I applied to Harvard regular decision and I just got an email from Harvard asking me for an additional interview after my alumni interview to “get to know a little bit more about my activities”. Should I be reading into this at all or is it meaningless/routine? Thanks in advance for your help!
Anytime you’re still in the conversation is a good thing.
This is the most intense period of the year for admissions staff. They are working their way through the tens of thousands of applications and making actual decisions under real time pressure.
I can’t give an exact figure, because I don’t know the exact size of Harvard’s professional admissions staff or exactly how many working hours they can cram into a week, but a reasonable estimate of the average admissions-staff time per application during the RD process is probably something around 45 minutes. If one or two of them, having already read your application, is asking to spend more time talking to you, that’s obviously not routine, and it sure isn’t meaningless. They don’t have time for meaningless in February.
The bad news is, your application isn’t in the accept pile. If it were, a further interview would be meaningless. The great news is, unlike the vast, vast majority of applications that have been read, it’s not in the reject pile, either. Your application is getting real consideration.
If you are being asked for a second interview, I can’t think of a reason admissions would take up someone’s time if you were in the reject pile. It might mean your first interview didn’t go so well, so prepare for this one.
Hey, NaijaBoy, I just received an email today from my regional adcom for a “brief skype interview” to help them get to know me better “inside and outside of the classroom.” It said that this would be separate of any interview I had done with an alum in my area. Is this the type of request you received as well? I’m currently freaking out over this because I am absolutely terrified of interviews (also the question that’s plagued many minds on CC - what does this mean??? - is messing with my mind).
Did you also receive a skype interview or was it conducted in person on/off campus? And do you know if the interviewer was an alum or the adcom? How long was your interview?
Any help from anyone who has had or is in a similar situation would be much appreciated!
Posting this here after posting elsewhere
What this means is that your regional admissions director wants to get to know you better, so s/he can present your case to the full committee in the best possible light. They are looking for more ammunition, as it were. So, first things first, RELAX. Chances are your regional admissions director attended Harvard as an undergraduate, so think of it as having a chat with a Harvard student. If you’re stuck for conversation, ask them questions – What was your concentration? What professor did you like the most? What were your extracurricular activities? Looking back over your 4 years, what was your fondest memory? I bet somewhere in there is some common ground that will help you bond with the AD and be able to share your story with them. Best of luck to you!