I’m an international student from a country that’s not listed as having available interviews, but I have heard that some students get invited for an interview later. So what do I answer for this " If interviews are available in your area have you had or have you scheduled an admissions interview?"(e.g. do i say no because it’s not listed or yes because some students had an interview)?
If the option to answer “Not Applicable” is available, then you would select that, since interviews are not available in your country (or at least that’s what Harvard says.) If N/A is not an option, then you say no, because you have not had an interview.
The problem is you can choose “Yes”, “No, but I plan to do so” and “No there are not interviews available where I live”. Second doesn’t qualify because students get contacted, and don’t arrange by themselves. The thrid isn’t true because some students had interviews. And the first isn’t true because students don’t schedule it.
I applied from a similar country without available interviewers per Harvard’s website and checked the third box “No there are no interviews available here” - I was later contacted for an interview by the admissions office. If they’re interested/want more info, they’ll find a way to get in touch with you (I got an email, I’ve heard of others getting phone calls, etc.)
Then the correct response is the third. Harvard’s official line is that they don’t offer interviews in your country, so don’t make it more complicated than it is. If they contact you subsequently to schedule an interview - great. But you still answered the question correctly.
@Telluric do you have any idea why the admissions office wanted to get in touch with you? I am also applying from one of those countries not listed in the website but I have not been contacted whatsoever. There goes my chances of getting accepted 
@Kaleab470 Apologies, I’ve been away from CC for a while. I was contacted for a general interview - they didn’t seem to have specific questions planned, but they talked generally about parts of my application, my essays, ECAs, etc. It was a particularly long interview - almost 2 hours. I had a fairly unique background and I think that intrigued them.
There appears to be considerable anecdotal evidence on this site at least that being contacted for interviews with admissions officers are a pretty good sign (the majority of such people on this site appear to then be accepted, myself and several of my friends who got such interviews included - and it would make sense because they have access to your application and would probably interview candidates with a decent chance of admission).
It also appears to be a good sign if you are contacted for an interview at all (even with an alumni) and live in a country with a v. low alumni-applicant ratio (the classic example is India, where very few people are interviewed, yet the majority of Indians accepted have been interviewed - all of the ones I know of, actually).
This does not mean you have no chance of being accepted without an interview as an international - we have a small sample size and I did see a case a few years ago of a UK student accepted without an interview on this site, so remain hopeful!
@Telluric Wow, good for you! I wish you luck in the admission process, hope you got in!
I haven’t been contacted for an interview (international applicant from countries with limited interviews), and I’m honestly freaking out. I can’t help but think about Harvard, and the closer the 12th of December, the sadder I am. It just seems that everything I worked for so long slowly wanders nowhere. I know it’s not the end of the world, I know I shouldn’t worry, but it’s just tough.
Ok, sorry for this message, it has been an outpouring of long-held emotions. Hope you get in and wish you very best!
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@lukmore Thank you for the kind words, but I’m actually a current student at Harvard, sorry if that wasn’t clear!
It’s hard to keep your mind off of it in the days running up to it. For me at least, I spent the time working on other applications and thinking about myself at other schools, so that just in case it didn’t work out I’d already be partway towards moving on and did something productive in the meantime, perhaps that might help you too.
One of the biggest things I’ve found since coming here is that while Harvard is a good school, it is by no means unique in that regard - I’ve been impressed by so many schools I’ve visited, and all my friends are happy wherever they ended up. Whatever you do, don’t think any less or more of yourself depending on the decision. At the end of it all, luck plays such a huge part of it that the process really isn’t a good reflection of your ‘worth’ or achievements at all - your officer has to happen to take a liking to you, they have to happen to present you well at the committee, perhaps you’re a world class concert pianist but the committee’s already accepted 5 of them that day, it goes on and on.
Whatever happens, know that all the work you’ve put in matters, regardless of what happens on the 12th, and someone will recognize it. Good luck, wherever you decide to go!
Oh, wow! Ahah then I’m twice as happy for you.
Thanks for the advice, I’ll do my best to use it and work on other essays and projects. And thank you for your kind words. I agree that acceptance to Harvard does not reflect one’s worth at all.
Ahah but then it kinda does for society. Harvard may not be an absolutely unique school, but it is a unique social label. A Harvard degree lifts you and your credibility up in the eyes of practicyally anyone (from my experience, at least). Indeed, societal respect is not a goal to die for, but it objectively may help at times. Especially in my case, since I want to study government and sociology and then work to enforce certain political changes in my country. And since my country is very conservative, my liberal ideas are likely to be initially rejected. Thus I am afraid that without a Harvard degree people will never really listen to what I say.
Ahah anyways, it has been—again—an outpouring of long-held thoughts.
I wish you luck and happiness, and thank you for the support!!