As you refine your college list and consider which institutions to visit, you might wonder about the college interview process: Which colleges offer interviews? When do the interviews take place? What role do these interviews serve? In this post, we’ll detail the role and process of interviews for undergraduate academic programs. (This does not include honors programs or combined undergraduate/graduate programs, like a BS/MD.)

Role of College Interviews

As admissions have become more competitive and selective, colleges have been giving more weight than ever to application components in which students can personalize and differentiate themselves. While grades, rigor of curriculum, and test scores remain the most important factors in admissions decisions, ~13% of colleges attribute considerable or moderate importance to the role of interviews, according to the most recent NACAC State of College Admission Report (published in 2023). This is especially true for smaller and private institutions.

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Colleges value interviews because they provide one-on-one interactions with applicants. Interviews are a way for colleges to get to know you outside your grades and scores—to understand you authentically and holistically. What is your personality like? What are your passions? Will you be a good fit for their culture and values?

Interviews are an excellent opportunity to discuss your interests in more detail than on your application. For the more than 1,100 colleges that accept the Common Application, the Activities section restricts the descriptions of each activity to 150 characters, and not all colleges allow you to include a separate resume.

Interviews are also an excellent chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm and sincere interest in your colleges, so if you receive an interview invitation, we recommend that you take advantage of the opportunity.

Where?

Interviews can be held on campus or with a regional alumni interviewer in your community, either in-person or virtually. Before the pandemic, colleges were already starting to reduce the availability of on-campus interviews, due to the increased numbers of applicants, lack of available staff, and desire to make the interview process more equitable (students who cannot afford to travel would be at a disadvantage). The impact of Covid reinforced this trend even more.

Now, the more common—and accessible—alternatives include in-person interviews with local alumni (typically held in a public place geographically convenient to you) or remote interviews conducted via a phone call or Zoom.

When?

The best time to interview is in the late summer or fall, after you have completed most of your college visits. You will then have a better idea of the features that are important to you in colleges, as well as the aspects of each school that appeal most to you. Mention these in your interview! The more specific you are, the more it will prove that a particular school is a great fit for you.

On-Campus Interviews

If a college offers an on-campus interview and it’s feasible for you to travel there, take advantage of the chance to make an impression in person, demonstrate your commitment to your application, and explore the campus, which can provide even more specifics to talk about in your interview and subsequent update letter or letter of continued interest, if applicable. Check to see if the school requires that you register in advance, and if so, be sure to do so in a timely manner. If you receive invitations to interview on campus at multiple schools, it may not be feasible (financially or logistically) to travel to all of them, so we advise that you prioritize on-campus interviews for your top-choice schools, as well as colleges that are located close to you.

Alumni Interviews

Many colleges offer alumni interviews, which are typically initiated by the school when students submit their applications. The regional admissions officer will contact the student either by email or phone to schedule the interview. These interviews typically occur in public places, such as a coffee shop or the local library, or by telephone or Zoom.

It’s possible that a school you’re applying to will not have enough alumni interviewers to arrange conversations with every applicant, but don’t worry about this! Harvard, for example, states on its website that “Your application is considered complete without an interview and will receive a full and thorough evaluation.” Dartmouth, Duke, MIT, and many other schools say the same.

Student Responsibilities

Once your college list is finalized, take the initiative to do the following:

  • Check all your colleges’ websites for current interview policies
  • Keep track of the interview policies and deadlines in a Word or Excel document
  • Schedule interviews, if applicable

Pay careful attention to the fine print! For example, whether or not Duke offers you an alumni interview after your application is submitted, you are welcome to send them a Glimpse video (a 60- to 90-second self-recorded video sharing more information about yourself) that can serve as a supplement for the interview.

Examples of College Interview Policies for Selected Schools:

Schools that require interviews:

  • Georgetown (Interview is required unless there are no alumni available to conduct interviews in a particular geographic region. Students are matched with an interviewer in their area and given an e-mail with their contact information. It is the responsibility of the student to contact their interviewer to set up the meeting.)

Schools that offer optional interviews (either virtual or in an applicant’s home area) with local alumni by invitation:

  • Duke (virtual interviews only)
  • Harvard (interviews conducted by Zoom, telephone, or in-person locally)
  • MIT (interviews are held in-person locally whenever possible, but can be scheduled virtually if needed)
  • Princeton (virtual and local, in-person interviews)
  • Stanford (virtual and local, in-person interviews)
  • Yale (interviewers include alumni and current seniors)
  • Dartmouth (alumni interviews conducted by Zoom, telephone, or in-person locally)

Schools that offer optional interviews upon request:

  • Wake Forest (Virtual interview only. Request must be made within 5 days of submitting application. Also accepts a self-recorded video in lieu of a virtual interview)
  • Tufts (Virtual interview only. Can be requested via the applicant portal once the application has been received)
  • Connecticut College (In-person interviews on campus and virtual interviews)
  • Grinnell College (In-person interviews are primarily held on campus, but they also occasionally offer them “on the road.” Virtual interviews also offered.)
  • University of Rochester (In-person interviews are held at regional events across U.S. Virtual interviews also available.)

