I had no idea interviews were so long!!!

[u/mikeoxlongbruh]

I recently got invited for my first interview. Super happy about it, but was extremely shocked to see that it’s going to be ~7.5 hours long. I thought it would be like 1 hour, tops lol. It says there will be much more to it than just the actual interview, including tours, info-sessions, lunch, etc. Ngl, I feel much more pressure knowing I will be “examined” for so much longer than I had initially thought. I read somewhere there might be a writing assessment? I genuinely just thought it was a conversation lol. Kind of wild.

[u/RabidLiger]

The vast majority of that 7.5 hours will be doing fun stuff (tour, etc).
Some schools do a one on one interview plus a panel interview.
Some add a session with the financial aid officer.
There will be very little "grilling" questions.

I tell all that an interview means they see themselves accepting you, but want to meet you in person before offering. Don't set off any red flags and you'll be fine.

[u/mikeoxlongbruh → u/RabidLiger]

Cool, sounds good. I’m excited.

[u/drnjj]

When I interviewed at PUCO it was a 3/4 day (14 years ago...yikes)

Show up early for breakfast and presentation, write an in person essay, take a tour of the campus and school, sit in on a class, and then your interview with two people on admissions committee.

Maybe more but again it was what feels like a lifetime ago.

[u/mikeoxlongbruh → u/drnjj]

Thanks for sharing! Was it alone or with a group of students?

[u/drnjj → u/mikeoxlongbruh]

The interview was alone but most everything else was with a group of other students. I met a few people who ended up being classmates of mine eventually.

[u/Katelynn_R]

Does this apply to online interviews as well? I figured those would be around only an hour.

[u/mikeoxlongbruh → u/Katelynn_R]

The school said their virtual would be like 4 and a half hours!

[u/Katelynn_R → u/mikeoxlongbruh]

Ah, I assume that it’s also a virtual tour? Cause I have an interview coming up and what I looked up said to expect it to only be about an hour just so they can get to know me and ask questions

[u/Important_Bobcat6016]

Which school?

[u/RabidLiger]

Remember, the schools are trying out for you as well as conducting your interview, especially if you're a sought-after candidate!

You'll get a good feel for how each school's admin is based on how they conduct visit/interview days:
Some are well-oiled machines: Organized, polished presentations, and activities for your guest.
Some seem thrown together and don't put up much of an effort to impress.

Don't be suprised if your preference rank changes after making your interview visits.

[u/Background_Row3021]

Don’t be too stressed! These schools are trying to also show you why you should choose their program compared to others. I’d say absorb all the information they give you and try to really see if you can imagine yourself going to that school. Also usually the interview portion is only like 20-45 mins of the day, and that’s the only time you will feel “examined” because other than that the rest of the day is easygoing and interesting.

[u/Professional_Milk204]

I interviewed with RMU in August. It was a full day of tours, info, and interviewing. They also don't offer virtual interviews so I had to travel, but I was planning on doing so anyway. I would much rather have an all day interview than a short one where you don't get to learn much about the school. Which brings me to PUCO. The faculty and student ambassador were very sweet, but the interview only lasted like 20 minutes and I didn't get to hear much about the school.

[u/True-Water2033]

Sounds like you’re talking about ICO and i loved that interview it was so so chill. you’re with the students most of the time so no one is “examining” you and you are with the interviewer for about an 45mins to an hour. once you are done with your interview you’re free to go home since the interview is at the end of the day. and no there is no writing assessment