<p>Hello, I'm applying SCEA to Harvard this fall, and I'm a really shy, quiet person and I hate the idea of having an interview because I think I'd screw it up and not really be outstanding. (I hate talking about myself and suck at it)</p>
<p>I'm an average applicant, and I'm probably not submitting a supplemental essay. Is it even possible to get in as an average applicant without an interview?</p>
<p>Arent supplemental essays required? And interviews give u a big boost as it allows the college to see u as a person rather than a piece of paper</p>
<p>A person can get into Harvard without an interview.</p>
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<p>This, I can’t agree with. The majority of applicants interview. If most of the applicants get “a big boost,” it can’t really be much of a boost. In addition, having interviewed for Harvard in the past, I know that in the vast majority of cases, the interview report is the least important piece of an applicant’s application.</p>
<p>But if you’re “an average applicant,” your strategy–sadly–makes your chances for Harvard pretty poor. About 95% of applicants aren’t admitted; most of them are very well qualified academically. If you don’t write the supplemental essay, and you don’t interview, and you’re not distinctive academically, I’m not sure how you are going to end up among the lucky 5%. Have you neglected to mention that you’re a recruited athlete or a movie star or a Kennedy?</p>
<p>On the plus side, if you’re “an average applicant” for Harvard, you can surely have a lot of really good options next April. Just probably not Harvard.</p>
<p>@muhammad: no and interviews don’t give you a “big boost”</p>
<p>Well, according to the posts above me, harvard interviews dont matter. Statistics however show that MIT interviews do, which is what i was basing my answer off of.</p>
<p>I’m not so sure that being so quiet and shy is even something Harvard looks for. Many of the Harvard acceptees and students that I’ve met have very open, dynamic personalities. I think the ad com is looking for such students. If the interviewer picks up your shyness and mentions it in his report, it could hurt you. </p>
<p>That’s not to say that there are no introverts at Harvard, I’m sure there are.</p>
<p>Being shy and reserved for the first five or ten minutes of a one-on-one conversation with a new person is completely normal and something there’s totally room for at Harvard. Preferring to talk about your projects (oh the volunteer organization where I work is so great and doing such great work for people) or your interests (politics this cycle have been fascinating, the implications of the digital age are really striking), rather than You, likewise. (Those interests still tell something about you and would be typical interview fare, even if they don’t require many/any stories told in the first person.) On the other hand, being shy and reserved for your entire first hour with a new person, opening up maybe only the fourth time you speak with them, although not a flaw, is also not really something I’ve seen here. What draws you to Harvard?</p>
<p>I feel like, in general, don’t decline interviews. It’s one thing to not even be offered an interview (which won’t hurt your chances), but it’s another to decline it. Universities want to see that you are EXTREMELY interested in them, and interviews are just another way for YOU to learn more about the school, not just for the school to learn more about you.</p>
<p>If you’re shy, I suggest you find ways to cope with this. Learn to break out of your bubble more.</p>
<p>Even if you don’t interview, Harvard will likely get the impression that you are not particularly outgoing or vocal in class through your recommendations. Might as well go for the interview. It’s always good to challenge yourself and do things you are not comfortable with, the more you do something the better you become at it. Who knows, you might surprise yourself and do really well. Most people are good at talking about what they are passionate about. Steer the conversation toward whatever you are genuinely interested in.</p>
<p>When our son was accepted SCEA to harvard last December, it completely surprised my husband and I, and even I think our son. We were assuming only “go-getter” types that are advanced socially and already know how to network would be strong candidates. While our son holds his own academically, especially in math and the hard sciences, he has never been one to speak up significantly in class or to organize large events. He likes to play tennis and jazz guitar in his free time and can happily be alone doing his thing for many hours. He is definitely an introvert, albeit with wonderful friends. (For a good read, check out “Quiet” by Klein or see her Tedtalk about introverts.) After he was accepted, I tried to figure out why our assumption was not wholly correct. I heard a recent online interview with William Fitzimmons, admissions dean at Harvard, in which he said it is easy to focus on “charismatic” applicants. However, he said they were trying to pay attention to the quiet applicants who “wear well in the long run”. After visiting Harvard during the chaotic prefrosh weekend, our son saw clearly that Harvard was a good fit and will be starting as a freshman later this month. Likely he will come across an extrovert majority with a very healthy minority of introverts. Thank goodness for remnants of openmindedness and diversity.</p>
<p>RE: Post #8. Some colleges and universities want to know that applicants are interested in them. Some colleges are very concerned with an applicant’s level of interest in them. </p>
<p>Not Harvard. Harvard really doesn’t concern itself with how interested you are in them. It doesn’t have to. Harvard is, after all, Harvard, and it can safely assume that the overwhelming majority of its 35,000 are pretty darn interested.</p>
<p>That may be true, since I don’t have super in depth knowledge about Harvard (although it sure does sound arrogant). But I would still be willing to assume that DECLINING interviews in general is not going to do wonders to one’s chances. I feel like it would hurt them to a degree.</p>
<p>Trust me, that one is pretty far down the list of things that make Harvard seem arrogant!</p>
<p>Sikorsky, Class of '85</p>
<p>Even if you’re not outgoing, you need to realize that eventually you will need to interact with your peers and superiors. While not interviewing should not have an impact, declining an interview may send out a flag- at least it would for me. The interviews are generally pretty casual and not intimidating.</p>
<p>bump10char</p>
<p>Your combination of 31 ACT, GPA and AP test scores of 3 really make you an extreme outlier for a successful application. Honestly, you should not SCEA to H and use that slot to apply to more realistic schools. Plz sit down w/your guid counselor and broaden you list. </p>
<p>I’d say your chances at H are next to nil.</p>