I have two favorite colleges and was wondering how much interviews can help the admissions process. Should I do one with each or just choose my favorite of the two and do an interview with that one?
I think this really comes down to the specific college. From what I'm seeing, some schools recommend interviews while others have them optional.
For those schools that are optional, generally, they'll be 90% sure of your final decision before the interview takes place, so it's mainly a time for them to analyze you for red flags or maybe new personality traits that weren't communicated through the other parts of your application. That being said, it would still put a face to your application which really only has upside.
I think for your favorite colleges, you should take the time to do the interviews, even if they are optional. If there are a few reach schools that have recommended interviews, you should really do those to maximize your chances in case you don't get into your favorites.
I found a list stating to what degree colleges value interviews:
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