Interview - Does it mean anything?

International Students
1

<p>I am curious to know how important is an interview with an alumini really is? Does it boost your chances or not? I have reasons to believe both.</p>

<p>Why interview is just a formality:
Well, firstly because its informal although the reason for this may be simply not to physch the candidate and give the space to be more forthright</p>

<p>Secondly, almost all university claim that they like to know a little more about the prospective students or rather as they put it… Help the candidate clear his/her doubts regarding the university</p>

<p>Thirdly, the queatinoning done by them is not too rigorous, they only ask basic questions like why x university, your hobbies, greatest fear and so forth… Not detailing into the candidate.</p>

<p>Why I believe interviews is critical part of application:</p>

<p>1) the interviewers jot your information and personality in their books and later send a report.</p>

<p>2) and as my Columbia interviewer said that he was handed 5-6 applications to consider for an interview but chose only 2 ( mine and somebody else’s)</p>

<p>3) since for international students getting an interviewer to the area is not always easy, I dont think they can take the liberty to visit everyone or call everyone to them. </p>

<p>So please if anyone knows anything about the topic or has shared a similar experience to mine, do share your views.</p>

<p>My UPenn interview is held on 16th Feb in Mumbai which is a city located far away from mine and I will have to take a plane just for the interview. Would they have called all UPenn applicants located in or near my area?</p>

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<p>I had my UPenn interview with a gentleman from Mumbai. Because i don’t live in Mumbai, I was told in the email that it would be a Skype interview.</p>

<p>I’m sure you can send them an email and ask for a Skype interview instead. I, personally, don’t think interviews singularly can lead to an acceptance. I don’t think they considerably add to your application. However, I do think that they can subtract from your application (if your interview goes really badly, that is.).</p>

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<p>^^seconded</p>

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<p>I think you should read this thread</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1394466-no-mit-interview-delhi-year.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/india/1394466-no-mit-interview-delhi-year.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I don’t know about foreign students, but my friend recently had a Harvard interview that he said went well, and he got accepted. On the other hand, my other friend got into Yale without an interview, and my brother got into UChicago even though he thought his interview went pretty badly.
I think that having an interview go well is a definite advantage on your part. Not having an interview definitely doesn’t subtract from your chances, though. And even a bad interview doesn’t mean you’re doomed.
Try for an interview if you’re confident it will go well, if you’re a “people-person.” If you’re someone who’s better on paper than in person, you may want to forgo the interviewing process.</p>