<p>lotf629 - How did you get an interview as a Harvard transfer? I thought they don't offer transfer interviews. I'm interested because I'm applying as a transfer in February.</p>
<p>Btw...HILARIOUS stories!</p>
<p>They do interview some transfers, but unlike what exists for freshmen applicants from the U.S., Harvard doesn't attempt to interview every transfer applicant. There's only so much that the alumni interviewers can do.</p>
<p>A couple of students whom I interviewed inadvertently ran down the high school academic program that my own son was taking. They had no idea that my son was in the program (and I didn't hold their comments against them).</p>
<p>A big tip: In explaining your own choices of ECs, academics, etc. talk about the positives that attracted you not the negatives of other options.</p>
<p>Lamest answer to a question that I asked.</p>
<p>I typically ask applicants why they think that Harvard should accept them when there's such an overabundance of excellent applicants. This, incidentally, is a typical question that people are asked when they have graduate interviews, professional school interviews and apply for professional jobs. It's a chance for an applicant to talk about their strengths. </p>
<p>The worst answer I got was, "I don't know. You tell me."</p>
<p>NSMom: That's hilarious! I can't believe anybody would actually respond like that. Oh my, some people...</p>
<p>Haha...wow that's pretty lame. Did he get in?</p>
<p>Oh do you know if I can get ahold of the Harvard Transfer admission office and maybe request an interview? I live in New Mexico so I'm not sure how many applicants (freshman and transfers) from here are applying..probably not many.</p>
<p>My Tufts and Yale interviews were the worst. For Tufts, I went to the wrong Starbucks and had to reschedule. Then the actual interview itself was mind-grating... we didn't click at all. She disagreed with almost every single one of my points. Ungh. At one point she said she hated Tufts. It was very strange.</p>
<p>For Yale... much older interviewer. Turned out to be a three-hour political grilling session. I didn't care about/follow politics then, so it was like this at many times:</p>
<p>Him: "So what is your opinion on the rising oil prices?"
Me: "Well.... hmmm.... it's.... like.... you knoww... BAD."</p>
<p>Me: "I am involved in JNHS because it's a good way to educate people about cultural diversity etc etc blahblah"
Him: "Well my good friend from the UN says it's impossible to do that. You can only culturally educate on a case-by-case basis, one person at a time. Doing it for the masses doesn't have as profound an effect."
Me: "....uh."</p>
<p>Him: "So what do your parents do?"
Me: "My mom is a _______ and my dad was a _______"
Him: "Was?"
Me: "He died earlier this year."
Him: "Sorry to hear -- what happened?"
Me: <em>explains</em>
Him: <em>explains about a Yale applicant who witnessed her family getting shot and murdered and how she escaped to Yale and did great things</em> "So all you have to do is push on through and things will be fine... put things in perspective."
