Admissions with Umid: Interviews 1. Are all applicants interv | Freshman Academy

Admissions with Umid: Interviews

1. Are all applicants interviewed?

Inviting thousands of applicants for an interview is logistically challenging. Out of 17 universities that I applied to, only four (including Yale) were interested in talking to me. Being invited to the interview – especially, in places like Yale-NUS or NYU Abu Dhabi – might mean that you passed the first round of the admissions process.

2. How do I prepare for an interview?

Do a lot of research about the college! Almost every admissions officer would ask questions like “Why our college?” or “Why this major?”. Try to look for the aspects of the college’s academic curriculum or social life that you feel most connected to. If you have a video blog at school, for example, you may want to express your interest in joining the college's film club. Overall, your job is to connect your past experiences and future aspirations with the kind of resources that the educational institution can offer you.


3. How do I know if I did well in the interview?

The admissions officer is not supposed to let you know or even hint at how well you did. In any case, you should not worry about your performance because it is not a deciding factor in admissions. The vast majority of US universities maintain holistic admissions, which means that your GPA, SAT, extracurricular activities and essays will all contribute to the outcome of your application. Interviews are often used to spot so-called “red flags” or inconsistencies in your application. For example, your motivational essay is about your passion for debating; however, during the interview, you do not seem to be very excited about it.

So, review your application again. See if there are some potential questions that you did not address. Do solid research about what the university can offer before the interview. And practice your speaking before you join the talk.

Let me know in the comments if there are any other aspects of the admissions process that you would want me to cover.


All the best and good luck,
Umid

@freshmanblog

#AdmissionsWithUmid