Harvard University Class of 2023 SCEA Applicants

Hi! I applied on October 25, but I have not gotten any email from Harvard whether it be about my portal or interview. Should I be concerned?

thanks, @gibby very helpful!

My interview was more informal than what I was expecting. We had a conversation about our similar interests and how to get used to living in a big city coming from a small town. He did ask some very interesting questions on media and politics that I was not expecting, but overall it was just a conversation with a very nice interviewer. I don’t truly believe the myth that interviewers have to remain emotionless.

@lilyfullford how long did your interview last?

I agree with @lilyfullford my interview was more of a conversation. I think it went really well, we talked about my interests and he asked me a few questions I wasn’t expecting that we debated about for part of the interview. We went over everything, we didn’t focus on just academics or personality which I liked. We were really able to connect but I think part of it was because he was young. Mine was about an hour and everyone else that I have asked that had a Harvard interview was also around an hour.

no interview imo means deferral. I analyzed EA threads for YEARS, interview are necessary for an early acceptance. The whole “the interview means nothing” is not accurate. Interview doesn’t=acceptance, it can mean acceptance or deferral, but no interview=deferral or less likely rejection, they only reject 10% in EA

Wrong @cmc1999 Interviews are based off of availability of interviewers. In fact, they schedule some interviews before they even open the applications. So your theory is WRONG.

@Arnkim they may schedule IVs with recruited athletes, but that is an entirely different process. They may also schedule targeted interviews with population they are targeting IE-a certain area of the country etc but these are more rare occcuraences. As soon as the common app is in they will schedule. Not only am I right, I’ll take it a step further. The committee chair that assigns the interviewees to the alumni interviewer actually puts a priority number of 1-4 on the applicant’s file. (1 being “interview ASAP” and 4 being "no more info needed). The alumni interview DOES NOT know what each applicants IVP # is. Now, if there is an applicant who lives in an area with no alumni interviews, they will contact and Skype. NO ONE gets in without an interview. They may get deferred IV in the later, round, but no one gets in without an interview.

@cmc1999 lol, but the thing is Harvard says they try to give everyone an interview. If someone hasn’t gotten one yet, it’s just because their interview is delaying for some reason.

How does the committee chair have time to put a priority number of 1-4 on the file in a span of a couple days? That doesn’t make sense.

What are your sources?

MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Let’s move on from debating how interviews are assigned/coded; it is not the purpose of this thread and this site is not a debate society.

The process is described in the lawsuit documents, e.g.
https://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/local/evidence-in-harvard-admissions-trial/3248/

One can read through and make his/her own determinations, but since nobody here works in admissions or as a salaried employee of the alumni association, nobody can speak with authority nor, for that matter, call another user wrong (in all-caps no less)

Son applied REA on November 1 at around 6:00 pm EST and received his request for interview November 2 by noon. Pretty impressed by the quick response. Basic stats are 36 ACT, 4.52 weighted GPA, 4.0 unweighted. Class rank 1 out of 733. 780 Math II subject test and 770 Chemistry Subject. He is a ballroom dancer who has competed on a national level individually and won a national championship with his Dancesport team. Not really sure what to expect from the early application but are excited to find out. Good luck to everyone applying for the class of 2023,

Best of luck to your son.

Your son seems to have a good chance. With great essays and LORs he should have above 50% (a lot for Harvard).

Thanks, our main concern is we are a suburban middle-class family with both parents being college graduates. Don’t really have the compelling story but believe our son is a great candidate. Will be interesting to see how it plays out. LOR should be really good and we got good feedback on his essay from the collegevine editor so we are hopeful there.

Additional note. His alumni interview was long, lasted about an hour and a half. Not sure if it being longer is a good sign or a bad sign.

@DadofBoys what did your son say about the interview? Also, what does he want to major in?

He thought it went really well. Interviewer mainly asked him questions about what he liked to do in his spare time, what his interests were, etc. They then talked about Harvard, the house system, etc. He said it felt like a good normal conversation. In regards to major, he wants to go to medical school and is currently leaning towards biological sciences.

Have you read this from the Harvard Crimson: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/9/26/the-real-premed-requirements/

Full Disclosure: My daughter graduated from Harvard Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude with a degree in film studies, then completed her Postbacc at CCNY for her pre-med requirements, and is currently a second year med student at WashU in St. Louis. Given the intensity, demands and competition at Harvard, she doesn’t think she could have handled the pressure of being a premed there – and this is from a top honors student at the college! Be careful what you (and your son) wish for!

@gibby thanks, hadn’t read that article before but we are well aware of what he has in store should he choose this path. We honestly aren’t too concerned as Harvard is a great school to matriculate from whether he continues down the medical school path or chooses another path.

Does anyone know how early I should get there to my interview? It is at a cafe so typically I’d arrive 15 min early but should I arrive earlier to order something?