<p>For those who got an interview and have made it into Penn, how much impact do you think your interview had for your admittance? Just wondering if I should call to ask for one at this late in the month…</p>
<p>You’re addressing the wrong people. Just b/c someone got admitted does not qualify him/her to comment on whether or not they feel the interview or non-interview had an effect. The actual fact is they have little to no effect. That’s why they are not required and why, even if they occur, they are the smallest factor in evaluation.</p>
<p>Plenty of acceptances will occur w/o interviews. Plenty of rejections will occur w/interviews.</p>
<p>And it’s late. My Ivy’s deadline has already passed for interview reports. This isn’t an item to stress about. Frankly what’s done is done: you should go occupy yourself outside of CC. Penn my accept you; it may reject you. So what?</p>
<p>If you were a viable Penn applicant, then you’ve worked hard and deserve to reap the benefits of that effort. Go out with a bang in your last HS semester. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>50% get interviews, the other half don’t, and interviews have little to no effect in the admissions process.</p>
<p>T26E4: Contrary to my post count and join date, I am NOT new to CC. I know that reading the stuff on CC can be risky; some are very general stuff that aren’t very true. I also know that most posts are answered by students. I am merely asking for someone’s opinions. Yeah, it can be totally false; I know that. You’re saying the most obvious things, man. Only I don’t agree that interviews have that little impact; no one really does though, we’re just assuming. That’s why I want to ask whether the borderline applicants felt like their interviews might’ve pushed them up a bit.
I’m not stressing out about getting an interview either. I’m just wondering. If I were stressed out, I’d be ranting about how worried I am.</p>
<p>dfree124: Yes, I’ve roamed this forum long enough to know that 50% gets an interview. Thank you.</p>
<p>I would say that there is one exception to that rule: Almost all M&T (and probably other dual degree candidates) get an interview. (Not suggesting that it has any greater impact on admissions)</p>
<p>@acrazy: I’ve interviewed for a Penn ivy peer for +20 years. I can absolutely say that in some very unique situations, an interview can be beneficial for the truly borderline applicant. About 4 yrs ago, two guys from a nearby inner city HS applied. Everything about their file was strong – overcoming many obstacles, good test scores, etc. Our admissions committee leaned towards admitting but there was some hesitation. Both guys’ teacher rec letters were only OK. This isn’t uncommon from inner city schools or schools where the teachers aren’t accustomed to writing profound/anecdote laced rec letters for very competitive colleges. The rec letters were supportive but simply formulaic. This left the committee on the fence. However, after each kid met with alumni who wrote to confirm the kids’ strengths and real depth, the reports gave the committee confidence to get off the fence and offer admits to both guys. Here was an actual example of interviews that made a diffrence. But you can see how unique the circumstances were.</p>
<p>But what constitutes a borderline applicant, for us out here, is difficult to guage. I still say for the vast vast majority, the interview means very little and only reinforces other aspects of the application.</p>
<p>As a writer of interview reports, I am fully cognizant of the huge pool of applicants and that my 45 minutes at a coffee shop is a seriously unnatural window upon the applicant’s true potential. I know that I’m only serving as another pair of eyes/ears for the college while simultaneously serving as a vehicle for the student to tell more about themselves.</p>
<p>Much appreciated 
Sorry about my earlier post; I think I sounded pretty snotty. Didn’t get much sleep due to a severe nasal congestion and my day was a bit crappy. But yeah, that’s totally the info I was looking for. Thanks a lot :)</p>