Fall is fast approaching, and along with the calm of the falling leaves comes a certain degree of stress for high school seniors. The Common Application/Universal College App looms ominously in their minds, whether they’ve already sent it to a multitude of schools or have yet to even create an account. Seniors are also routinely bombarded with questions by relatives, coaches, teachers, and friends about which school they’d like to attend. This can obviously be another stressor for those who are undecided, but this question can also easily trouble those with their sights firmly fixed on a dream school. What if they don’t get into their dream school?
Though there’s no magic equation for discovering a dream school and no method of securing guaranteed admission to any school, rest assured! A solid alternative exists in the form of an admissions interview. I completed an interview at Rochester in August before my senior year when I visited campus, and it was a huge factor in my ultimate decision to attend school here. I highly recommend all prospective University of Rochester students perform admissions interviews as part of the application process for three reasons:
1. Ask questions about things that confuse you.
When I attended the information session during my campus visit, I got the impression that the curriculum at Rochester was super cool but also super confusing. I was thrilled by an open curriculum; in fact, that was the biggest attraction for me. As someone who’s curious about a wide range of subjects but also knows her passions, I definitely had no desire to be constricted by general education requirements.
But an open curriculum sounded too good to be true, and the whole cluster thing certainly went over my head the first time I heard about it. An interview allows you to have a one-on-one discussion with someone from the Admissions department, who is well-versed in all things Rochester. My personal conversation with Chris Antal helped me comprehend the curriculum far better than the website or the information session ever would have. Mr. Antal also provided great clarification about the financial aid process, the spirit of activism on campus, and Division III athletics. Though all these aspects of Rochester can certainly be studied on the website, nothing beats a one-on-one conversation in terms of clearing up confusion about academics and other aspects of college. It allows you to directly pose your most pressing questions, and it is your allotted time to receive lengthy and knowledgeable answers.
2. Up your chances of admission.
College admissions is a tricky business. Judging students based on standardized tests and AP classes, at least in my eyes, always seemed a little bit unfair. How can a panel of admissions counselors judge someone they only know from paper? Rochester has a test-flexible policy and a holistic application review process, so that solves most of the problem. And an interview is the icing on the cake.
You can present yourself as you truly are, not as a number. Plus, the great thing about interviews is that you’re supposed to be yourself. Here’s a tip: if you do go in for an interview, don’t try to act a certain way hoping to impress the admissions counselor. They’ll be able to see that you’re putting on an act, and the whole interview will feel forced and awkward. Instead, this natural conversation allows you to show your true colors (cliché, I know). This isn’t the only benefit of an interview. By completing an interview, you show your dedication to Rochester. For all selective colleges, it works in your favor to demonstrate interest in the school. If you put forth effort, you’ll be rewarded. An interview is a great way, if not the best way, to show you’re genuinely curious about Rochester and prioritizing it as a potential choice.
3. If nothing else, it’s good life experience.
From this point on in life, interviews are necessary and will occur. Since being at school for just about a month, I’ve already interviewed twice for on-campus jobs. I felt prepared for these experiences because of my admissions interviews that I completed during the college application process. Interviewing for college admissions allows you to learn how to walk into an interview setting with confidence and express yourself naturally. It also enables you to gain a sense of how to dress and act professionally. As you progress through college, you will have more interview experiences, such as interviewing for on-campus jobs and eventually interviewing for internships, graduate school, future jobs, and more. Though it’s a good idea to live in the moment, it’s also smart to think of the future. So why not gain some real-world experience now?
These are just a few of the many reasons interviews are highly recommended for the admissions process at the University of Rochester. Whether or not you choose to interview at Rochester, I hope you at least interview once somewhere where interviews are offered. You’ll make a connection at the school, increase the likelihood of your acceptance, and gain some valuable professional and life experience.
Throughout the admission process, stay calm. You can do it!