College interviews provide a chance for you and a college to get to know each other better. Colleges that offer interviews will have different policies, including the purpose of the interview, who is conducting it, whether it’s virtual or in person, etc. Interviews very rarely make or break your application, but they help provide a clearer picture of who you are and give the admissions office more context to your application.
Interviews are generally beneficial to both the student and the college. For students, they’re an opportunity to get to know a school better, ask any lingering questions, and (in the case of alumni interviews) hear what the student experience is like on campus. Interviews are also a great way to show a college you’re serious about them, which can be important at schools that consider demonstrated interest in admissions decisions.
Who is the interviewer?
Some interviews, particularly on campus or during campus visits, are conducted by admissions officers. Depending on the school or program, you might interview with current faculty or students. However, most interviews are conducted by alumni of the college or university. Alumni live all over the country (or internationally), so schools can offer interviews to more students from more areas by mobilizing their alumni network. For schools that require or recommend interviews, it’s likely that at least one interviewer lives in your area and will be able to set up an in-person interview.
That said, if you cannot set up an in-person or virtual interview, don’t panic! Colleges and universities will not punish you for where you live or the fact that there were more requests for interviews than could be fulfilled by their alumni network.
When should you request an interview?
Because there are often fewer interviewers than students who want an interview, it’s important to request interviews as early as you can. But knowing what “early” means can be tricky. Schools have widely varying policies about when and how they accept interview requests. Some ask you to set up an interview after you apply, while others ask you to indicate on the application whether you’d like an interview. It’s crucial that you look up the specific guidelines at each school you’re applying to. Check the college website first, but if you have trouble finding the information you need, contact the admissions office directly.
Note that a few schools offer interviews by invitation only. Don’t read too much into it if you don’t get an invitation. Typically, these schools will request an interview if they feel they need more information before they can make a decision on your application. If you are invited to interview, we strongly encourage you to do so!
Tips for Virtual Interviews
The majority of interviews now take place virtually. In order to make a strong first impression, you should dress appropriately—as you would for any other interview. Even though you will probably be in the comfort of your own home, it’s still an interview, so dress for the occasion. Look professional, wearing a nice sweater, button-down shirt, or blouse on top and avoid overly casual outfits.
There are factors to consider in a virtual interview that wouldn’t come up in an in-person interview. Before your interview, ensure that your Zoom username displays your full name only, and doesn’t have any nicknames or inside jokes. Find a spot with good lighting (make sure you can be seen!), minimal distractions, and no external noise. Take the call from a room with a stable internet connection so that you don’t have to worry about any technical difficulties on top of everything else. Use a computer that you’re familiar with and that you know isn’t slow. Keep your cell phone on silent mode, but close by, in case something does go wrong with the internet.
Maintain eye contact with the camera so that your interviewer can tell that you are engaged and interested. Even though it can be hard figuring out exactly where to look during a call, especially if your notes are written down elsewhere, you must not appear distracted. Try to keep your eyes on the camera as much as possible and practice in advance.
Remember to prepare questions for the interviewer at the end, especially ones that demonstrate your genuine interest in the school. Browse the college website and research so that you can ask questions whose answers aren’t easily available. The admissions officer or alumni will better understand your interest in the college if you ask about specific opportunities and take note of your curiosity.
Practice, practice practice! For an interview that takes place online, why not practice online as well? Before getting on a Skype or Zoom call with an alumni or admissions officer, you can ask a friend or family member to interview you using the same software. Provide your practice interviewer with a list of possible interview questions so that they know what to ask. This way, you’ll not only have practice answering different questions about your interest in the school and prospective major, but you’ll also have a sense of any technological difficulties that you might encounter during the actual call.
Finally, don’t stress in advance, worrying that anything less than ideal may happen; interviewers know that issues, technical or otherwise, that are out of your control might come up! No matter what, don’t panic. Once you’re back on the call, calmly let the interviewer know about the situation.
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