How do I know if a college will offer me an interview?

I'm trying to figure out whether I'll be offered interviews as part of the college application process. Are there specific colleges or types of colleges that typically conduct interviews? How important are these interviews for admissions?

As a general rule, most colleges do offer interviews, although they vary significantly on a case-by-case basis. Interviews can happen in a few different settings: in-person, via phone, or over an online platform. The college will typically reach out to you to schedule an interview after receiving your application.

The nature of these interviews is typically either informational or evaluative. Informational interviews are designed to give the applicant a deeper understanding of the school. On the other hand, evaluative interviews are used by the school to gain more information about the applicant, and these can affect your chances of admission.

Some highly selective colleges have interviews that are offered based on alumni availability and are seen as a way for you to demonstrate your interest in the school, while also giving you a chance to learn more about the institution from someone who attended. Keep in mind, however, that these interviews generally make up a small portion of the admission decision and are most valuable to you, the applicant, as a way to learn more about the school and have your questions answered.

However, not all highly selective schools offer interviews. Notable examples include Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University. Meanwhile, there's a wide range of schools where interviews are an essential part of the application process; often these are smaller liberal arts colleges.

When deciding whether or not to participate in an interview, be sure to treat it seriously. Prepare questions, do your research, and dress appropriately, as it can provide more depth to your application and give you a place to elaborate on things that you weren't able to address in your application. But remember, not being offered an interview doesn't reflect negatively on your application. It's typically due to geographical limitations or a higher number of applicants than available interviewers.

So, to find out if a particular college you're interested in offers interviews, check out their admissions page on their website or contact the admissions office directly. The requirements vary from college to college, so it's important to get specific information from each institution.

To summarize, interviews can be both informative and play a small role in the admissions decision. They offer the colleges a chance to get to know you better, beyond what's simply written in your application, and let you demonstrate your interest in the school. While it does vary from school to school, they typically do not make or break an application, so don't stress too much about them!