after they have applied or after they have been accepted…so in the mean time, sign up on the website to get emails, go to any local college fairs and talk to the rep (and fill out the form that you were there), meet with them if they visit your HS, go to local information sessions.
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I am an alumni ambassador for CWRU and we can get assigned interviews even if they have not finished applying. Part of it is for them to find out about CWRU and part of it is for us to find out about the student.