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5 Quick Tips for your Personal Admissions Interview

As part of our holistic admissions process at Syracuse University, the Office of Admissions offers optional personal interviews to all high school seniors and potential transfer students.

While entirely optional, participating in an interview is a great way to help the Admissions Committee get to know you as an individual and gives you the chance to ask questions in a one-on-one environment.

Here are our top five tips for making the most of your personal interview!

  1. Don’t Wait to Schedule
    The Office of Admissions offers interviews for high school students between July and December of senior year. Interviews are approximately 30 minutes long and can be scheduled on most weekdays and some Saturdays throughout the summer and fall. Students are welcome to pick a date and time that works and register online!

    Although it may be tempting to wait, we recommend scheduling your interview sooner rather than later! The summer is a great time to complete your interview so you don’t have to worry about it during the school year. You can even schedule and conduct your interview before you start your application!

    Are you a transfer applicant? Request an interview at any time by reaching out to our Transfer Admissions team at transfertosu@syr.edu.
  2. Assess Your Virtual Presence
    Our interview process is entirely virtual and conducted via Zoom. Once you schedule your interview, an admissions counselor or senior admissions student intern will send you a Zoom link prior to your interview date.

    Ensure your interview goes smoothly by setting up for your interview in a quiet room and limiting distractions when possible. Assess your background – is it busy or messy? Consider putting up a Zoom background or plugging in headphones so your interviewer can hear and see you!

    Don’t forget the interview is a one-on-one process, so parents and family members should not join you in the Zoom session. If your family members would like to schedule a separate time to chat with an admissions representative, please contact us at orange@syr.edu.
  3. Do Some Research
    Before you schedule an interview, consider participating in one of our virtual information sessions. General information sessions are offered approximately three times per week and provide an overview of Syracuse University. Each of our 10 undergraduate schools and colleges also offer virtual sessions that dive deeper into their majors, minors and special programs.

    Hoping to see more of our buildings and grounds? We welcome you to plan a campus visit or peruse our virtual tour to get a sense of our physical campus!
  4. Bring Questions
    Your interviewer will save plenty of time for you to ask questions about the University and our application process. Jot down any questions you have and bring a notepad and pen to your interview so you can remember to ask them day-of. For example, are you curious about:
    • Majors and minors?
    • Study abroad?
    • Internships?
    • Early Decision vs. Regular Decision?
    • Student clubs and organizations?
  5. Relax
    During the interview, the admissions counselor or senior intern you speak with may take notes. The interviewer’s evaluation will be considered by the Admissions Committee along with all of your other application materials but is not a deciding factor in your admissions decision.

    Therefore, take a deep breath and try to relax during your interview! Our goal is simply to get to know you and learn more about your personal experiences and goals.

Ready to Interview?
Schedule your virtual interview on our webpage: https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions/visit-tour/personal-interviews/. We can’t wait to speak with you!

The Top 10 Reasons I Chose Syracuse

Students at Syracuse Welcome, the University's new student orientation program.
Students at Syracuse Welcome, the University’s new student orientation program.

By Seth Martin, Jr. ‘22
Hometown: Cambria Heights, NY
Major: Biology

Seth '22 with Slow Food, a Syracuse student organization that connects students on and off-campus with sustainable food enterprises. Photo courtesy of Seth Martin, Jr.
Seth ’22 with Slow Food, a Syracuse student organization that connects students on and off-campus with sustainable food enterprises. Photo courtesy of Seth Martin, Jr.

