<p>Has anyone ever had a bad experience in a Harvard interview. If so, what happened? (ie--did you say something exceedingly stupid?)</p>
<p>I am an alum interviewer for Harvard. Here are things that students did that are good things to avoid doing:</p>
<ol>
<li>Had snot dripping down his face, and never used a tissue or even asked for one.</li>
<li><p>Burst into tears. (Student collaped in tears after I simply asked why she decided to apply to Harvard. I was not being saracastic. This is a normal question in college interviews, and she is the only student whom I have ever seen who reacted like that.)</p></li>
<li><p>Lied in the interview. This has happened a couple of times. In one case, a student contradicted himself about an ordinary fact concerning his life, and I asked him about the contradiction. His explanation made absolutely no sense. The fact was something that anyone would simply know. In another case, the student lied about reading a book that I happened to have read. When I asked the student about the book, it was clear that the student might have scanned the cover, but hadn't read the book.</p></li>
<li><p>Came at least 30 minutes early to an interview at my house. This was a morning interview, and the student just missed seeing me sweeping my front steps in my bathrobe. If you are interviewing at a private home, do whatever you must do to arrive on time, certainly not early. Drive around the block a few times if you must. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>The below are things to avoid doing in interviews. They are not fatal errors, but it's a good idea not to do them.</p>
<p>When I told one student when I graduated from Harvard, she blurted out, "That was before I was born." This was about 15 years ago, and I still felt like a young person. The second that she made her statement, however, I became middle aged. I did not mention her statement in my report, and I truly doubt that her statement to me prevented her acceptance to Harvard. Her stats and ECs were average for the pool.</p>
<p>I have had some students who have -- while trying to impress me with their achievements -- inadvertently run down my kids' school and their school's clubs. This has included applicants saying some rather nasty things about S's school and peers. They had no idea that my son attended a school that is their rival school. </p>
<p>Again, this was not included in my report, and I don't think it influenced how I wrote my report. In fact, a couple of such students have gotten in, with very strong interview reports from me. </p>
<p>Still, it's not a good idea to run down other schools. One can talk about one's own achievements without putting down other students' and school's accomplishments. Even if the interviewer doesn't have a personal stake in the people or institutions one is putting down, it still reflects badly on an applicant to seem to be able to shine only by tarnishing others.</p>
<p>My interviewer didn't seem to have any questions prepared and seemed to wing it, often simply staring into space and not listening to my answers...Nor did he write down a single thing. Very little about my actual accomplishments/ academic ability was brought up, except when I interjected and directly stated something. Should I request another interview, or should I just not worry (as many say that interviews don't even make that big of a difference)?</p>
<p>I suggest not worrying. For all you know, your interviewer may be able to recall word for word the entire interview and may have written a very supportive report on your interview. In addition, you should not wait to be asked questions highlighting your accomplishments, but should be assertive in finding ways of bringing up that kind of information.</p>