Colleges Begin Offering Online Interviews

Brian Fisher By Brian Fisher on January 12, 2009 5 Comments
Boarding School Applications, Boarding School Interview Blog, Boarding School Thoughts, College Admission Blog, Educational Consulting Blog, Private School Search

The Washington Post ran a piece highlighting the rise of online interviews in the admission process.

The online interview isn’t well-established and still faces some technology hurtles. Not all families have the technology readily available and admission office staffs need some convincing and prodding to learn new ways of communicating with applicants.

The web interview certainly offers the prospect of saving families travel dollars.

One of the largest hurdles to more online interviews seems to be admission office reluctance and unfamiliarity with the technology.

I’m guessing efficiency will win out in the end.

With respect to boarding schools, anyone participate in an online interview (either as an interviewer or interviewee)? I’d love to read your impressions- chime in below.

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  5. 5 Tips To A Better Private School Admission Interview
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Brian Fisher

  • http://twitter.com/derekperkins Derek Perkins

    I piloted online (webcam) interviews this fall with some of my international students. Unfortunately, the pilot was unsuccessful with students from China, Taiwan and Korea. None of the video connections worked. Our IT department chose to use ooVoo which may be part of the problem. (Still trying to work with their customer service to try to resolve the issue). The other part of the problem is the unknown – the bandwith and firewall protection of the user on the other end. Additionally, some countries regulate their internet in a vastly different manner than we are used to here in the US.
    Despite these initial issues, I am hopeful we can find alternatives to make this work. While the face-to-face campus interview will always be the preferred method – finding ways to assist those who just can’t make it to campus benefits both the family and the school.
    I feel that once we overcome the hurdles, the online interview can replace the phone interview.

  • Brian Fisher

    Derek,
    Spot-on. Like so many of the web-based video conferences and connections that I’ve been scheduled for, the technology isn’t seamless but it’s getting there. Security, firewalls, and user settings present hurdles.
    Thanks for reading and commenting,

  • http://www.admissionsquest.com Peter Baron

    Derek, might take a look at:
    http://www.tokbox.com
    It wouldn’t require a student to set up an account (they can hop on from a school sanctioned page on the toxbox site) and you can easily add multiple people to a video chat. I saw it in action the other day and it looks promising.

  • Christopher Dow

    Just had my first domestic video interview and it went really well. After the initial phone call to set up account information, The video was vastly superior. I was able to see the candidate react to questions and see them formulate their questions and answers in a very genuine way.
    I always come away from phone interviews wondering if I got the whole story- I know there were pieces missing and it always makes my interview notes seem really one dimensional. The video added a whole level of interaction that, short of a handshake, felt almost natural and and is something I will be able to express effectively in the interview notes and in committee when we meet.
    I hope to be able to work more video interviews in over time- the simple fact that candidates are willing to use technology this way says as much about their learning style and their creativity as anything else.
    The biggest hurdle I face personally is my comfort own level with using video in a professional setting- I feel totally fine talking with friends and family, it will just take time to get as comfortable in front of the computer as I am in the office. Overall a great new tool-

  • http://www.admissionsquest.com Brian Fisher

    Chris,
    I sometimes wonder if I ascribe too much meaning to the personal encounter? To paraphrase some folks I know, “I prefer to look at the report card and read the recommendations.” It sounds- from your experience- that adding video to helps to assuage the concerns of those of us who prefer a personal interaction.
    I also appreciate you admission regarding your own comfort level. Making eye contact with camera is truly a learned skill- that we will all have to learn.

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