Why Interview?

We want to learn more about you

• We’re eager to find out what you love to do and what excites you.
• This is a perfect opportunity to show us how amazing you are.
• Come prepared to speak about yourself, your interests, and passions.

You get to meet with a Rochester representative

• This is your chance to talk to someone who knows Rochester.
• Whether you interview with an admissions counselor, alumnus/a, or a current student, it will be considered equally in our application review process.

Increase your chances for a scholarship

• Interviews can help determine merit scholarship candidates, so if you plan on competing for merit-based awards, an interview is strongly recommended.

Interviewing Tips

• Dress comfortably and presentably.
• Don’t worry about bringing resumes, transcripts, etc. Just bring your story to share.
• Think about what’s not on your application that you could chat about.
• Ask us questions!
• Come as yourself.

Types of Interviews

On Campus

If you’re able to visit campus, we encourage you to sign up for an interview. While on campus, you can also register for a campus tour and information session. And, because you’re visiting from so far, if there’s anything we can do to make your visit more productive (meeting with a faculty member, a coach, or sitting in on a class), let us know.

On-campus interviews last about 20 to 30 minutes with an admissions representative and are available from May to December 14, 2018.

Off Campus

We understand that not every prospective student has the ability to visit campus, so we come to you! Our off-campus options are conducted and treated the same as our on-campus options. Rochester Admissions representatives travel all over the world and nearly 500 Rochester alumni are scattered throughout the globe. They are held in public venues such as local coffee shops or hotel lobbies.

Note: Alumni interviews are offered October 1–mid-January. You must complete your Rochester application before you can request an alumni interview.

Virtual

Virtual interviews are available for all transfer students and first-year international students (including non-US citizens or permanent residents, and US citizens residing abroad). Virtual interviews are conducted online with admissions representatives using video chat software.

Virtual interviews are offered September through January for first- year international students. Additional virtual interviews are offered February through May for transfer applicants only.

The deadline to request a virtual interview for Spring and EDI applicants is November 17. The deadline for EDII and RD applicants is January 5. Please click the link below to request a virtual interview.

Third-Party Providers

The University of Rochester partners with InitialView to provide additional interviewing opportunities. These interviews are primarily meant for applicants living outside the United States. If you submit an InitialView interview then you will not be able to register for an in-person or virtual interview. Please submit your InitialView interview before your application deadline.

Transfers

Interviews for transfer applicants are conducted all year long. If you want to enroll for the fall semester, interview in the spring. If you want to enroll in the spring, interview in the summer or fall. You can sign up for any of the virtual on- or off-campus interview options listed above. There are also on-campus interviews reserved only for transfers on Transfer Visit Days, as well as other transfer-only days from February to May.

Can’t make it to any of the interviewing opportunities? Contact us and we will do our best to accommodate a phone or virtual interview based on your schedule.

Alumni Interviews

You also have the option to interview with a University of Rochester alumnus/alumna in your area. This is a great option that allows you to speak with someone who went to Rochester. These may be in-person or virtual depending on availability; our alumni interviewers are volunteers.

How do I request an alumni interview?

1. Complete your Common Application or Coalition Application.
2. Submit the alumni interview request form in MyROC.

Who can request one?
Admissions interviews are for applicants to the University of Rochester Class of 2024 only. You may request and/or schedule only one interview per application year.

When should I request it?
Submit your request as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, January 24. The number of interviews our alumni volunteers can accommodate significantly decreases later in the process, at which point an alumni interview cannot be guaranteed.

What is the request process?

1. Request one of our listed alumni volunteers in the form. They are listed in the drop-down menu by city and state.
2. Allow at least five business days (longer around the holidays) for your interviewer to respond.
3. You will receive an automated email notifying you when your alumni interviewer has responded, prompting you to log in to your MyROC account to view and reply to this message.

Interviews are requested based on your geographic and interview type preferences. We have a limited number of alumni volunteers around the country to interview hundreds of students, and we cannot guarantee that an in-person interview will be available to you.

What if there are no alumni near me?
If you do not see your location, or one nearby, listed in the drop-down menu for an in-person interview, please go back to the interview type drop-down menu and select a virtual (Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, etc.) or phone interview.

What do alumni know about my application?
Alumni do not have access to your application. The only information they will be able to view is that which you provide on your interview request form, along with your name, location, and contact information that you’ve provided the University of Rochester.

If you have any questions about the alumni interviewing process, please contact uralumniInterviews@ur.rochester.edu.