<p>Like Shoegazer said, Princeton tries to find an alum to interview every applicant. It’s not like med school, where getting selected for an interview is the first step towards getting in.</p>
<p>Some foolish applicants decide not to do the interview because they hear it is optional. It is optional, but if an applicant declines an interview, that is reported back to admissions. I’m sure that admissions interprets that as meaning that the applicant isn’t very interested in going to Princeton.</p>
<p>You asked whether people have heard of applicants doing well at interviews and not getting in anyway. First off, the only ones who truly know the answer to that are admissions officers. No applicant knows how well they have done in an interview. I interview Princeton applicants, and also interview adults for jobs. Most from both groups think that they’ve done well in their interview, even if they haven’t. The interviewer won’t close by saying, “I think you’re an idiot, and am not going to recommend that Princeton accept you.” Even if that is what he or she thinks.</p>
<p>Most applicants look good to interviewers, by the way. But that alum may interview only one kid a year. Even those who think they blew the interview may have a glowing interview report about them sent back to admissions. And that person could be rejected for any of a million different reasons. A strong interview won’t make up for a weak transcript, weak test scores or a weak EC record. If the interviewer says you were rude or negative, that could hurt you, even if the rest of your application is strong.</p>