Video Interview

You have the option of completing a one-question video interview in support of your application for admission. The video interview will be available after you submit your application and your official undergraduate transcript(s).

The video interview is optional, but is strongly recommended for non-native speakers of English. We encourage all applicants to consider completing the video interview.

preparing for your video interview

As in a real, professional job interview, we do not share interview questions with you before the actual interview. If you would like to prepare for your interview, you may wish to search the internet for advice on preparing for a job interview and/or professional graduate school interview in the United States. 

Note: After you begin the video interview, you will not be able to pause, cancel, or re-record any of your answers. Please keep this in mind as you decide when and where to complete your video interview to minimize the chance that you are interrupted by a roommate, family member, pet or anyone else while recording your video response.

WHO CAN APPEAR IN THE VIDEO?

The video and audio must be of you, the applicant (not a proxy).

When will you complete your video interview? what can you expect?

You must first submit your online application and official undergraduate transcript(s).

You will receive an email invitation from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College asking you to visit the status page of your application to open your personalized video interview within 24 hours AFTER your required, official undergraduate transcript(s) have been received and processed. 

There is no formal "deadline" for completing your video interview after you receive the invitation. However, if you want to ensure that your video interview is available when your application is reviewed, please try to complete your interview within 5 days of the date you receive the invitation to the video interview (within 5 days of when your official undergraduate transcript has been received).  Applicants for our full-time Master's programs who receive the video interview invitation before the January 10 priority deadline may have more time to complete the video interview. Full-time Master's applications will not be not reviewed before our application deadline.

Here is what you can expect if you choose to complete the video interview:

• You will receive an email from the us AFTER your official undergraduate transcript has been received and processed. This status will be posted on the "status" page of your application.
• The email will invite you to visit the status page of your application to see the video interview link to complete your video interview.
• When you click the link, the video interview window will open, providing instructions for ensuring that your computer is set up correctly for the video interview.
  • You will be able to record a test video to confirm that your settings are correct and to become comfortable with the system.
  • Immediately after recording your test video, you will have an opportunity to watch the recording.
  • You will be able to record a test response several times if you need to make adjustments to your settings - and to practice using the system. (Your test videos will not be saved, nor will they be sent to Carnegie Mellon University.)
• When you begin the actual interview, you will be asked one (1) randomly-selected question.
• You will have 90 seconds to read the question on the screen and decide how to answer.
• After the 90 seconds of reading/preparation time ends, your computer will automatically begin to record your answer.
• You will have 90 seconds to provide your answer. You will have only one chance to answer the question.
• You will not be able to pause the interview after it starts.
• You may stop recording if you finish answering the question in less than 90 seconds. (It is fine to provide a shorter answer!)
• You will not be able to re-record any answer after the interview begins.
• You will be able to watch your response.
• You will only be able to complete the interview one time. 
• As with a live interview, you will not be able to re-record your answer. Please approach the video interview like a "real", live online video or in-person interview.

After you complete your video interview, it will automatically be added to your application for review by the admissions committee.