Why the College Admissions Interview Still Matters
A Daily Pennsylvanian opinion piece argues that Penn should bring alumni interviews back into its application process. The larger question is how much human connection should remain in college admissions.
A quieter admissions process
An opinion piece in The Daily Pennsylvanian argues that Penn’s admissions process became worse when the university stopped speaking with applicants through interviews. Its central recommendation is straightforward: bring the admissions interview back.
The supplied article excerpt does not provide details about when Penn ended interviews, why the decision was made, or how the change affected applicants. Those details matter. Still, the argument raises an important question for families: What can an application reveal about a student when most of the process is conducted through forms, scores, essays, and documents?
What an interview can add
An interview cannot replace a student’s academic record. It also should not become another expensive advantage available mainly to families with more time, money, or coaching. But a thoughtful conversation can give an applicant a chance to explain an interest, describe a challenge, or show a quality that may not fit neatly into an application form.
For students, that opportunity can be meaningful. A student whose activities appear modest on paper may be able to explain the responsibilities behind them. Another student may communicate curiosity, persistence, or a clear sense of purpose more naturally in conversation than in a polished essay.
That does not mean interviews are automatically fair or reliable. Conversations can vary depending on the interviewer, the setting, and the student’s comfort level. Any interview system would need clear expectations and consistent training so that it adds useful information rather than rewarding confidence, familiarity with admissions customs, or access to private preparation.
The practical issue for families
Families should not assume that an interview determines an applicant’s future. The article excerpt does not claim that interviews alone improve admissions decisions, and it does not provide evidence comparing students who were interviewed with those who were not.
The practical lesson is narrower: applicants should be prepared to explain who they are beyond a list of accomplishments. Whether a college offers an official interview or not, students benefit from practicing how to discuss their interests, choices, challenges, and goals in a natural way.
Teachers and tutors can help by asking open-ended questions rather than scripting answers. The goal is not to manufacture a more impressive personality. It is to help students recognize the experiences and values they already bring to an application.
A useful debate
Penn’s decision, as described by The Daily Pennsylvanian’s opinion piece, presents a larger admissions debate. Efficiency may make an application process easier to manage, but less personal contact can also make it feel more distant to students.
The strongest admissions process would balance consistency with opportunities for applicants to be understood as people. If interviews return, they should be accessible, carefully designed, and treated as one source of information—not as a test of polish or privilege.