<p>I think an interview just helps the adcoms match a person and personality with the paper. <em>whee, alliteration</em> </p>
<p>I'm sure the ppl in admissions have dealt w/ hundreds of cases where an applicant looks superb on paper but is a social skill deficient drone in person, or, perhaps, is an arrogant up-in-the-clouds snot w/ eyes only for him/herself and all their accolades. The paper app can only say so much...if an applicant is shining to the teeth with ec's/grades/awards, ect, I think the adcoms more often than not like to see if said applicant has a winning personality, or if personality is another thing the applicant has sacrificed for notches on a resume. That being said, that's probably why an interview doesn't usually make or break an admission; if you get an interview, great, you probably will just confirm what the adcoms already assume. If you don't have an interview, it's not going to mean rejection b/c the adcom will bank on and admit based on what they know--your grades, ect. If you already have the grades and stats to get in, they're not going to deny you a spot b/c you haven't personally inundated them with your winning smile/infectious laugh, or whatnot. Hopefully, you already have them all in spades. :)</p>
<p>sweeetsangria--I definitely agree. But I also think the interview gives you a chance to say some things about yourself that might not have been in the application (or at least that's how my interviewer saw it). For instance, I wrote my application when i was still in a wheelchair and unable to participate in a lot outside of class. I wanted to make sure they understood this and also understood what i would like/hope to do once the leg is healed (for example, i would really like to try crew, and get back into piano, and also just participate in more around campus since i really can't leave the house after 7pm right now) Also, it gave me a chance to talk about what i'm hoping to do this summer, classes i'm taking, and things that might have changed since I turned in the application (like choosing to audit a class, doing research for a prof, and continuing some coursework through the summer).</p>
<p>Though I don't think it adds loads to your application, i really didn't send in that much beyond the application (only the supplementary essay and another rec, but no portfolios or anything) so i wanted them to understand a little bit more of who i am beyond my reasons for transfer, resume, and grades.</p>
<p>that being said, i'm still obsessing about my interview ;)</p>
<p>i agree that the interviewers only know about as much as we do about the interviews. they really seem to get just our names, majors, and current schools. but theres really no reason to obsess over the interviews and their meaning (though i know that wont stop any of us)- either its a positive sign or its a neutral sign, but it sure isnt a negative sign.</p>
<p>I hope it's a better sign than neutral! The interviewers go to a lot of trouble meeting with us and drafting a letter. I am hoping it is definitely a positive sign !!!</p>
<p>Just wondering...what's the difference between HS interviews and Transfer interviews? I'm not applying to Harvard for transfer, but I applied there out of HS. As a matter of fact, I had interviews with Yale, Penn, and Harvard, and my Harvard interview went exceptionally well. Still got rejected by all three!</p>
<p>They don't offer interviews to all applicants like they do for freshmen, they do however contact some of the transfer applicants that they are interested in interviewing. Several old threads discuss transfer interviews.</p>