Wow, that's really different.. Sometimes I wish there was a uniform process for schools (interview/ no interview/ just writing prompt). I suppose every school has a different focus, but it certainly makes the applicants feel like a piece of taffy.
I'm relieved others said cost and location as their primary factors for decisions, because save for the school I'm currently attending, there is only so much difference I can glean from the websites, mission statements and course lists. Were some of you honest in your interviews about your reasoning for choosing the specific program (i.e. location)? Or did you focus more on what you learned afterwards that you researched?