Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not taking about alum interviews. I know they are a waste. I am talking admission personnel interviews.

It would have been helpful to note that in your initial post.

HA! Agree...OP didn't state that ...so my reaction was the same as someone else...that Ivy interviews are meaningless for the applicant.

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as someone who has interviewed for Georgetown and who knows people who have interviewed for UChicago and other similarly ranked places: Alum interviews almost never make a difference. Interviews with members of the admissions staff might be a different story, but alum interviews are almost always a joke.

Then why do they (SLACs) make such a point of telling applicants they should do one? A student can't realistically say "I want to interview with an admissions person and this nice alum can take a hike..."

Speaking as someone who has interviewed for Georgetown and who knows people who have interviewed for UChicago and other similarly ranked places: Alum interviews almost never make a difference. Interviews with members of the admissions staff might be a different story, but alum interviews are almost always a joke.

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the school.

Ivy alumni interviews are a waste of time

SLAC interviews with admissions staff are essential

This. In the world of US News rankings, and yield measurements every yes matters to schools with classes of 400 kids. A handful of yeses or no’s from admitted students moves the yield number a lot more than for UVA or VT. And for almost all of these schools “demonstrated interest” is a factor according to the common data set. If your kid takes time to visit campus and can go into an interview and talk about why they are interesting school X, that’s a plus factor. Even if they are only interviewing with a student intern, the fact they visited the school and could talk about their interest makes them more likely to say yes to a slot than a kid who has never set foot on campus. My kid also stops by and says hello to the admissions reps for SLAC when they come to his school, and has done some DC based admissions events.

And honestly, if a SLAC, which is a small environment, sees something in my kid that makes them feel he is a bad fit, maybe they would do him a favor by turning him down. If my kid goes. In an says he wants to major in chemistry and have undergrad research opportunities, and wants small classes and to continue with his musical instrument and doesn’t want a frat culture, and these are all true. And raise red flags for the school, better to know before sooner, rather than later.

Anonymous wrote:Another former Ivy alum interviewer here. The content of the interviewer's report may not affect admissions, but the fact of the student's showing up for one and showing genuine interest in that university can matter.

My senior just had an alum interview for a selective SLAC. Child was able to express passion for a particular program at this school to which he will be applying early decision. The interviewer sent a follow up email telling child that he though he was a perfect fit for the school and would pass this information on the admissions. I wonder if it will make a difference. Now my son has his hopes up when before the interview he was more resigned to the fact that acceptance to this school was a long shot.