When do college interviews usually happen?

I'm trying to schedule my college visits and I want to make sure I don't miss out on any interviews. Does anyone know when colleges typically hold interviews? Is it before or after the application deadline?

College interviews typically occur during the application period, but the exact timing can vary depending on whether the school offers rolling admissions, Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), or Regular Decision (RD).

For schools that offer ED and EA, interviews often start as early as September and continue through October and November. If the schools you're applying to have ED or EA, you should try to express your interest as soon as the application season opens, since interview slots can fill up quickly.

For RD applications, interviews usually start in December and continue right up to February, sometimes even early March.

Remember that each college has its specific timeline and format for interviews. Some will automatically offer an interview to every applicant, others will give interviews on a first-come, first-served basis, and some only offer interviews based on geographic proximity to an alum.

Don't stress too much if you aren't offered an interview—it often doesn't reflect the quality of your application. It might be due to the number of alumni interviewers available in your area, or simply the large volume of applicants. The lack of an interview isn't typically held against applicants in the admissions process.