Interview Opportunities

The 411 on Denison Admission Interviews

At Denison, we know that the collection of transcripts, lists of activities, and essays are just the beginning in understanding who our applicants are as students, leaders, and people. Our applicants are so much more dynamic than what we often see on a computer screen, and we’d love the opportunity to get to know the real you.

An interview is not required for admission consideration, but we do encourage applicants to complete one—as they often benefit students far beyond simply supplementing an application. Admission interviews provide prospective students the opportunity to connect with our community, to learn more about Denison, and to get your questions answered.

The Details

We offer admission interviews to prospective students beginning in January of a student’s junior year in high school through mid-January of a student’s senior year. Transfer students are also encouraged to interview.
Students should only complete one interview. Our interviews can be conducted by Admission Counselors, Senior Docents, or Alumni Admission Ambassadors—and can be hosted on campus, virtually, or in your hometown.
Regardless of how you interview, each option is conversational, evaluative, and weighted equally in our review process. Don’t stress—no need to prepare anything in advance.

Schedule an Admission Interview

We encourage you to consider one of our interview options below:

On-campus Interview

If you’re planning to visit the campus, you may consider interviewing while you are on “The Hill.”

Register for an On-campus Interview

Virtual Interview

As we have all grown accustomed to more virtual human interaction as of late, you may prefer to schedule a virtual interview with an admission representative.

Register for a Virtual Interview

Alumni Interview

Another popular option—which provides a different perspective—is to interview with an Alumni Admission Ambassador.

Request an Alumni Interview

Interviewing Tips

Enjoy the conversation!

It is just that—a conversation with someone genuinely interested in you and what you have to say. No need to stress about it. Your interviewer wants the conversation to go well, too! Just think of this as yet another way to learn about Denison…and to brag a little bit about yourself.

Share your passions!

We want to know about the things that make you who you are. Do you read 50 science fiction books a year? Great! Did you complete a project at school that sparked an interest? Tell us about it! Do you spend weekends working at your local animal shelter? Awesome! Do you collect finger puppets of historical figures? Interesting! Still figuring out what you are passionate about, but actively dipping your toes in the water of various interests? Love it!

Be Yourself!

There is no “perfect applicant.” Every Denison student is unique, with various interests, strengths, and goals. Don’t try to fit yourself into an idea of what you think we are looking for—just be you!

Ask Questions!

Interviews are a time for you to get to know Denison better as well, and by asking questions you are showing us you are interested in us. No questions are stupid questions, and if your interviewer doesn’t know the answer, they will follow up with you after asking an expert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are interviews required?

Interviews are not required, but strongly recommended. Most successful applicants choose to sit for an interview.

What should I do to prepare for my interview?

The most important thing to know is that this isn’t a test. We aren’t going to ask you questions that require preparation. We have your transcripts to see how well you do in school. In that sense, you do not need to prepare specific information. What we do recommend is coming ready to interview us as well. This is meant to be a two-way conversation, and we hope that you learn as much about Denison as we learn about you. Think of some questions you would like to hear the answers to, especially questions that can’t be answered by browsing our website.

For virtual interviews, you may need to do a bit of preparation. We recommend testing the interview link, camera, and microphone (we want to see and hear you!), making sure you have a good stable wifi connection, and setting yourself up in a space where you won’t be interrupted for about 30 minutes.

When should I interview?

We begin interviewing prospective first-year students as early as the spring of their junior year, and interviews must be completed by our Regular Decision deadline of January 15 of a student’s senior year. Prospective transfer students are also welcome to interview, and should interview before their application deadline - either November 15 or April 15. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign up – if you plan to apply to Denison, we recommend sitting for an interview early in the process.

What kind of questions will I be asked?

We do not have a standardized set of questions; all of our interviewers will ask different questions. In fact, we would prefer to have a more open conversation. Our goal in an interview is to get to know you outside of what you are able to share in your application. Relationships are critical at Denison, and this is an opportunity for us to start a relationship with you at Denison.

What should I wear to my interview?

There is no formal dress requirement. Dress comfortably, but appropriately. We are far more interested in what you have to say than what you decide to wear.

Should I do an alumni interview or interview with an admission staff member?

You will be given the same consideration in the admission process regardless of who interviews you. But that doesn’t mean you might not have a preference. Alumni are great resources to help you understand the spirit of Denison.

Will I be at a disadvantage if I do a virtual interview instead of an in-person interview?

Absolutely not. At Denison, an interview is an interview. We are happy to have a conversation with you in whatever form best suits you!

How are interviews used in the admission process?

While optional, interviews are evaluative, so they are considered a part of your application to Denison. The admission officers who read your application will have the interview notes available to them as part of that review, and they will read those notes alongside the rest of your application. This is why it’s important for us to learn things about you in the interview that aren’t as prominent in your application. Throughout the application, our goal is to understand if you are academically prepared for Denison, and to understand what you will contribute to our residential community inside and outside of the classroom.

Can I interview more than once?

Look, we would love to chat all day. Unfortunately, with over 9,000 applications, unless we learn how to self-multiply, that’s just not feasible, so everyone is limited to one interview.

Do I need to have my video on during a virtual interview?

We do ask that you turn your video on during virtual interviews. We would have loved to meet in person, and we want this experience to come as close to an in-person interview as possible.

Do I need to do a Denison Interview if I've already done an InitialView/Vericant Interview?

There’s no need to do a Denison interview if you’re planning to submit an InitialView or Vericant Interview. The one advantage of a Denison interview is that you’ll be able to ask us questions about our campus community.