Interviews are not required, and are nonevaluative. We do, however, strongly encourage you to visit campus to meet students and faculty, appreciate the scope of our facilities and the beauty of the campus, and perhaps ask questions of an admission representative. You may do so in an individual meeting, or in a group information session. Both formats enable students to learn more about Colgate without the pressure of an evaluation. Think of it as your time to "interview Colgate." It is the time spent on campus, however, that will be especially helpful in getting a full sense of the Colgate experience.
Why doesn't Colgate require or evaluate interviews? The college is interested in emphasizing all that a student has accomplished throughout high school, both in and out of class, and not a 45-minute conversation that may just skim the surface of the story he or she has to tell. Some students interview well, and some do not. Colgate prefers to base its decisions on a record established over time, the input of teachers and counselors who know the student, and the student's own voice as portrayed in the essay and throughout the application.
An interview remains a terrific opportunity to get to know Colgate, and admission staff welcome the opportunity to speak with prospective students. Most of all, however, the college encourages students to visit. It makes a tremendous difference in understanding all that Colgate has to offer.
Applying to Colgate