  1. Campus Atmosphere
    Syracuse has a very picturesque campus. The historic buildings and beautiful quad make you feel like you’ve stepped on to a movie set while at the same time you have modern facilities, like the Life Sciences Complex, that provide state-of-the-art resources. Located in upstate New York, Syracuse experiences all four seasons and there’s no better time to be on campus than during peak fall foliage!
  2. Sense of Community
    You can feel a sense of community at Syracuse as soon as you step on to campus or meet with other faculty, staff, and students. Programs like Syracuse’s Living Learning Communities and Hendricks Chapel make it easy to find your niche. People here are warm and inviting and it is easy to make friends and build relationships with your professors. Everyone is proud to be Orange!
  3. Majors and Classes
    As a Biology major interested in pursuing a career in medicine, I was looking for strong programs in the natural sciences when I explored colleges, and I found just that at Syracuse. While the curriculum is challenging, taking classes like organic chemistry and genetics have solidified my desire to be a doctor. And, if I change my mind, I have another 200 majors and 100 minors to choose from!
  4. Pre-Health Programs and Advising
    The vast array of resources within Syracuse’s Pre-Health Advising Office and the University’s location just steps away from 3 major hospitals made choosing SU a no brainer for me. Clinical and volunteer opportunities, as well as lectures and special medicine-related events abound and I know I’ll be well-prepared for my medical school applications because of these resources!

    Syracuse University is located within walking distance to Upstate University Hospital, Crouse Hospital, and the VA Medical Center.
    Syracuse University is located within walking distance to Upstate University Hospital, Crouse Hospital, and the VA Medical Center.
  5. Location
    The University’s location in the city of Syracuse means students get the best of both worlds. We have a beautiful, walkable quad-style campus but are also very close to the restaurants, shops, and theaters of downtown Syracuse and just 10 minutes from the airport. Free shuttles run from campus to various points of interests throughout the city, including Destiny USA, the U.S.’ sixth largest mall, and there are also great parks, trails, and lakes nearby.
  6. School Spirit
    If you’re looking for a school with a ton of school spirit, look no further. Here, everyone has Orange in their veins, including me. From going to football, basketball, and lacrosse games in the Dome to attending campus-wide events like Juice Jam and Mayfest, there are so many activities to enjoy with your Orange family!
  7. Extracurricular Involvement
    There are plenty of clubs and organizations (300+!) to join and get involved in at Syracuse, no matter your interests. I am involved in U100, our tour guide organization, as well as Slow Food, which is a worldwide organization that promotes sustainability. These clubs help me pursue interests outside of academics and meet people with similar interests.

    The Syracuse University Marching Band performs at Orange Central, SU's annual Homecoming celebration.
    The Syracuse University Marching Band performs at Orange Central, SU’s annual Homecoming celebration.
  8. Career Preparation
    Each of Syracuse’s 10 undergraduate schools and colleges has its own career center, meaning you’ll get expert advice in your field as you explore your options and apply for internships and jobs. Career advisors can help you network, revise resumes and cover letters, prep for an interview, and much, much more.
  9. Research Opportunities
    Syracuse is a Research 1 university, meaning there is considerable resources and funding behind both faculty and student research. No matter your academic interest, there are opportunities for undergraduate students to pursue research and hands-on experience in their field. You can even apply for research funding via the SOURCE, our hub for student research on campus.
  10. Alumni Connections
    With over 260,000 alumni worldwide, I knew that attending Syracuse would mean I had the power of a proud Orange network at my fingertips, both as a student and after I graduate. With resources like the networking site Handshake, students from all majors can connect with alumni in their field right away.

Native American Student Stories

“My thesis film project is titled “Indian,” and it shows what happens when two Indian filmmakers, one from southern India and the other from an Indian reservation in western New York State, visit each other’s homeland…I have come to see myself as an educator and historian of Haudenosaunee culture through film and digital media. The overall objective of my film works is to not only entertain my audiences but to educate them as well. Many of the characters in my film projects tend to be Native American. I’d like to think that my film works help defy stereotypes by making sure the narrative and characters are thought out and relatable to everyone.”
–Terry Jones
Seneca Nation
Film ’16

 

“The Native Student Program was essential in providing me with opportunities to refocus and re-energize. The feeling of a close-knit community is there when you are among fellow students and compassionate staff. The resources available contributed to my goal of graduating, but more importantly the people I met helped make my journey more meaningful and memorable.”
-Melissa Jane Qillauruq Tabor, Inupiaq
Kotzebue, Alaska
Dual Major Psychology and Religion, Gerontology minor ’11

 

“The Syracuse University community, along with the Native Student Program, was very supportive in the transition for our native students into the university environment while maintaining and supporting our cultural values. I found my experience at SU to be of tremendous growth academically, socially, and in career development.”
-Alexander Jimerson, Cattaraugus Seneca
Irving, NY
Public Health major, Native studies minor ’11

