The Ins and Outs of the Alumni Interviews
So, you’re interested in alumni interview. That’s great! First things first, please know that this is a completely optional additional piece to your application. If the thought of scheduling or completing the interview sounds like a daunting thing to add to your to-do list, please don’t feel like you should request one! Many successful Tufts applicants do not complete an interview.
In general, I think there is a lot of pressure built around the interview that I’d like to dispel. Who else saw that Gilmore Girls episode where Rory was tricked into doing a college interview with no preparation and it felt like the end of the world? Yes, that was early 2000’s TV, but the feelings remain true today! In reality, we don’t want this experience to add any stress to your college search process. A Tufts interview is a relaxed conversation where you can share thoughts and ideas beyond what you wrote in your application and have a chance to ask a Tufts alum or senior about their experience too. I wanted to provide a few tips so you can feel at ease around requesting, completing, or perhaps not completing an alumni interview.
Tip #1: Patience is key. After you request an alumni interview, it may take some time before you hear from an interviewer. Typically, once you are matched, your interviewer will reach out to you via email. I would check your inbox every few days, but no need to feverishly refresh your browser. Also, check your spam folder too!
Tip #2: All interviews are virtual this year, so make sure that you are connecting with your interviewer on a virtual platform you feel comfortable with and that you’re in a quiet and well-lit environment. Feel free to download a neutral virtual background. Also, wear something presentable that makes you feel comfortable and confident. You got this!
Tip #3: With any college interview, the college is going to come up in conversation… so you should feel prepared to talk about the college! Reflect on your research and feel ready to share in conversation why you’re excited about Tufts. The best part: your interviewer loves Tufts too! Think of it as a chance to talk about the points you couldn’t squeeze into your “Why Tufts?” essay.
Tip #4: During the interview, breathe. If you need a moment to think about how you want to answer a question, that’s totally appropriate.
Tip #5: Think of a few questions to ask the interviewer as well. What are you still wondering about? What are questions you have that can’t be found with a quick online search? You have a Tufts alum right in front of your screen; take advantage of their knowledge and experience!
Tip #6: If you don’t complete an alumni interview with Tufts, don’t sweat it. Unfortunately, we have many more interview requests than volunteers. While we try our best to fulfill as many requests as possible, interviews are not guaranteed. As said above, interviews are optional and not requesting or completing an interview will never affect your candidacy to Tufts!
I hope the above advice helps you feel more comfortable going through this process. As a reminder, interested applicants can request an interview via a form found in your Tufts Status Portal after you submit your application. Interviews for Early Decision 2 will occur through late January, and interviews for Regular Decision through late February. If you request an interview and don’t have a successful match, we will be in touch to let you know! Good luck, and I sincerely hope you enjoy connecting with our interviewers at Tufts.