A formal on-campus college interview with an admissions officer was once a rite of passage for aspiring college applicants. Today, with the huge rise in application numbers coupled with enhanced attention to equity, many fewer schools offer interviews directly with their admissions office staff. And to downplay associated stress, interviews are often now called “chats,” “conversations,” or “casual give-and-takes.” This ambiguous language and the growing number of options for interviews—whether on-campus, virtual, or alumni—all add confusion to the process, leaving students wondering whether they need to interview or what level of influence an “alumni interviewer” might hold.
Here we clarify how college interviews are used in admissions and how you can optimize this part of the process.
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INTERVIEW TYPES
There are two primary categories of college interviews: evaluative and informational. In an evaluative interview, the interviewer assesses you and submits a summary report back to the school about your conversation that becomes part of your application file. In contrast, informational interviews are designed to share information about the school with potential applicants to increase their interest in applying or attending. Most college interviews are now a combination: conversational in style but partly evaluative in nature; in these cases, the interviewer does submit a report for your application file.
Post-pandemic, virtual interviews are the most common interview format. Virtual interviews are typically conducted by alumni, and part of the background motivation for schools in involving alumni in the interview process is to keep loyal alumni connected to their alma mater. Alumni interviewers are usually strong advocates for their school, so take advantage of the opportunity to ask about their personal undergraduate experiences. Alumni interviews can vary widely in scope and length because the interviewers work outside of the official confines of an admissions office. Most interviews occur in November for early-round applicants and in January for the regular round. While it can be exciting to be offered an interview at a selective college after you apply, this does not indicate that you have advanced to a short list of applicants; rather it simply means that there is an interviewer available in your area.
In-person interviews are rarer but, during the summer, are still offered at some campuses by admission staff or current senior students. Rising seniors in the Class of 2025 can get a head start on this part of the process before even applying to colleges by taking advantage of on-campus interviews as part of meaningful summer campus visits at the colleges listed below.
HOW MUCH DOES A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW “COUNT?”
Interviews are valued for their window into the less-scripted, spontaneous, and personal side of an applicant. In contrast to the other elements of an application that are prepared in advance, an interview is a first-hand impression based on an authentic interaction. With a few exceptions, interviews are “optional” and will usually work in your favor. Interviews are rarely a main determinant of admissions: a great interview won’t gain you admission if your other application components are not strong, and likewise an awkward interview won’t knock you out of the running if your admissions file is otherwise impressive. For schools that “highly recommend” or “require” interviews—such as Georgetown and MIT—the interview necessarily takes on more weight. Interview summaries are often the last piece an admissions officer considers in an admissions folder, and in practice they typically confirm the opinion of an applicant that has already been formed in reviewing those other components.
Yet if a school is investing the resources to offer on-campus summer interviews, you can be assured that those interviews do matter. Beyond the chance to showcase your own talents and potential, proactively taking advantage of summer interviews is one of the clearest signs of demonstrated interest you can make. For students unable to visit these campuses in person, virtual interviews are also offered over the summer. In seeking an interview—whether on campus or virtual, you telegraph to that college that you have a serious interest in attending, thereby increasing your chance of acceptance.
COLLEGES OFFERING ON-CAMPUS SUMMER INTERVIEWS FOR THE CLASS OF 2025
- American University: 30-minute informational interviews for juniors and seniors available by appointment after scheduling an info session/tour.
- Bowdoin College: One interview whether on campus or virtual allowed; this “give and take” conversation is strongly encouraged.
- Brandeis University: Casual and optional, with an admissions staff or student admissions fellow, interviews “can be an important part of your application.”
- Bryn Mawr College: Strongly encouraged – book on-campus (or alumni or virtual) interview online.
- Carleton College: Register for an in-person interview (“opportunity to chat”) with admissions after registering for an in-person campus visit, or virtual information session or tour.
- Clark University: Interviews are conducted by admissions counselors or a current Clark student, last approximately 20 minutes, and are “strongly encouraged.”
- College of the Holy Cross: “Highly encouraged” evaluative interviews – sign up online for virtual or email for an in-person.
- College of Wooster: This “30-minute conversation” is not required for admissions but is required for the top merit scholarship ($41K/year). Schedule an in-person interview before or after your tour.
- Connecticut College: Personal interviews with Admissions Fellows (current seniors) are not required but “an excellent opportunity to add depth.” Schedule interview and tour online.
