With the fall 2021-22 application cycle now in full swing, it's important to keep an eye on interview requirements for the schools on your list—especially if they're looking for evidence of demonstrated interest.
To make this easier for you, we've compiled a list of popular schools where interviews are required or strongly recommended, along with the degree to which the institution considers demonstrated interest as part of the evaluation.
In cases like Hillsdale College where interviews are highly recommended and demonstrated interest is very important, it's a good bet than an interview — in-person or virtual — is worth your time. On the flip side, if interviews are optional and demonstrated interest isn't considered, booking an interview is less critical. The devil is in the details, so to help you figure out your strategy we've also included a link to each listed school's interview policy. Do keep in mind that interview requirements may often vary by major.
College Kickstart subscribers: this information is already available to you in the Summary and Requirements views.
Click on Continue Reading for the list.
Colleges that Require or Strongly Recommend Interviews
Class of 2026
College Kickstart LLC
Institution | Interview Importance | Demonstrated Interest | Link |
Allegheny College |
Strongly encouraged |
Important |
|
Baldwin Wallace University |
Highly recommended |
Considered |
|
Bowdoin College |
Strongly encouraged |
Not considered |
|
Bryn Mawr College |
Strongly recommended (required for homeschool or early admission applicants) |
Not considered |
|
Christopher Newport University |
Strongly encouraged (required for PLP or Honors Programs) |
Important |
|
Claremont McKenna College |
Highly recommended |
Not available |
|
Clark University |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
College of the Atlantic |
Strongly encouraged |
Considered |
|
College of the Holy Cross |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Colorado College |
Highly recommended |
Considered |
|
Cornell University |
Required for architecture program; encouraged for Department of Art or Urban and Regional Studies |
Not considered |
|
DePauw University |
Highly recommended |
Considered |
|
Drew University |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Elmira College |
Strongly suggested |
Important |
|
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering |
Required for Candidate Weekend attendees |
Very important |
|
Georgetown University |
Required |
Not considered |
|
Gettysburg College |
Highly recommended |
Considered |
|
Grinnell College |
Highly recommended |
Considered |
|
Grove City College |
Strongly recommended |
Very important |
|
Hamilton College |
Strongly encouraged |
Considered |
|
Hamline University |
Strongly encouraged |
Considered |
|
Hartwick College |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Harvey Mudd College |
Highly encouraged |
Not considered |
|
Hillsdale College |
Strongly recommended especially for scholarships |
Very important |
|
Hobart and William Smith Colleges |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Iona College |
Strongly encouraged |
Important |
|
Juniata College |
Highly recommended |
Not considered |
|
Knox College |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Lake Forest College |
Highly recommended; required for people who don't submit test scores |
Considered |
|
Manhattanville College |
Strongly encouraged; required in some cases |
Very important |
|
Meredith College |
Required for home-schooled students |
Important |
|
Mills College |
Highly recommended |
Not considered |
|
Moravian College |
Strongly suggested |
Important |
|
Mount Holyoke College |
Strongly encouraged |
Considered |
|
Muhlenberg College |
Strongly recommended; required for students applying to academic partnerships |
Considered |
|
Occidental College |
Highly encouraged |
Considered |
|
Point Loma Nazarene University |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Sacred Heart University |
Strongly recommended; required for ED applicants |
Very important |
|
Saint Johns College - MD |
Strongly recommended |
Important |
|
Saint Johns College - NM |
Strongly recommended |
Important |
|
Saint Louis University |
Strongly encouraged |
Not available |
|
Saint Marys College |
Strongly encouraged |
Considered |
|
Sewanee: The University of the South |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Simmons University |
Highly recommended |
Not considered |
|
Southwestern University |
Highly encouraged; required for test-optional applicants and special programs |
Considered |
|
St. Lawrence University |
Highly recommended |
Considered |
|
Trinity College |
Strongly encouraged |
Important |
|
United States Air Force Academy |
Required |
Very important |
|
United States Military Academy |
Required |
Important |
|
United States Naval Academy |
Required |
Very important |
|
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown |
Strongly encouraged |
Considered |
|
University of Rochester |
Strongly recommended for merit-based awards; encouraged otherwise |
Considered |
|
University of Tulsa |
Strongly suggested |
Important |
|
Wake Forest University |
Highly encouraged |
Considered |
|
Washington and Lee University |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Westminster College - PA |
Strongly recommended |
Considered |
|
Yeshiva University |
Required |
Considered |
|