 

“Being of the Navajo and Crow Tribes and growing up on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, it has been difficult adjusting to a college that is 2,000 miles away from home. Attending a prestigious university, such as Syracuse, I have found my place in the Native Student Program. I have met students and faculty from Native American Tribal affiliations that share the same love for frybread as I do.”
-Michael Buffalo, Navajo, Crow
Tohatchi, NM
Engineering and Computer Science major ’16

 

“The native student program was like a home away from home during my time at SU. All the activities and events really helped me to feel like I had a mini family on campus. My advice to any new students coming in would be to get involved in the groups or organizations that interest you.”
-Shara Francis-Herne, Akwesasne Mohawk
Akwesasne, NY
Psychology major, Native Studies Minor ’11

 

“My experiences at Syracuse University as a graduate student and Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education program have been eye-opening. SU helped me develop my own identity as a Haudenosaunee student, giving me the ability to interact with other Native and non-Native students on campus, and helped me to communicate the issues faced by Native peoples from a grander perspective.”
-Hugh Burnam, Mohawk
School of Education Graduate Student

 

“The School of Architecture is a very tough and demanding program that takes five years to complete with many hours of work and even fewer for sleeping. I was able to combine both my architectural thesis and my Native American Studies minor into a very well developed idea for what future Haudenosaunee architecture and governance could be. Today I am working with my local governments to shape Akwesasne’s future for the better.”
-Phillip Rohetiio White Cree, Akwesasne Mohawk
Akwesasne, NY
Architecture major, Native Studies minor ’12

 

On the Certificate in Iroquois Linguistics (CIL)

“When I think about what we studied and the Iroquois linguistic systems we learned about, it reminds me of an anonymous quote I recently came across: ‘I have drunk from wells I did not dig, I have been warmed by fires I did not build.’ The knowledge gained through this and other Linguistic courses here at Syracuse will definitely help me to one day dig a well and build a fire of my own.”
-John Logan, Oneida, Wolf Clan
Oneida, NY
Linguistics Major and Certificate in Iroquois Linguistics ’16

 

“I’ve already begun to use what I learned in the work I do as a curriculum and resource developer. I’m more conscious of the structure of the written language, which will aide in our goal towards oral fluency.”
-Margaret Peters, Mohawk
Akwesasne, NY
Certificate of Iroquois Linguistics ’13

 

“I learned that all six of the Haudenosaunee languages work the same (linguistically). The only thing that is really different is the alphabet and some of the sounds that each letter makes.”
-Monica Antone-Watson, Mohawk, Wolf Clan
Oneida, NY
Fiber and Textiles Studies Major and Certificate in Iroquois Linguistics ’15

Becoming Orange

Breona Jones-Rice ’19 started observing open heart and thoracic surgeries when she was still a high school student in Washington, D.C. Her passionate interest in biotechnology led her to Syracuse University, the school of her dreams, where she’s proud to be the first in her family to attend college.

As a biotechnology major, Breona is eager to conduct hands-on research and eventually pursue a pharmacology degree, so she can one day help develop new and lifesaving drugs.

Where I’m from…

I was born and raised in the nation’s capital—Riggs Park of Washington, D.C., to be exact. It’s a middle-class neighborhood that’s been home to my family for a very long time. The neighborhood is very tight-knit. Everyone is expected to be involved in some type of activity at the local recreation center.

What I do besides study…

I like to walk around campus or sit on the stairs of Carnegie while reading or listening to music. I also enjoy playing softball and going out to the batting cages to practice.

What I love most about Syracuse…

I love how much school pride there is and how much influence the students have on campus. People come from all over the world to attend Syracuse, which makes the campus very diverse. But the school pride brings everyone together. Everyone bleeds orange and, no matter what you’re going through, there’s always someone nearby to offer a helping hand.

What I plan to do with my Syracuse degree…

After receiving my bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, I plan to pursue my PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) degree and work with a pharmaceutical firm, researching and developing drugs.

 

Find out what Syracuse University can offer you.