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Which Top Colleges Require Interviews?
Interviews are intimidating. While more and more colleges are no longer requiring them as part of the admissions process, they can still impact your likelihood of admission. They can also serve as an important tool for helping both you and the college determine whether the school is right for you.
In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of the interview, and provide a list of the interview policies at top schools.
How Important Is the College Interview?
As you can see from the above graphic, interviews carry relatively little weight in the overall admissions process. However, much like recommendations, they can give colleges insight into your personality and qualities beyond your academic profile and achievements. This will allow them to gauge your fit with the campus and student body. It will also allow you to learn more about the college to determine whether it’s the right fit for you.
Your interview is unlikely to strongly impact your admissions decision, unless you make an extremely negative impression. It can, however, serve as a source of information for you and the school. A good interview can also give you a small boost in the admissions process.
How is COVID-19 Impacting College Interviews?
Because of the pandemic, most colleges that previously held in-person interviews are now conducting them online. This means that there may be fewer interviews offered overall. Some schools that previously offered interviews are no longer offering them during the pandemic at all. Many have changed their requirements, too — in some cases, interviews that were once required may now be recommended.
Interview Policies for Top 20 Universities
The following list shows the interview policies for the top 20 universities (including ties). In many cases where an interview is recommended but not required, the university may not be able to offer interviews to all applicants.
If you are offered an interview at a school where it’s recommended, you are encouraged to make an appointment. This will demonstrate your interest in the school as well as help both you and the adcom gauge fit. If you’re not offered one or are unable to schedule one, don’t worry — it won’t adversely impact your admissions decision.
| Princeton University | Recommended |
| Harvard University | Recommended |
| Columbia University | Recommended |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Recommended |
| Yale University | Recommended |
| Stanford University | Optional |
| University of Chicago | Not offered, video intro option instead |
| University of Pennsylvania | Strongly recommended |
| California Institute of Technology | Not offered |
| Johns Hopkins University | Not offered |
| Northwestern University | Optional |
| Duke University | Recommended |
| Dartmouth College | Recommended |
| Brown University | Optional, but suspended for 2020-202. Video portfolio option instead. |
| Vanderbilt University | Optional |
| Rice University | Optional |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Optional |
| Cornell University | Required for Architecture program; recommended for applicants to the Art and Hotel Administration programs |
| University of Notre Dame | Not offered |
| University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) | Not offered |
Interview Policies for Top 20 Liberal Arts Colleges
These are the LACs in the top 20 rankings (including ties) that require or recommend interviews.
| Williams College | Not offered |
| Amherst College | Not offered |
| Swarthmore College | Recommended |
| Pomona College | Optional |
| Wellesley College | Recommended |
| Bowdoin College | Strongly recommended |
| Claremont McKenna College | Strongly recommended |
| United States Naval Academy | Required |
| Carleton College | Recommended |
| Hamilton College | Required |
| Middlebury College | Optional |
| Washington and Lee University | Strongly recommended |
| Grinnell College | Optional |
| Vassar College | Optional |
| Colby College | Optional |
| Davidson College | Not offered |
| Haverford College | Recommended |
| Smith College | Optional |
| United States Military Academy | Required |
| Colgate University | Optional |
| Wesleyan University | Recommended |
Whether you want guidance navigating the interview process, honing your essays, or navigating the entire admissions process, CollegeVine is here to help. With our Chancing Engine, you’ll find out your chances of admission to more than 500 colleges and universities. You’ll also receive tips for applying and more. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
