First-Year Applicants

Source: https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/first-year/interview.html Parent: https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/first-year/index.html

Interview

The Optional interviews provide opportunities for applicants to have meaningful conversations with Stanford alumni. A two-way exchange allows you to learn more about Stanford while the Admission Office learns more about you.

If your high school is in an interview area (listed below), you may be offered an interview with a trained Stanford alumni volunteer, depending on availability. Your application will be considered complete with or without an interview.

Step 1: Interview Overview

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How are interviews assigned?

• Stanford extends interview invitations according to alumni availability in your high school area.
• You may indicate interview interest through your application.

Who is eligible for an interview?

• First-year applicants who attend high school in an interview area and apply through the Restrictive Early Action (REA) or Regular Decision (RD) rounds may be invited to an optional interview.

When do interviews take place?

• Interviews for Restrictive Early Action applicants occur during the first few weeks of November.
• Interviews for Regular Decision applicants occur from mid-January to mid-February.

Where do interviews take place?

• Interviews may be conducted in-person or via video chat, depending on the location and preference of the alumni volunteer interviewer.

• In-Person: The interviewer will invite you to meet in a public place, such as a coffee shop, food court, or library.

• Video: The interviewer will invite you to meet online via Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or FaceTime.

• Interviews are not offered on the Stanford campus.

Will declining or not receiving an interview reflect negatively on my application?

• No, declining an interview will not incur a penalty that negatively impacts your admission decision, and you may decline for any reason. If you wish to decline your interview opportunity, please communicate this to the interviewer promptly. You do not need to share why you are declining an interview.
• Your application will be considered complete with or without an interview. Many applicants who do not have interviews are admitted.
• You may choose to opt out of the interview in your application, and this choice will not be considered negatively in the admission process.

Step 2: Interview Assignments

How will an interviewer reach out to me and how do I respond?

• Applicant names and contact information are provided to Stanford alumni interviewers who will contact you directly using the email or phone number you provided in your application.
• If offered an interview, please respond promptly to accept or decline the opportunity. Follow-up messages from the interviewer will be sent via text message, phone call or email.
• If you would like to accept an interview, please respond directly to the interviewer promptly to schedule a time and location.

Why have I not been contacted for an interview?

• Interview capacity is limited by alumni availability. Many applicants do not receive interview invitations.
• Please make sure you check your spam folder and the email address provided in your application.

Will I be interviewed by someone I know?

• No, you should not be interviewed by a Stanford alum with whom you are acquainted. If you or someone in your family knows the interviewer who contacts you, please immediately notify the interviewer so that we may attempt to match you with another volunteer.
• We ask that you do not network with those who may know your interviewer.

Step 3: Interview Preparation

How should I prepare for my upcoming interview?

• The interview is meant to be an informal conversation, so no formal preparation is needed. There is no set list of questions that interviewers are required to ask, which allows for each interview to be a unique conversation.
• Prior to the interview, you may want to think about:
• Experiences and goals that you would like to share with your interviewer.
• Academic interests and extracurricular involvements.
• Questions to ask your interviewer, as this is an opportunity to learn more about Stanford.

How should I dress and what should I bring?

• You are welcome to dress in typical high school attire.
• Do not bring or share resumes, transcripts, test scores, your application, or other supplementary materials with your interviewer. Interviewers are not permitted to view or accept such materials.
• For video interviews, it can be helpful to use headphones to minimize potential audio feedback.

Step 4: During the Interview

What should I expect from the interview exchange?

• Interviews typically last approximately 40 minutes.
• The interview is a one-on-one experience between you and your interviewer. Parents, siblings, and friends should not be present during an interview. Parents who wish to meet the interviewer may do so immediately prior to the start of the interview.
• Interviews may not be recorded by either the applicant or the interviewer.
• Remember that interviews are a great opportunity to help Stanford learn about you as a person beyond the scope of your written application.

What is the role of the interviewer?

• Alumni volunteers learn about you through the interview and share information with the Office of Undergraduate Admission in a report that becomes part of your admission file.
• During the interview, alumni volunteers are able to share stories about their Stanford experiences.

Step 5: After the Interview

What should I do following the interview?

• It is perfectly acceptable to send a thank-you email to your alumni interviewer, but we ask that you direct any additional questions or communications to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Who can I contact with further questions?

• Email alumniadmission@stanford.edu if you have a question about interviews.
• Email admission@stanford.edu if you have a question about your application.

Interview Areas

United States and U.S. Territories

• All 50 states
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Washington, D.C.

International Locations

Updated on October 1, 2025 1:30 PM