I'm curious about how much information college alumni interviewers have when interviewing applicants. Do they have access to our full application, or is it limited to certain aspects? I'm a bit nervous about how the process works.
Typically, alumni interviewers have limited information about an applicant before conducting their interviews. This usually means they don't have access to your full application — so they likely haven't seen your essays, transcripts, or other application materials.
Information given to interviewers can vary by institution, but it usually includes one or more of the following:
- Your name
- Your contact information
- Your high school
- The prospective major or area of interest you indicated on your application.
The purpose of an alumni interview is not to evaluate all aspects of your application, but instead to learn more about things like your interests, personality, and reasons for applying to the school. From the interviewer's perspective, it's an opportunity to give the admissions committee a sense of who you are beyond what can be gleaned from the written application.
You can use the interview as an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the school, explain your extracurricular activities in more depth, or shed light on aspects of your background or interests that might not be fully conveyed in the rest of your application.
It's completely normal to be nervous but remember: alumni interviews are also a way for you to get a sense of the school from someone who's been there. Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer about their experience — this can be a great way to show your interest and get insight into the college's community!
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