<p>I applied for Harvard Regular Decision about 2 weeks ago, and have an interview scheduled for next week. In the interview, will Harvard inquire about where I applied Early Action to (I applied early action to some other university)? Could this jeopardize my chances, and how should I respond if I am asked this question?</p>
<p>Please advise, Thanks!</p>
<p>They shouldn’t ask that – it’s none of their business. If asked such an unethical question, I wouldn’t hesitate to conceal it whatsoever. Yes, LIE to the interviewer.</p>
<p>^^ I agree. If they ask about your first choice, LIE, LIE, LIE! (If you tell the truth, it might end up in the report they send back to the college.)</p>
<p>FWIW: When my son was applying to college several years back, his Dartmouth interviewer asked him where else he was applying. Upon hearing his list of school’s, which included HYP, the interviewer proceeded to list why Dartmouth should be his first choice. I thought it was a very nice end to what could have been an awkward question.</p>
<p>Bottom Line: Be prepared to answer the ethical and unethical questions. This post is four years old, but it will give you an idea of what was asked in 2009: [Sooo</a>… Tell Me About Yourself: Current Interview Questions: Harvard University](<a href=“http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/12/current-interview-questions-harvard.html]Sooo”>http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/12/current-interview-questions-harvard.html)</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies!</p>
<p>So, should I just clearly state that I did not apply Early Action to any school at all, and the Harvard is my first choice, if asked of course!</p>
<p>^^ YES, and you should be prepared to list the reasons why Harvard is your first choice.</p>
<p>They might ask. I know a few other students who were asked this in interviews and I was asked myself, so I’d definitely be ready for it. Harvard only had RD when I interviewed, I had already been accepted to Stanford which was my first choice, and I told them that I was planning on accepting there unless something changed. Frankly, I think its probably one of the reasons why Harvard gave me a likely call. I can imagine other circumstances in which it could go badly however. I only answered the way I did because I really was almost certain I would go to Stanford at the time.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t lie - rather answer the question with a rhetorical reply, “Who wouldn’t make Harvard their first choice?” Then smile.</p>
<p>They asked me where else I was applying</p>
<p>Yes.
they ask be prepared to answer</p>
<p>Harvard alumnus interviewer here.</p>
<p>Harvard makes clear to the alumni interviewers that it doesn’t care where else you are applying, so we are discouraged from asking the question. As a result, I wouldn’t worry that the Admissions Office has a “right answer” or “wrong answer” in mind.</p>
<p>If your interviewer asks the question anyway, I’d probably assume it’s either (i) to give him/her the opportunity to sell you on Harvard, or (ii) to get a sense of what’s important to you in the college choice. If your answer the “which schools” question was Harvard, Arizona State, Navy, Mt. Holyoke, Cal Tech, and the local community college, you may get the “WTH are you thinking” look, but if there’s a good explanation for this odd selection I would think it’s fine.</p>