Hi! Im an international student from a country with very limited interviews. I’m not going to go into details about my profile, but it is rather competitive, my scores are near perfect, valedictorian, very solid ECs, essays ppl close to me and myself loved… I know a lot who applied SCEA from my country that didnot get an interview, i did and blew it cz of impulsiveness, nervousness and a lack of preparation. I got deferred, and it stings to think that I learned my lessons about interviewing from relatively my most important interview. Just wanted to ask if they might interview again, and whether i should go ahead and update and send extra materials(substantial ones) or move on and focus on RD?( i already applied other places too)
They won’t interview again, but the interviews don’t count for much. Don’t assume that was what affected your application. If you have additional accomplishments, by all means notify admissions. I would not send any “additional materialis” that aren’t explicitly encouraged in the admissions instructions.
@intparent Thanks for your prompt reply, to be honest i think it did matter though because it was immediately with the admissions officer via skype rather than with an alumnus from the ones present( friends from my country currently at harvard had alumni interviewers), does that change anything? And the interview was really bad, i went in with a “my life depends on this” attitude and all the stress and pressure manifested into bad answers and silly stories and an overall sense of panic, so i honestly think it mattered
Well, there is nothing for it now.
Yupp very truee, gonna consider myself rejected and move on, thanks againn☺️!
You got interviewed via Skype, with the admission board, while other SCEA applicants did not. Does that not say anything. You were deferred not rejected. You still have a chance.
Seeing that they deferred 5000, with only 1000 spots left and 30,000 applications coming in for regular, that’s hardly a chance, @HarvardDream101 not anything to count on:(
I would move on and focus on RD at other schools. Interviews aren’t that important. Chances are so slim in the first place, you will never know why you were deferred. You are still on the waitlist but don’t focus on it.
Everyone has experiences like this and in your overall life, believe it or not, this will be helpful if you process it in a positive way. Honestly, too much success is bad for the soul and there is some of that at Harvard 
@compmom yes I understand where you’re coming from, in my head it’s all “on paper I’m strong which is why I got the interview, and that interview disappointed them”, currently working on getting rid of the voice that also happens to be bad for the soul haha
While I’m currently working on RD, I do regret using the Harvard supplement to answer “why Harvard” instead of some personality showing essay, rereading that why Harvard essay I find it to come off as too desperate, how do u think they’d perceive me uploading a new essay through the portal? Assuming the essay is veryyy well written? Really felt i failed to convey the true me and my true personality in the interview
You could ask admissions but really, imagine if everyone rewrote their essays. You may feel that you made mistakes but the real challenge is to make yourself understand they are not going to be earthshattering- unless you let them. Harvard is a great school but it’s not worth fixating on, believe me. It really really isn’t. Get yourself in a good mood doing whatever makes you feel good, and move on in a positive way. If you need to visit or explore other schools to get excited, do it. College admissions does not have to be viewed as a contest, it can be viewed as mutual exploration.
It has not been very long since you heard you were deferred. Concentrate on feeling better but it does take time
@compmom thank you so much for your kind and honest words. Love the “mutual exploration” perspective, and I just promised myself that doing that and loving other places is where ill focus my energy atm.
I agree with what @compmom said. I also think you should view it as extremely positive that you got so far into the process at Harvard. It means that you are a serious contender for other top schools so focus all your energies into submitting the best possible apps you can without wasting any mental energy thinking about what you could have or should have done better. Good luck!
You sound like a great person and I admire your desire to adjust and move on. I think you will end up happy at a school that fits you. It’s hard, I know, but in a few weeks you will really feel better. We all wish you good luck!
I’m feeling sooo much better and have already submitted 8 apps! thank you for taking the time to comment, and sorry for such a late reply, didnot log in for a while, just wanted to let you know that I’ve read and appreciated your comments, better late than never @compmom @Falcon1
That’s great. Good luck!!!