Admission interviews - good sign or do they interview everyone?

[Anonymous]

So why do it, if it has no influence/ regard on admissions? Honestly, is it just a way to throw a bone to alums, who love to still feel involved?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why do it, if it has no influence/ regard on admissions? Honestly, is it just a way to throw a bone to alums, who love to still feel involved?

I stopped interviewing for my ivy because I felt this was the only purpose, and I didn't feel like wasting my time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why do it, if it has no influence/ regard on admissions? Honestly, is it just a way to throw a bone to alums, who love to still feel involved?

I stopped interviewing for my ivy because I felt this was the only purpose, and I didn't feel like wasting my time.

If this the only purpose, just another way to jerk around applicants who are already on edge and clutching at any ray of hope.

[Anonymous]

I am an alumni interviewer and agree with PPs that alumni interviews are not likely to make or break admissions unless you give a really unfavorable evaluation of someone. That being said, I don't think it looks good to not request an interview. Colleges want to see motivated students.

[Anonymous]

The interview shows interest on the part of the applicant. So, what 19:13 said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an alumni interviewer and agree with PPs that alumni interviews are not likely to make or break admissions unless you give a really unfavorable evaluation of someone. That being said, I don't think it looks good to not request an interview. Colleges want to see motivated students.

So if a Harvard or Yale alum contacts you for an interview, it's pretty much meaningless as far as admission prospects goes. Just more informational than anything else?

[Anonymous]

Harvard interviews everyone. It isn't meaningless. Harvard asks everyone to write an essay too, but that isn't meaningless. However, the interview rarely makes or breaks an applicant, because in 90+% of cases, the interview just confirms what the rest of the application says. Every admissions officer has some stories about cases in which the interview made a difference, mostly in finding kids who can't handle college life due to some issue that doesn't show up in the school's glowing report.

Part of the reason for interviewing everyone is PR, to make sure that people have a positive impression of Harvard. Also, logistically, interviews take place before the admissions office has made its first cut. With the volume they get, there's almost no other way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard interviews everyone. It isn't meaningless. Harvard asks everyone to write an essay too, but that isn't meaningless. However, the interview rarely makes or breaks an applicant, because in 90+% of cases, the interview just confirms what the rest of the application says. Every admissions officer has some stories about cases in which the interview made a difference, mostly in finding kids who can't handle college life due to some issue that doesn't show up in the school's glowing report.

Part of the reason for interviewing everyone is PR, to make sure that people have a positive impression of Harvard. Also, logistically, interviews take place before the admissions office has made its first cut. With the volume they get, there's almost no other way to do it.

You make sense but I would assume there must be some cursory look over the applicatiion. Why schedule an interview with a C- student just because they subitted an application for the heck of it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard interviews everyone. It isn't meaningless. Harvard asks everyone to write an essay too, but that isn't meaningless. However, the interview rarely makes or breaks an applicant, because in 90+% of cases, the interview just confirms what the rest of the application says. Every admissions officer has some stories about cases in which the interview made a difference, mostly in finding kids who can't handle college life due to some issue that doesn't show up in the school's glowing report.

Part of the reason for interviewing everyone is PR, to make sure that people have a positive impression of Harvard. Also, logistically, interviews take place before the admissions office has made its first cut. With the volume they get, there's almost no other way to do it.

You make sense but I would assume there must be some cursory look over the applicatiion. Why schedule an interview with a C- student just because they subitted an application for the heck of it?

Typing too fast....that's submitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard interviews everyone. It isn't meaningless. Harvard asks everyone to write an essay too, but that isn't meaningless. However, the interview rarely makes or breaks an applicant, because in 90+% of cases, the interview just confirms what the rest of the application says. Every admissions officer has some stories about cases in which the interview made a difference, mostly in finding kids who can't handle college life due to some issue that doesn't show up in the school's glowing report.

Part of the reason for interviewing everyone is PR, to make sure that people have a positive impression of Harvard. Also, logistically, interviews take place before the admissions office has made its first cut. With the volume they get, there's almost no other way to do it.

You make sense but I would assume there must be some cursory look over the applicatiion. Why schedule an interview with a C- student just because they subitted an application for the heck of it?

.

