If you don’t mind, could you please tell what was her major? And when did she receive the LL, Feb/Mar?
Sure. I think she applied undecided for Harvard, and received the letter and calls in early March. She went to the other school at the end (only applied two) after comparing the program strength of her planned major/concentration.
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Great! Thanks.
Just curious…what school did she choose?
Stanford
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So does Harvard but certain interviewers ask anyway.
At my Harvard interview, the person interviewing me recommended I provide him some kind of resume or CV to speed up the process of introduction (not that there’s been too much V to C). It comes as a bit of a surprise to me that providing these kinds of supporting documents is frowned upon by the university. Does the general recommendation extend only to quantitative measures of performance?
The AO at my school does not want us to get a CV because what they want is an assessment of first impression of certain intellectual qualities. A CV, especially one with grades and test scores, could easily color our perceptions (wow, this kid has a 4.0 and a 1570 SAT, or conversely, why am I wasting my time with a 3.8/1390 student). Even if it is just a list of EC’s, the tendency is to use the list as an interview check list vs a spontaneous discussion of interests.
But what do you do or say if asked for the resume or scores? Kinda no way to win as an applicant.
I have a good resume and high GPA in Full IB. Quality ECs and good recommendations. I was able to squeeze in an ACT, but in-person prep was cancelled and did a little last minute self-prep and never did a full timed practice—just individual practice sections. I couldn’t stop thinking about my mask…breathing my air… the mask sucking in and out…ugh!!!
And I’m not happy with the result, so I didn’t report. My score is in top 5%, low 30’s comp, but not where I need to be. I made upper 30’s on first two sections and upper twenties on second 2 sections. The irony is that Science is my strength, my limited practice I scored highest in it, but it was my worst score! I KNOW it’s because it was the last test of the day and by then I just wanted to run out screaming and rip my mask off. And I was hungry, but didn’t want to eat at break and have to smell my breath. I HATE COVID!!!
3 of my scheduled tests were cancelled. So nothing went to plan…just defeated.
Then you start reading that most of the admits submitted scores, 76% of applicants submitted scores, interviewers may or may not ask for scores…
Dang… maybe I just shoulda submitted the low 30 and taken my chances…
I am taking the ACT tomorrow, but I never intended on taking it now because my schedule is so unforgiving right now and I knew it would be. My sports season has started—Tennis. I was supposed to be long done with all this testing. All this talk about test optional being a lie panicked me into scheduling this last ditch ACT. I’ve only been taking a few practice Science sections—focusing on that gap when I have time. I’m going to eat a snack no matter what.
Okay. Thank you. My Rant is over.
Time to get my head In The game for tomorrow. Only positive thoughts from this point forward…
Deep breathing helps!
Best course is to comply with what the interviewer wants, even if they are going against the school’s policy (unless they are questions related to race, sexual/gender orientation, religion or other irrelevant personal items, in which case they should be reported). You should not give them anything that you did not submit in the app unless you want to. There was a Harvard interviewer in my area that asked for a graded writing sample in addition to a CV from my D several years ago. My D put together the package he wanted and feared for the worst, but actually had a very good experience.
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Waiting for the Harvard interview. Do the interviews go on till end Feb/early March?
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If anyone applied test optional, without scores, then the interviewer should not be asking for scores. I would just say you applied without them.
same question 
I think in the email regarding scheduling my kid’s interview said that the evaluations from the interview were due mid Feb so to schedule in advance of this. This is in the Bay Area. My kid’s interview was earlier this week and went well.
So this is kinda random but my Harvard admissions officer reached out to me after reviewing my application and asked me to send in recordings of me playing my instrument. Is this a normal admissions procedure? I never heard of officers asking for additional materials after submission of the general application.
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It is not common, but it does happen. Take it as a good sign.
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Do the interviewers have access to the application or are they generally going in “blind”?
I am a Yale interviewer. We don’t. @skieurope or another Harvard interviewer will have to answer for Harvard.
@Lenaisapplying the admissions folks must have seen something on your application about music accomplishments. They need musicians, obviously. I often advise applicants to submit a music supplement with a recording/video, music resume, and letters of recommendation from teacher(s) and or director (two max).
I am assuming you did not submit a music supplement. Many high schoolers and parents don’t know about doing that. The admissions people are giving you a fair chance here, based on whatever they saw in your application that would indicate you could contribute to music on campus.