Hey everyone! I'm starting to get into the whole application process and I've heard a lot about interviews. Do all colleges require an interview as part of their admissions process, or is it only for certain programs or schools? Trying to figure out if I need to start prepping for a bunch of interviews or not. Thanks!
Hey there! Great question about interviews. The short answer is most colleges require an interview — it varies from school to school. Generally, schools try to interview as many candidates as possible, as that extra piece of information can be useful in finalizing admissions decisions, but sometimes not everyone gets an interview based on logistics. Interviewers are typically alumni volunteers, so if there aren't many alums in your particular area, you may not receive an interview request, but through no fault of your own.
Additionally, in the case of larger public universities, interviews are less common due to the sheer number of applicants. It's best to check the admissions website of each college you're interested in to see their specific requirements. All that being said, if you are offered an interview at any of your schools, make sure to say yes and take it seriously! Even though it's not a requirement, ignoring the request will make your interest in the school seem disingenuous, as will a poor performance.
If you are offered one or more interviews and are wondering how to prepare, CollegeVine's blog is a good place to start, as you can get a breakdown of some common questions and how you should go about responding to them: https://blog.collegevine.com/15-major-college-interview-questions-to-prepare-for
Good luck with your applications!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.