Ask the Consultant: Should I Interview?

Q: We are planning to visit colleges over the February break. Should I have my daughter interview?

A: Early on, it is a good idea to take a look at the interview policies at each of the schools to which you are seriously considering applying.  Why?  Not all interviews are “counted” as a part of the admissions decision.  The Fiske Guide to Colleges spells out each college's interview policy.  For example, if it says: “Campus interviews: recommended, evaluative.  Alumni interviews: optional, informational,” this tells you that if you do an on-campus interview, the interviewer will take notes and put them in your file.  If you interview well, this can help you in the process.  You can also interview with an alumnus in your local area but, in this case, these interviews are only to provide you with information on the college.  In an informational interview, nothing about the conversation will be used in the decision-making process, with the exception of the knowledge that you participated. 

It is also helpful to know the timing of interviews.  Generally, the more applications the school receives, the more restrictions that they will have about interviews.  Some large state universities do not interview at all.  Many of the elite and Ivy League colleges will only interview students who have submitted an application, or at least the first part of the application with the application fee.  And many schools only offer interviews to prospective students between April 1 of the junior year and January 15 of the senior year.  After that, they are reading applications and making decisions. 

Is this going to be your only visit? 

If you are traveling quite a distance for a visit, your best bet is to get as much out of the visit as possible. This could include a class visit, lunch with a student, and an interview. On the other hand, if you are just testing the waters, determining if a school is of interest or not, do just that. The interview can wait. 

Planning for Campus Visits

Many families are starting to make plans to visit colleges over the course of their child’s eleventh-grade year. It is a smart strategy to have a working college list at the start of the junior year so you can map out a plan for how you are going to visit all of the campuses. 

Spoiler alert: it will likely be more challenging to squeeze multiple visits into your schedule than you imagine 

You will want to see a campus in action, with students on the quad and in the classrooms, as alive with activity as possible. That rules out holidays and summers, and with the elimination of the entire week of February vacation at many Connecticut public schools, the only full week off is April break. For students participating in spring sports, this makes it even more difficult to find the time. Layer in other elements of your family’s schedule- siblings’ activities, work trips and responsibilities, exams, etc. - and finding the time becomes a real challenge. In fact, the majority of the families we work with opt to start the college process sooner with their second child, even though they have much more information about the process having been through it once before. This decision is made, in large part, by the realization that narrowing down the college list by visiting campuses takes much more time then they anticipated. So, make sure you budget enough time to get on the campus; it is well worth your time. Besides, who doesn’t relish a good road trip?

Myth: We'll Apply Now and Visit Later

Reality:  Many schools track “demonstrated interest,” which they consider in their decision-making process to admit or deny students.  Demonstrated interest can include visiting the campus (checking in at the Admissions Office to let them know you’re there is important), meeting representatives from the school at college fairs, requesting information from the college, asking for names of current students willing to answer specific questions you may have, or requesting an interview.

When considering an application or making a choice between two qualified candidates, a student who has previously made contact with the school will appear to be a more seriously interested candidate than one whose first contact with the school is via their application.  There’s even a name for the student who has never expressed any interest to the college: the “stealth” applicant, and it doesn’t earn you any points!  It’s okay to ask schools if they track demonstrated interest and we encourage you to carefully map out which schools to visit considering this information.  A carefully executed visit plan may just give you the edge over another applicant and with competition as fierce as it is, you want every advantage possible.

Besides, the more you know about a college, the better decisions you'll make as well!

Ask the Consultant

Q: I was invited by a coach for an overnight. What should I expect?

A: Congratulations! Expect to be busy. The purpose of the overnight visit is to expose you to the life of a student-athlete at that particular college. You will probably be matched with a host from the team and will follow them around a bit. You will most likely attend classes, eat a meal or two with the team, attend a practice or game, have an interview, and meet with the coaching staff. All in 48-hours! 

Expect to be busy!

So soak it all in! This is what college life is going to be like! Pay attention in class. Is this somewhere you can be successful? Watch the interaction between the coach and players during practice. Would you fit in athletically? Ask questions of your future teammates and their friends.