My older son’s interview was with a graduate of HMS. It was a free-wheeling discussion that eventually focused on the attributes of Harvard as a school. The interview was mostly the interviewer telling him about Harvard. It went about 90 minutes. My younger son had a totally different experience. The interviewer focused very much on my son’s interests in math. My son, who had done his research, explained what he’d like to study at Harvard with specific Harvard professors. It was a much more perfunctory interview. It lasted 45 minutes.
@tuty143 I had my interview a week after I submitted my application
@sansculottes no problem!!
some things that are probably not good things to do at the interview unless you want to get waitlisted:
(1) green mohawk
(2) eat breakfast during interview
(3) “why harvard” -> “it’s prestigious”
@lilypippili thank you! I submitted my application about a week ago and haven’t heard anything yet. But I’m assuming it’s due to the recent influx of EA applicants close to the deadline.
@tuty143 no problem!! You’re probably right, they recommend submitting by October 15 so they can arrange an alum interview with you, so it will probably take longer than mine but I’m sure you’ll get one soon 
@lilypippili Really?! I submitted the 23rd…do you think that was too late?! I was really hoping for the interview, which are where I shine.
@tuty143 That’s just what they recommend, I don’t think it means you have to or else you don’t get interviewed… anyway I submitted mine on the 19th, so that’s not that far off. Then again, I don’t really know any more about this process than you do :-/ but I can tell you that I live extremely close to Harvard so it was probably really easy for them to set up an alum with me
One should be aware of current events-- not because one has a harvard interview-- but because that’s what one should do as an informed and participating member of society.
^ which ultimately is what Harvard wants. Frankly, if current events don’t interest you, you’re not interesting to many people, including Harvard.