How important are college interviews for acceptance?

I'm curious about the role college interviews play in the admissions process. Do they significantly impact my chances of getting accepted, or are they more of a formality? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

College interviews typically play a supporting role in the admissions process and are generally considered a smaller part of your application. Their significance may vary depending on the school, but for most colleges, they won't make or break your application.

While interviews may not weigh heavily in admissions decisions, they still provide an opportunity for you to elaborate on aspects of your application, exhibit your enthusiasm for the school, and demonstrate how you would contribute to the college community. The interview also can be a two-way communication - you not only share about you, but you get to learn more about the college through the person interviewing you (who often is an alumnus or current student).

It's important to note that for most colleges, not having an interview won't negatively impact your chances. In many cases, whether or not you're offered an interview can depend on factors out of your control, such as the number of alumni interviewers in your area.

That being said, if you're offered an interview, it's best to take advantage of it, as it shows your continued interest in the school and also gives you an opportunity to bring your application to life.

But remember, at highly selective schools like Vanderbilt and Johns Hopkins, they do not offer interviews as part of their admissions process. Always check the individual policies of the schools to which you're applying to understand their stance on interviews.