Written by: Heather Zimar
Published: 10/18/2007

Report Shows Interview Has Small Role in Admissions

The college interview has little or no effect on admissions decisions today, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to the “State of College Admission,” a report by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, an applicant’s interview had limited or no importance at two-thirds of 386 four-year institutions surveyed last year. The portion of schools that gave the interview “considerable importance” was 10 percent, down from a high of 15 percent in 1995.

For at least 15 years, the top admissions factors have been curriculum and test scores, the report states. The interview ranked 10th among 15 criteria that schools consider.   

As the number of applications rise, colleges are struggling to keep up with interview requests. In addition, the input from alumni, who often conduct the interviews, isn’t always useful. Also, admissions officials realize the potential unfairness. Less affluent students, for example, may not be able to afford to travel for an interview.

Many colleges favor group information sessions. After a surge in campus visits over the last three years, Bucknell decided last spring to eliminate all interviews. Students now have the opportunity to spend a day attending classes and talking with faculty, current students and admissions officers. Input from those sessions goes into the students’ files.

Generally, smaller, more selective schools value interview. In the NACAC survey, no institution with a student body of 10,000 or more gave “considerable importance” to the interview. But about 13 percent of colleges with fewer than 3,000 students placed high value on the interview. “An interview isn’t going to make or break any application,” said Matt Gray, spokesman for Bryn Mawr College. “But if there’s two equally strong candidates, it’s much easier to deny a piece of paper than a person.”

At highly selective schools, optional interviews are offered. Ninety-five percent of applicants to the class of 2011 at Princeton University accepted the opportunity to interview. More than 6,000 alumni conducted 17,900 interview sessions worldwide.

The University of Pennsylvania offers an optional interview after a student’s application has been received.

Related Links:

The Philadelphia Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20071015_Cut_the_pre-college_stress.html