- Denison University: Recommended to schedule an evaluative interview with an admissions staff member or senior Denison student during your campus visit. “While interviews are not required to be admitted, the majority of successful applicants complete an interview, and if you are serious about Denison we recommend sitting for an interview. Our questions focus on personal qualities rather than your resume.”
- Dickinson College: On-campus interviews are an “excellent opportunity” and can be scheduled as part of a campus visit.
- Grinnell College: Check if interviews are available when filling out your campus visit registration.
- Lake Forest College: A personal interview is required in person (or by phone) for students applying test-optional – email or connect with your admissions counselor to schedule.
- Mount Holyoke College: On-campus interviews available for scheduling online.
- Muhlenberg College: On-campus interviews available for scheduling online.
- Occidental College: Available starting in August – interviews are with alumni or current students.
- Reed College: In-person interviews can be requested through the on-campus visit registration.
- Pitzer College: “Interviews are both evaluative and informational. Almost all interviews will be conducted by our Admission Fellows who are current Pitzer seniors.” Register online.
- St. Lawrence University: Schedule online for interviews Monday-Friday which are highly recommended and “evaluative but casual and conversational.”
- Swarthmore College: Register online for a 20-30 minute on-campus conversation with a current student (Fellow). After the conversation, the interviewer will submit a summary report to be included in your application file.
- Washington & Lee: Schedule an on-campus interview with admissions staff and trained student ambassadors as part of a scheduled campus visit. Interviews are “highly recommended.”
- Washington University in St. Louis: Informal “Bear Chats” allow you to spend 15-20 minutes chatting one-on-one with a current student during your visit.
- William & Mary: “Entirely optional” interviews are offered in the Undergraduate Admissions Office by William and Mary Senior Interviewers (students).
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE INTERVIEW?
Once you have scheduled your interview, it is time to prepare. There are several key stages to any college interview, and you should prepare for and master the parts you can expect:
Pre-interview: Research the school you are interviewing for (and, if possible, the individual you are interviewing with) in advance. Prepare your list of activities in case there is an opportunity to share it. Be ready to explain why specifically you are interviewing at that school backed up by reasons that go beyond the obvious talking points available on the school’s website landing page or its general reputation.
Day-Of: On interview day, dress in business casual (neither an uncomfortable formal suit nor overly casual sweats), be on time, and maintain eye-contact with your interviewer.
Opening: Most interviews begin with a “Tell me about yourself” prompt, which puts the ball firmly in your court. Prepare your personal elevator-pitch summary that hits on the key points of your pathway and provides important openings for the interviewer to follow-up on. Our Mock Interview & Analysis Program is the perfect place to practice and perfect this pitch.
Middle: The most-frequent interview advice is to “be yourself.” This is both the best and worst advice because it is hard to parse – what does it mean? To be yourself means to answer authentically while sharing about your own experiences without answering in a formulaic way that you think the interviewer wants or expects. The best interviews are conversations, not rapid-fire question-and-answer sessions, so don’t give one-word answers, but rather provide explanations and examples to elaborate on your answers. Be positive, and be honest if you don’t know an answer.
Ending: Most interviews conclude by offering you the chance to ask questions. Rather than being an afterthought, your questions can form a significant part of the interview. Use your advanced research to ask informed questions that showcase your knowledge and prove why you belong as part of that school’s campus community. Avoid asking any questions that you can find the answers to on-line. If you are at a loss, ask a forward-looking question about new majors, important developments on campus, or changes expected with a new president: Alan Blinder and Stephanie Saul’s May 22, 2024 NYT article “Anyone Want to be a College President? There are (Many) Openings” highlights how much turnover there has been in this role recently.
TTA Top Tip: After any interview, write a thank you note (email is fine) within 24 hours, mentioning a specific part of the conversation that was most meaningful to you. Interviewers frequently mention the receipt of thank you notes in interview summaries as a big positive; gratitude is a valued characteristic in admissions. Your goal is to send your thank you message before the interviewer has written their evaluative summary!
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After attending Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California, Heidi graduated cum laude with an Honors thesis from Dartmouth College as a double major in Classical Archaeology and Comparative Literature. At the University of Pennsylvania, Heidi was a Williams Fellow in the graduate program of Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World. She has conducted archaeological field work in Sardinia, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey.
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