Do state colleges offer interviews?

I'm applying to some state colleges and was wondering if they usually have interviews as part of the admissions process. Is this typical, or is it more common for private schools? Any experiences would be helpful.

The process of offering interviews varies greatly from college to college, regardless of whether the institution is public or private. In general, it's slightly more common for private colleges to offer interviews, but several state schools do offer them as well.

For instance, the University of Michigan, a public institution, has an optional alumni interview program for undergraduate applicants. However, these aren't available to all applicants due to the number of alumni volunteers versus the number of applicants.

It's also important to note that more often than not, interviews are typically not a major component of the admission decision at state colleges. They are mostly informative and extracurricular, designed to give you, the applicant, further insight into the school rather than to significantly influence your chances of admission.

Ultimately, each school has its own policy. It's crucial to check the admissions pages of the specific state colleges you're interested in to see if they offer interviews and how they factor into the admissions process.

As an example, state schools like University of California system and the Cal State system do not offer interviews as part of their admissions process. So it really varies depending on the college!

Remember, if interviews are offered and you are given the opportunity, it's almost always a good idea to take advantage of the chance to talk with an alum or admissions officer. It provides a valuable opportunity to learn more about the school and to demonstrate your interest.