On the Common App, I listed my permanent address in NY, but I’m currently studying abroad. So my permanent address is not the same as my current address, and the number I provided on the Common App is the home phone in NY, since my phone here doesn’t have an answer machine and I cannot answer calls during school hours.
A few days ago, a Harvard alum sent me an email asking if I would be available next week to meet for an interview…yikes! I can’t find any tickets to fly all the way back for the interview, so I had to tell him that I’m not in NY for now, and that we could converse over skype if he wanted.
Should I send Harvard an email explaining this situation, in case they think that I’m being dishonest or avoiding an interview on purpose? After I replied to his email, he never replied, is that also a bad sign? And will this hurt my chances? Help!
Relax. Of course the interviewer called the phone you provided and thought you could meet near your permanent home. That’s the only info they have, and it was appropriate for you to provide it.
You would not be expected to fly home for an interview. Was your e-mail received? Did you explain that you are studying abroad?
I would contact admissions if you don’t hear back. Just explain you are studying wherever you are studying. They will either provide a way to interview via Skype or whatever, or find an alumnus/a to interview you where you are.
Hi compmom, thank you very much! Yes, I sent him an email explaining my situation, and apologized for the inconvenience. Though the email was sent two days ago, I am not sure if he received it, seeing that there was no reply. When I email admissions, should I say that I was already contacted by an interviewer?
Also, I saw a post saying that Harvard will only interview students in foreign countries (including U.S. citizens studying abroad?) if they are considered to be potential candidates. Is this true for other colleges as well? If so, should I also send emails to their admissions explaining my situation, before I am contacted again for another interview in NY?
Oh right, sorry I forgot to ask, if I tell admissions that I was already contacted by an interviewer, shouldn’t I also tell them that I had replied to his email at least two days ago, but has since received no replies? Besides explaining my situation, would it be appropriate to ask if I may have an interview via skype, or an interview by a Harvard alumnus in my area? Or would that be too demanding of me? Thank you!
Harvard admissions has nothing to do with your interviewer, which are assigned at the local level. Don’t contact admissions. Could you Skype with the person who contacted you? That’d be the easiest solution. I would say it would be unlikely H would transfer you into your current location’s interviewing pool since, by their nature, the non-US interviewers are extremely limited.
And you were seriously nutso for thinking you’d have to travel back to the US for this interview. hahaha. It ain’t all that.
Hi T26E4, thank you very much! When I replied to my interviewer a few days ago, I asked if he would like to converse via Skype, but I haven’t heard from him since. Does that mean I won’t be getting an interview? If I am already assigned to be interviewed by this alum, how would he write a report about me if he never got to see me in person?
Compmom’s advice was to write to admin to explain that I am studying abroad, so I can’t be in NY for the interview. In case my interviewer had already told admissions about this situation, I don’t want them to get the wrong impression that I may be avoiding interviews on purpose by putting an address I don’t currently live in without an explanation. Will I be affected negatively if I DO contact admissions?
Yeah I think I really went a little crazy when thinking I’d have to actually go back, haha, I was just caught off guard by such an early email.
I just thought of something: if the interviewers are assigned locally, should I contact the Harvard Club of New York and tell them my situation? I heard that lots of NYC students are interviewed at the Harvard Club of New York. Thanks!
The Harvard club of NY is a private business. It has nothing to do with the formal interviewing structure of the metro NYC area. You’re too impatient. Please relax and wait for the alum to return your contact.
Add: that covers Intl applicants but shows the limitations in a foreign country. It’s possible your NY alum is waiting for his own clarification and scheduling his local meets.
GOOD NEWS!!! The alum replied! He said that this was a follow-up email and asked if I would be available sometime next week to meet, because he won’t have time tomorrow (Jan. 10th, the original date he set for the interview). However, I suspect that he did not have time to read my previous reply, because he still didn’t mention anything about Skype…I guess I’ll just reply to him and explain my situation again. thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.
hi lookingforward, thanks for your advice! I just received his reply this morning before I saw your post though, sorry about that…glad it worked out in the end!
