Are college interviews required for admissions?

I'm sorting out my college application list and trying to understand interview requirements. Are interviews usually mandatory, or are they more often optional? Does not doing them negatively impact my chances at some schools?

For the majority of colleges, interviews are typically optional and not an outright requirement for admissions. The opportunity to interview largely depends on the resources that a school has. For instance, at some universities, students may be offered interviews based on the availability of alumni interviewers in their geographic area. Other universities might invite certain applicants to interview if their initial application is considered impressive.

If you are offered the opportunity to interview and you decline it, colleges may interpret that as indifference, which could negatively impact your application. In other words, it's generally a good idea to accept the interview invitation if given one. It's also worth noting, however, that many successful applicants are admitted without interviewing, particularly in locations where colleges cannot offer interviews to every applicant.

The potential influence of interviews on your application also varies between schools. For institutions like Johns Hopkins or Vanderbilt, for example, interviews are not offered at all, and therefore would not factor into their admissions decision.

It's crucial to research the specific application requirements and procedures for each college on your list to understand their policies around interviews. You can typically find this information on a school's admissions webpage.

Finally, interviews provide an invaluable opportunity for you to learn more about the school from a primary source and to express your interest in attending. Conducting an interview can certainly add depth to your application and distinguish you from other candidates.