Me: (thinking, thanks, you ass)</p>
<p>It was a pretty crap interview... was really glad it was over when it was over. I went home and slept for like 15 hours. Still got in to those schools though (attended Penn).</p>
<p>No, the applicant who responded, "I don't know, you tell me" didn't get in. Somehow, that didn't surprise me. </p>
<p>Trixee, I am fairly sure that Harvard admissions decides which transfers from the U.S. to interview, and requesting an interview won't help. My best guess is that having a stellar application and being in a location where there's a willing alum would help.</p>
<p>When I got to the neighborhood of my Tufts interviewer, no one picked up when the guard gate called the house. Apparently he was taking a nap. I was let in after twenty minutes of sitting next to the guard gate because Mr. Interviewer would not pick up my calls, nor those from the guard.</p>
<p>I also went to the wrong house because there are apparently two subdivisions of the much larger neighborhood, and both divisions feature the same numbers. That's okay, I went to the right division and, again, I wound up at his neighbor's house because the numbers weren't clearly marked. Turns out a junior from my high school lives there. Her dog tackled me.</p>
<p>Interviewer asks where I go to high school; oh, he knows a boy there! Asks what I think of him. I smile and say that he's a nice guy, I don't know him too well- actually, this kid is the biggest drug dealer at my preppy little school. This boy's a football player, and my interviewer apparently goes to all the games to support him. Do I enjoy attending my high school's games? "Uh, no." Do I ever attend my school's sporting events? "Uh... no."</p>
<p>We discuss my EC of being a film critic for the South Florida paper. He asks me to recommend three movies- I believe I mentioned "The History Boys", "Last King of Scotland", and "Children of Men". He asks me what my favorite is and why- I spend three minutes effusively praising "Children of Men". I'm then told that it sounds like crap.</p>
<p>Wow, your school has drug dealers? That can't be my school.</p>
<p>So far I've had two interviews. In the first one, the interviewer had an extremely perky and hyperish attitude. (Talked real fast, etc.) The second was a complete contrast, and was very dull, silent, and didn't talk much. I tried to spark real discussions, but it was really a one-sided conversation the whole time.</p>
<p>South Florida rocks!</p>
<p>dvm258, I don't know where you go to school, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that every school from central Broward to south Palm Beach has drug dealers, even the ritzy private schools (one of which I attended).</p>
<p>Also, my Brown interview was a disaster- the interviewer was a friend's mom (though we weren't so close that it would've made a difference). We, unfortunately, spent most of the time talking about my visit to Barnard to stay with her daughter than, you know... BROWN.</p>
<p>NSM: Speaking of "You tell me," have you ever asked the question, "Why do you want to go to Harvard?" and someone replied to the effect of, "I don't know, what's so special about it?" lol</p>
<p>I'm sure I'm going to be shot by someone on this board for making that joke about "What's so special about it?" lol</p>
<p>I had another interview today, and I am glad that I don't have anything too bad to report. It actually went pretty well. My interviewer also happened to be a college consultant, so she gave me advice on getting in to other colleges, lol. I even told her that I had applied Early Decision to another school, and then she urged me to keep trying even if I got waitlisted/deferred, haha.</p>
<p>Has anyone else ever been really open to their interviewer about their interest in the college or what other schools they have applied to?</p>
<p>"NSM: Speaking of "You tell me," have you ever asked the question, "Why do you want to go to Harvard?" and someone replied to the effect of, "I don't know, what's so special about it?" lol"</p>
<p>I've asked the question, but haven't gotten that answer....yet!</p>
<p>NSMom, if I'm an international applicant, will I ever get interviews? Also, I know of this Korean medical doctor who graduated from both Harvard and the medical school. He visits Thailand (where I live) fairly regularly, so I was thinking he recommend me (my parents and he know each other well)?? Maybe interview?? I don't know.. :( Are there any options?</p>
<p>I had an interview today for Johns Hopkins, and though it wasn't that bad, her last question was, "Is there anything else Hopkins should know about you?" I responded with, "Um.. I'm really cool."</p>
<p>"I've asked the question, but haven't gotten that answer....yet!"</p>
<p>"Yet" being the key word. lol</p>
<p>hahaha interviews are so fun.</p>
<p>i made a bad joke once. there was an alumni and an admissions officer interviewing me, and I made the joke that I should pay more attention to the admissions officer's questions becuase he's more importatn. it was clear it was a joke, but probly not a good one, but no biggie</p>
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Has anyone else ever been really open to their interviewer about their interest in the college or what other schools they have applied to?
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<p>Yes. I was asked during an interview where the school ranked on my list of choices. I told him the absolute truth: I don't have rankings for my list yet, but it wasn't my first choice, was probably around my third, after the interview maybe second, but that I was strongly considering other schools. He didn't seem to mind; in fact, one minute later, he was talking about me going to the school's honours college, which I didn't even know about.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm sometimes stuck between the reasoning that it might make you seem like you're in high demand, or that it'll just make you look disinterested. I guess it depends on what other schools you are looking at. For example, if you are interviewing for some small back up school, I guess it'd be bad to say that you are applying to Harvard and that it is your top choice.</p>