Northwestern Interviews for Regular Decision

For those who've applied to Northwestern regular decision, how important were your interviews in the process? I'm curious if it made a difference in your application, and if it's worth investing a lot of effort to prepare.

Northwestern University does consider interviews as a part of their application review, but it's important to note that interviews are not assigned any numerical or quantitative value in the review process. Instead, they serve as an additional source of qualitative information about the applicant and offer the student an opportunity to share more about their experiences and interests beyond what they've put down in their application.

In terms of preparation, instead of categorizing it as "a lot" or investing an extra amount of time, it's advisable to approach it as preparing for a two-way conversation. Do some research on the school, understand its programs, and prepare questions you'd want to ask your interviewer about the school or their experiences there. However, it's also important to be yourself and have a genuine conversation. Authenticity matters.

But also keep in mind that not everyone gets an interview - it's based on alumni availability, and some applicants may be at an advantage if they live in or near large metro areas where a large number of alumni reside. It's also important to remember that the Northwestern admissions office has stated that the absence of an interview will not negatively impact your application. So while it can be a beneficial part of your application, it's not a make or break requirement.

In sum, if you do get an interview, I'd recommend preparing, but not stressing too much over it. It's a chance to learn more about the school and to let them learn more about you, but it's not going to single-handedly determine the outcome of your application.