The Thread for College Interviews

[Spartan08]

Is it true that if I turn in the Common Application quicker I get an interview earlier?

[akiiriah]

I'm wondering the same thing...

[fhimas88888888]

Sometimes. For example, Columbia has two parts of its application, and the sooner you turn in the first part, the more likely you are to get an interview. But, generally speaking, the sooner you show the college you're interested (by sending them an application), the more likely you are to get an interview. But remember, rushing your application to do that does NOT make sense. Make sure everything is immaculate before you send it off.

[Spartan08]

This is the part that confuses me. For regular applicants (non-EA, non-ED), when the college receives an application, do they wait to receive all of the regular applications and then begin accepting/declining or do they accept, decline, as they receive applications?

[T26E4]

If you're speaking about non-rolling admissions, I'd imagine that they probably start the initial reads as soon as the RD ones start coming in. Probably they start to separate them into likely yes, unknown, and likely no. As everything else comes in (recs, interviews, etc.) a better picture develops. The Ivies (and many others) have an official date for early and RD notification

As far as interviews go, my alma mater's alumni network conducts many of them. Our local coordinator gets the student's contact info as soon as the admissions office tells us the file has been received complete. Then we contact the student to set up interviews. I recall getting one RD applicant's name last September! He got his stuff in EARLY

[renny4me]

Has anyone interviewed ON CAMPUS at Barnard? I have one in about a week at Barnard and don't know what to expect.

[Awhislyle]

Gosh so early and I am already going to an interview at WashU before my senior year even starts, oh well, I feel prepared.

[MBJ]

Anyone know anything about the "informal" interviews at William and Mary ?
I believe it is conducted by one of the upper class students, and was completely voluntary, so I am thinking that it will probably be a fairly soft interview. Just was curious if anyone went through it already. Thanks. Marc

[jamiet]

Is it better/easier to interview after you've visited the school at least once?

[click4rm]

interviewed at pomona college last week. went smoothly; just like casual conversation

[Matt123234]

You can still have an interview without sending in your application first right? If you contact the school? Because I'm visiting a university and was planning on doing my interview during the visit

[click4rm]

^ it depends on the school. As with Pomona, you can interview before submitting your app. Other schools such as Princeton and Brown contact you personally AFTER you have submitted your app. I would check with the school.

[Taedeor]

My first college interviews are next week, at Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby. I've read through or at least skimmed most of this board and some of the advice seems great. Does anyone know anything specific about any of those three? Anything could be helpful- especially for Colby, it's my favorite so far.

[sky7walker]

I had my college interview last month. did four of them. occidental college, reed college, harvey mudd college and pomona college (in chronological order)
all are on campus, both oxy and pomona I had it with a senior interviewer, while with reed and harvey mudd, I had an assistant dean, and director of admission respectively.
my shortest one was in reed, most probably because I had it close to lunch time, and she wanted to eat- so did I. that took 30 mins, the rest are about 40-50 min.
quite scary at first cause you're in a room by yourself with this other person your life might depend on, but as it progresses it gets easier.
the best way to prepare is to read their catalogs and make a list of questions, preparing a school profile also helps, especially if they're not familiar w/ your school system.
questions mostly on how did you know about "x" college, your school work, activities/ interest, about my school/neighbor, the people around me, etc

if you have any questions on these four colleges interview, just send me a message, and maybe I can email you my thoughts on it

[TheRisenLilith]

Has anybody had an interview with an admissions staff member? If so, how was it different from alumni/senior interviewers? Did you feel has if the interview weighed more since you're speaking with a person who will ultimately "make or break" you?