If a school requires an interview to apply, the decision is obvious. However, many colleges and universities offer the interview as an optional part of the admissions process, and leave it up to you to decide. As an applicant, the first point to determine is whether the interview will be informational or evaluative. When it’s solely informational, it’s a good idea to interview if you are undecided about the school and want to learn more. In that case, it’s a matter of personal preference that can’t help or hurt you as an applicant.
An evaluative college interview, however, is a tool that the admissions office uses to assess you as a candidate. Keep in mind that even if you interview with an alum, student, or faculty member off-campus instead of the dean of admissions, your interview will influence your chances of admission. Generally if the interview is strongly recommended by the school, it’s advisable to go ahead with it, to demonstrate both your interest and qualifications. Also if you’re applying to a “reach” school when you may not be the most obviously qualified candidate, it’s wise to interview if you can show positive qualities in person that may not be visible in your paper application. If your grades, writing, test scores, or recommendations are not as strong as your personality, social confidence and interpersonal skills, an interview will work in your favor.
You should decide against an optional evaluative college interview if you have strong grades, writing, test scores, and teacher recommendations, but tend to get anxious and make a poor impression in face-to-face interactions. Sometimes, you may not be the best judge of how you present yourself. If you’re uncertain, it’s best to ask an adult who knows you—such as a teacher or college counselor you’ve worked with—for their opinion about how you would come across in an interview.