Seek Out College Interviews

And prepare for them!

We hear a lot about college interviews, but are they really that common? Unfortunately, many schools skip this crucial part of getting to know students. Legendary college counselor Parke Muth and I spoke in December about The Importance Of College Interviews and the advice he shared can help a lot of college applicants.

College interviews are mainly used by top ~50 selective schools (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Georgetown) and, while often claimed to be optional are strongly recommended. Interviews are typically conducted by alumni, less often by admissions staff or current students and usually take place in fall of senior year, especially for Early Action/Early Decision applicants.

Always Accept and Prepare for Your College Interviews

• Research common questions (e.g., "Why are you interested in our school?")

• Prepare specific, memorable answers that go beyond generic responses

• Practice with friends, family, or counselors

• Be ready to discuss aspects of yourself not covered in the written application

Interviews can be highly impactful for individual cases, once admissions decisions have moved beyond GPA and test scores. I’ve seen what happens when a student turns down an “optional” interview—don’t make that mistake!