Do College Interviews Matter? Five Tips

Admissions officers answer this question on a regular basis.  As a former admissions officer and administrator, I believe there are thoughtful ways to think about and prepare for a college interview. Some colleges and universities require interviews and others provide them as informational options. Larger universities may only offer interviews for scholarship selection information. My tips are presented as answers to five questions you may have as interviews on college campuses become available for juniors during the spring, as early as March and April, and summer months, and for seniors during the fall and early winter months. 

Do all colleges/universities require admissions interviews?

No. College admissions offices require interviews when the information shared during the interview is used in the admissions decision process or a scholarship selection process. A college admissions office states when an interview is required as part of the application process. This information is provided on the admissions website, in print materials and on the specific college or university admissions application.

Admissions offices may invite a student to participate in a local interview near the student's home community after the college application has been submitted. This type of an interview has a different focus and students are encouraged to accept the interview invitation. If the interview is declined, it will not adversely impact the review of the student's application. This is an opportunity for the student to share information about academic and leadership accomplishments as well as learn more about the college or university. Prepare for the interview through a practice interview with a teacher, guidance counselor or family friend. Some students are very nervous about interviews and practice interviews provide a safe setting to prepare and develop confidence through feedback from the interviewer. If an invitation for an interview is not extended, know that the college application provides all of the material for the admissions committee to closely evaluate the applicant.

Some college admissions interviews are optional. Consider an interview if there are specific questions about the college or university to share or there are accomplishments to highlight. Optional does mean optional and not all interview requests may be able to be accommodated. An interview request is always noted in an applicant's college application file. 

Why do interviews matter?

When an interview is required, information is shared between the interviewer and the student applicant and this adds personal detail and context to the application for admission. The types of questions asked by the admissions interviewer provide a view of the value system the admissions committee uses when making admission decisions.  Each applicant brings a different set of life experiences and a unique personality to the college community and an interview helps define who the applicant is and what the applicant will offer to the college community. 

How does one prepare?

Practice is key to preparation for a college admissions interview. Students can be nervous during this type of an active conversation and an interview is a conversation. Ask a teacher, guidance counselor or family friend to spend 15 minutes asking general interview questions as well as college specific interview questions. Learn more about the specific college/university using the website for information about academic and student life. Create a list of specific questions about the college or university. Most interviews conclude with the interviewer asking if there are questions that can be answered.

What is critical during the interview?

It is critical to be appropriate in a college admissions interview. Neat appearance, excellent manners, appropriate topics of conversation and respectful behavior are important keys to a successful interview.

How is the interview information used?

The interview may be conducted by an admissions officer, an admissions student leader/intern, a member of the faculty or an alumnus. An admissions interviewer writes brief notes during the conversation.  The notes are revised and added to the college admissions application submitted by the applicant. An applicant can add a student activities resume or a part time work experience resume to the interviewer’s notes. Most interviewers will accept this information during the interview or as the interview concludes. The admissions committee has access to this information and it may be shared with college/university faculty, athletic coaches or student life administrators if the admissions application is also an application for other college or university programs or scholarships.

The final tip I have for the college interview process is to relax. The most successful interview conversations are those that flow easily from topic to topic and the information shared is a real reflection of the applicant in terms of ability and potential as well as personality.