Schools that only require interviews for admission to certain programs:

  • Cornell (Video interview required only for the Architecture program within the College of Architecture, Art and Planning)

Schools that no longer conduct interviews but accept an optional self-recorded video profile submission with application:

Schools that do not offer any interviews as part of the admissions process:

How to Prepare for the Interview

Research, research, research! The most important preparation you can do is to thoroughly research the college. What academic programs interest you and why? Which clubs and organizations would you join? What aspects of the college culture appeal to you? Be prepared to discuss specific features of each particular college that are a good fit for you.

Reflect on yourself—who are you now and who do you wish to become? What courses have you enjoyed the most thus far? What are your passions? How have you chosen to spend your time outside of academics? What do you consider your strengths and weaknesses? Who has influenced you the most? What are your values? What are your goals for college and beyond? Reflecting on these questions now will help you answer them thoughtfully and substantively on the day of your interview.

In sum, include specifics about both you and the college. To do this effectively, it is especially important to bring your points to life through anecdotes and examples, so it would be wise to brainstorm ahead of time some of these stories that you might want to share in your interview. You should also come prepared with questions to ask your interviewer when you’re invited to do so; this will indicate that you are genuinely curious about and interested in the school and show them that you did your homework before showing up.

Arrange for a mock interview with an experienced interviewer and ask for constructive critique. You can also look up common interview questions and practice saying the answers out loud to yourself and/or to a trusted friend.

Tips for Interview Day

  • Dress neatly, comfortably, and professionally.
  • Plan to arrive a few minutes early to ensure that you are on time.
  • Treat everyone you meet during the interview and application process with respect.
  • Address your interviewer by name at the beginning and end of the interview.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Think before you speak. It’s fine to pause.
  • Be an active participant in your interview. Demonstrate your listening skills, adaptability, and knowledge.
  • Use your powers of observation. Do your interviewers look bored or interested? Assess whether you should speak more or less.
  • Be yourself, but be your BEST self.

Additional Tips for Virtual Interviews

Prepare for the Virtual Interview

  • Select a quiet, indoor location (preferably at home) with a stable internet connection and good lighting. Make sure your background is neat and tidy. Try to set up in a spot where you are facing a window/light source (rather than having it behind you which will cast you in shadow).
  • Ensure a quiet environment. Alert any other present parties (siblings, parents, roommates, etc.) to your interview so they can keep their volume to a minimum during the meeting. Silence your phone during the interview. If you need to use a phone or tablet for the interview, turn off notifications for your other applications to avoid being interrupted by calls, text messages, or other distractions.
  • Use a laptop/desktop computer or iPad (rather than your phone) if possible, to minimize the risk of distractions and movement. If using a mobile device, 1) make sure you are connected to WiFi (cellular connection is typically less stable and can reduce the quality of the image) and 2) position it horizontally (not vertically) to ensure a full screen image, and 3) set it up somewhere stationary to reduce jostling and other movement.
  • Make sure your device is fully charged ahead of time (or plugged in, if possible).
  • Set up ~10-15 minutes before the interview start time to make sure you are prepared and presentable.
  • Do a trial run of the software app that is being used (e.g. Zoom or Skype) to make sure your software is up-to-date and ready to go, your internet connection is working properly, your microphone and camera are connected, and your background looks professional.
  • Join the call a couple minutes early so that you can confirm the link is working and so that your interviewer isn’t waiting for you when they join.

During the Virtual Interview

  • Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If using Zoom, one way to help keep eye contact is to pin your interviewer’s window so that your self-view is minimized and less distracting. In addition, expand the call window to full screen so that you aren’t tempted to look at open tabs, social media sites, etc. in the background.
  • Position any notes that you want to use close to the camera so that your eyes are not darting back and forth. Just make sure not to block the call window so that you can still see the interviewer.
  • Keep calm! Even with all the appropriate preparation, technical glitches can still happen. Interviewers are well aware of this, so if you run into any hiccups, maintain your composure while you troubleshoot any issues and move forward with confidence.

After the Interview

  • Take some notes about specific topics you discussed immediately following the meeting. Note the names and professional roles of your interviewers. Take a business card, if possible.
  • Reflect on the experience. Remember what you did well and learn from your mistakes. Take this knowledge with you to your next interview.
  • Email a thank-you note to everyone who interviewed you. Be concise and professional. Reference specific topics discussed during your meeting.

At Collegiate Gateway, we are well-versed in college interview preparation. Our mock interviews prepare students to answer specific questions about themselves and the college, and clients receive extensive feedback about interviewing skills. Feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help!

   

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