Does the College Admissions Interview Count?

One question that comes up frequently about college admissions interviews:

Who cares?

In other words: Does a college admissions interview help your admissions chances?

The college admissions interview is often one of the most downplayed aspects of the application process. Application instructions often refer to the "opportunity to have a conversation" with a local alumn and extend the chance to "learn more about the experience" at their school. And, as mentioned before, it's ALWAYS positioned as "voluntary". Sounds like a social nicety--like calling your grandmother on her birthday--and as about as dispensable.

Given that you're busy with other applications, standardized testing, essay writing--not to mention your high school academics--can you just blow off this whole "interview" thing?

Not if you want to get in!

It's true that different schools put different emphasis on the admissions interview. It's also true that virtually nowhere will a school weigh your interview above something like your high school transcript.

But it's also true that in hyper-competitive application environment, anything that can push you slightly closer to the "admit" pile is worth focusing on. Let others blow their interview off--this is one area where you should shine!

But back to the main question---how are interviews actually weighed?

It depends on the school, but most put a moderate weight on them.

First, feel guaranteed that there's some report from your "conversation" that will get reported back to the school's admissions committee. Some schools only require a written evaluation of the interview from the interviewer; some have the interviewer respond to specific questions; some have to fill out a form; some require a score in addition to a write-up. Even if your interviewer isn't writing anything down, rest assured that you're being evaluated.

How is that evaluation used?
Typically, think of it as another letter of recommendation. Your teachers and counselors already reviewed you as an applicant. They bring an expertise in you as a student, from multiple months (or years) of interactions--but they often don't know much about the specific school to which you're applying. Your college interviewers are also reviewing you as an applicant, and although they're not an expert in you (having just met you for 45 minutes), they know their schools extremely well and know what types of students excel at their institutions. Most importantly, they can compare you to other students they've interviewed--providing a valuable comparison point for the admissions committee.

One final note: Keep in mind that regardless of the school, the interviewer almost always has some sort of blackball ability. If you do something horrific in your interview (rare, but you'd be shocked what happens), your interviewer can typically cast some sort of "dear God, please don't let this punk into our school" call--which, at the very least, will cause the admissions committee to take a second look at your application. You typically need to commit some gross sin--standing up your interviewer, overwhelming arrogance, etc--to get blackballed.

More important is the other side of the coin--most schools also have some "take a second look--this kid's really something special" reporting option. If you're going to maximize your admissions chances, that should be your goal for the interview ----CJ