College interviews - is that common?

[mirabillis]

I've seen some chatter about college interviews. When I went to school, I don't recall any interviews, in fact I'm sure I didn't. We're looking at state UC schools but will also shoot for some smaller private universities as well. Anyone with experience? When do the interviews happen?

 

Thanks!

[FaithManor]

Our boys had interviews with faculty members. They prearranged them in order to have specific questions answered about the programs for their majors. In some cases, these interviews caused a college to bumped up in favor, down, or droped from consideration. They also had interviews for scholarships occasionally.

 

None of these were admission requirements for the schools they were considering. But in some majors they would be mandatory. When I applied to school, I had interviews and auditions because I was majoring in piano performance.

[regentrude]

Interviews for admission are common at highly selective schools. At non selective schools, there is obviously no point in the school interviewing applicants for admission, but there may be interviews for scholarship applicants.

My DD had 4 interviews with alumni from her reach schools.

 

At our public U, we have visits and prospective students get to talk to our department chair. But that is more the student interviewing the department than us interviewing the student. (Think of it as buyer's vs seller's markets)

Edited October 31, 2016 by regentrude

[quark]

I believe the UCs conduct interviews for Regents scholarships but I don't believe they interview beyond that. Someone correct me if I am wrong!

 

For when interviews happen, you should get some idea by poking around the college's deadlines page. Early Action/ Decision interviews would normally be conducted before the Regular Decision ones I would think? DS completed his one and only interview (applying to very few schools) last weekend. ETA: Depending on the school, either the applicant sets it up or the school contacts the applicant.

Edited October 31, 2016 by quark

[Bootsie]

DD had several interviews with small liberal arts colleges during summer before senior year and fall of senior year.  They were not mandatory.  Most were with admissions counselors visiting our city.  One was with a local alum.  These interviews were mostly a way for the school to market themselves to her.  They can also be a situation in which a student who thinks he will be a border-line admit has an opportunity to sell himself, explain any questionable areas on the app, and express interest in the school

[GoodGrief]

As was stated previously, interviews occur primarily for more selective (and generally private) schools. Other schools may conduct interviews for some of the more competitive scholarships (my daughter interviewed for a scholarship at a large state school and a couple of small non-selective Christian schools.)