Yale interviewer here. Please stop trying to overthink this and look for hidden meaning in the tea leaves. Yale wants to offer anyone an opportunity, alumni are cheap labor, and even being a C student is not an immediate disqualification. (You never know what someone is doing with the rest of their time) I don't even get the application - one of my functions is to see what the candidate is like as a person without the baggage of a transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard interviews everyone. It isn't meaningless. Harvard asks everyone to write an essay too, but that isn't meaningless. However, the interview rarely makes or breaks an applicant, because in 90+% of cases, the interview just confirms what the rest of the application says. Every admissions officer has some stories about cases in which the interview made a difference, mostly in finding kids who can't handle college life due to some issue that doesn't show up in the school's glowing report.

Part of the reason for interviewing everyone is PR, to make sure that people have a positive impression of Harvard. Also, logistically, interviews take place before the admissions office has made its first cut. With the volume they get, there's almost no other way to do it.

You make sense but I would assume there must be some cursory look over the applicatiion. Why schedule an interview with a C- student just because they subitted an application for the heck of it?

.

Yale interviewer here. Please stop trying to overthink this and look for hidden meaning in the tea leaves. Yale wants to offer anyone an opportunity, alumni are cheap labor, and even being a C student is not an immediate disqualification. (You never know what someone is doing with the rest of their time) I don't even get the application - one of my functions is to see what the candidate is like as a person without the baggage of a transcript.

Not the PP but I don't think it's unnecessary to be insulting. I think the questions are legitimate and I, also, wondered about this.

Interestingly, the majority of the posters on the college forum and independent schools would disagree with you about the 'C' student. A young person was vilified and discouraged from applying to Ivy schools for having a B in English and History.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard interviews everyone. It isn't meaningless. Harvard asks everyone to write an essay too, but that isn't meaningless. However, the interview rarely makes or breaks an applicant, because in 90+% of cases, the interview just confirms what the rest of the application says. Every admissions officer has some stories about cases in which the interview made a difference, mostly in finding kids who can't handle college life due to some issue that doesn't show up in the school's glowing report.

Part of the reason for interviewing everyone is PR, to make sure that people have a positive impression of Harvard. Also, logistically, interviews take place before the admissions office has made its first cut. With the volume they get, there's almost no other way to do it.

You make sense but I would assume there must be some cursory look over the applicatiion. Why schedule an interview with a C- student just because they subitted an application for the heck of it?

.

Yale interviewer here. Please stop trying to overthink this and look for hidden meaning in the tea leaves. Yale wants to offer anyone an opportunity, alumni are cheap labor, and even being a C student is not an immediate disqualification. (You never know what someone is doing with the rest of their time) I don't even get the application - one of my functions is to see what the candidate is like as a person without the baggage of a transcript.

Not the PP but I don't think it's unnecessary to be insulting. I think the questions are legitimate and I, also, wondered about this.

Interestingly, the majority of the posters on the college forum and independent schools would disagree with you about the 'C' student. A young person was vilified and discouraged from applying to Ivy schools for having a B in English and History.

'necessary'

[Anonymous]

They interview everyone that asks for most top school.

I actually got a copy of my admission file and it said I was highly recommended by the alum. That was 1 of 16 categorizations (at least).

The way my school did it was gave you a composite score based on test scores & essays. My "bin" was 2/16. So I was in a top bin. A committee of 3 people then met, reviewed my file and what made me interesting and voted on my admission decision. That was 10 years ago (application) and I know it's a different admission dean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They interview everyone that asks for most top school.

I actually got a copy of my admission file and it said I was highly recommended by the alum. That was 1 of 16 categorizations (at least).

The way my school did it was gave you a composite score based on test scores & essays. My "bin" was 2/16. So I was in a top bin. A committee of 3 people then met, reviewed my file and what made me interesting and voted on my admission decision. That was 10 years ago (application) and I know it's a different admission dean.

Good to hear a practical experience vs theoretical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an alumni interviewer and agree with PPs that alumni interviews are not likely to make or break admissions unless you give a really unfavorable evaluation of someone. That being said, I don't think it looks good to not request an interview. Colleges want to see motivated students.

So if a Harvard or Yale alum contacts you for an interview, it's pretty much meaningless as far as admission prospects goes. Just more informational than anything else?

My DC has done a few alumni interviews this admission season. They have gone very well but he is realistic about any impact on admissions. That being said, the experience has actually been a very good one. It's not a bad skill for a high school student to arrange for, do an interview, and follow up on it. My DCs interviewers have ranged from a recent grad to someone 20 years out. He ended up spending 1.5 hours talking with the 20 years out interviewer.