News > December 4, 2008

By Bobby O'Connor | Staff writer

What is the new age of personal college interviews? Webcams. An applicant to the university can now chose to have a personal interview from the comfort of his or her living room with a webcam, microphone, Skype and an Internet connection. The university began offering these “face-to-face” interviews on a limited basis for early decision applicants and will open it up to all applicants in December for regular decision. About 30 students participated in this type of interview during the early decision application process.

When the university dropped the SAT/ACT requirement for undergraduate admissions in May, they began to strongly recommend personal interviews for all applicants.

The university became the first top 30 national university to drop the SAT/ACT requirement.

“While a personal visit is the first choice, the virtual interview is an innovative way to use technology to connect individually with those who, because of financial or other reasons, cannot come to campus,” Martha Allman, director of admissions at the university said.

The virtual interview, with two-way video and audio, has become an attractive option for some applicants.

The university’s Information Systems Department worked with the Admissions Office on the technical aspects and helped train admissions staff to use the technology.

The admissions office is currently using Skype software for the interviews.  Prospective students will soon have the option of using Adobe Connect software for Web-based interviews that will not require a Skype account.  This will allow students to choose which technology they prefer to use for the interview

“This combines Wake Forest’s historic commitment to personal attention with our emphasis on technological innovation,” Allman said.

Virtual interviews last 20 to 30 minutes, the same time allocated for in-person interviews.  

The interviews, in-person or virtual, are weighted equally in the evaluative admission process. The online interviews are similar to what would take place if the student were sitting in the admissions office, with the exception of the random background noise or distraction.

Since the spring, the admissions office has conducted nearly 3,000 interviews, both in-person and via the Web. The majority of these were conducted in the traditional fashion; with an admissions officer on campus or while the officer was traveling representing the university.

“This allows us to have personal contact with every applicant,” said Tamara Blocker, the senior associate director of admissions responsible for supervising the new program. “We can get a sense of who the student is beyond academic credentials.   The interview helps decide if the student is a good fit for Wake Forest.”

The university currently offers the virtual interview option to prospective students who have submitted applications to the university but have not been interviewed by an admissions counselor.  The process for the interview starts with an admissions counselor contacting students by e-mail to explain the technical requirements and arrange a time.  

This fall, admissions counselors offered virtual interviews only to early decision applicants so as to test and learn how the system worked.  

Starting in January, they will extend invitations to regular decision candidates who have not been able to talk in person with an admissions counselor.   Kevin Pittard, an associate director of admissions at Wake Forest, has conducted several virtual interviews and says the response so far has been positive.