marynextdoor

@123abc @Grad-school-freakout123
I think the interviewing process is a new way of helping to determine a personality fit for the program. With this kind of program that is so heavily focused on group work, I think culture/personality fit is really important. The new director, Michael Smith, comes from a design background and (I think) would make it a really high priority to find students who fit into the culture that he's trying to foster within the program. 
Considering that last year, 81 students were admitted to the program (https://grad.uw.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/admissions16.pdf), I think we would know much more about the interviewing thing by now if 80+ applicants were being interviewed. Instead, I suspect that the interviews are only for a few students: people who are good applicants on paper, but for whom the question of culture fit isn't fully answered in their SOP and other materials.
I spent a lot of time in my SOP focusing on how my interest in the MHCID program is reflected in my beliefs and values, so it would make sense if the ad com felt they had enough information there to make a decision on me one way or the other (with respect to culture fit). But I can easily see how someone's SOP might not be clear on something like that.
In short, I don't think we should see a lack of an interview as a definite rejection. 

yea no worries as Will said it's for English proficiency purpose. Man I think you just got it spot-on in your early post - they really care about your beliefs and communication skills