Does the University of Maryland Interview Applicants?
Maryland does not publish an interview as part of its standard first-year admission process. There is a notable exception: semifinalists for the Banneker/Key Scholarship, the university's top merit award, must participate in an interview, with invitations issued by 1 March.
Standard admission
Maryland's published application requirements and review factors do not include an admissions interview for first-year applicants. Nothing in the materials suggests that requesting one is possible or that its absence disadvantages an application.
The Banneker/Key exception
The Banneker/Key Scholarship, which covers up to the full cost of tuition, mandatory fees, housing, food and a book allowance and includes admission to the Honors College, requires no additional application materials, but semifinalists must participate in an interview. Maryland states that interview invitations are issued by 1 March, with final scholarship notification by 1 April.
If you are invited
Prepare for it as a conversation about your academic interests and what you would do with the opportunity, not as a test. Know why Maryland specifically, be able to talk about your own work without a script, and have questions of your own. The pool at that stage is strong, and what distinguishes candidates is usually specificity rather than polish.
What this means for planning
A student targeting Banneker/Key needs materials in by the 1 November early action deadline and should keep early March free enough to accommodate an interview. That is a small logistical point that is easy to miss in a busy senior spring.
Sources
Read from the university’s own pages and verified on 28 July 2026. Admissions details change, so confirm anything time sensitive before you act on it.