<p>Harvard Wants Second Interviews? Why? [Could Anyone Explain? Thank So Much]</p>
<p>That looks like a good sign.</p>
<p>I thought it might be bad, as in, "we're not sure if you should be denied."</p>
<p>Well, they're obviously interested. Hit a home run at the interview, and I'm sure you'll have a good shot at getting in. Congrats.</p>
<p>Thanks. Do you know why colleges typically give second interviews to begin with? Is it to be more sure of a student's acceptance or more sure of a student's denial? I rather go the one interview and then decision route that's all. Weird how colleges choose students. Yale took me without an interview for RD by offering tentative acceptance, and Harvard either doesn't know if I will even make it past the front door it seems from the interview or wants to be sure that I should be given acceptance. Still going to be content, at least I'll go somewhere. Arggg, the apprehension is killing me:P</p>
<p>A friend of mine was also given 2 interviews for Harvard.... and had absolutely no idea why! We still can't figure it out; we were considering the possibility that there was some sort of communication mistake, and that the school somehow didn't realize she had the first interview (and thus scheduled the second), but I'm not sure how likely that would be... guess she'll find out in 6 weeks!</p>
<p>Was it was two alumnis? I had one with an alumni and now I am having one with the admissions office. :(</p>
<p>I <em>think</em> she had two different alumni interviews. But I'm not 100% about that.</p>
<p>Boo...I didn't even have a first =(</p>
<p>I'm an alum interviewer and have headed my regional alumni interviewing committee.</p>
<p>Harvard would never admit this directly, not even to their alum interviewers. However, from what I've figured out, the likely reason for your interview is that they are very interested, but can't come to a decision about whether to accept or deny you.</p>
<p>Could be that going into the first interview, you also were in that position, but due to no fault of yours (remember the interviewers are volunteers, not trained admissions officers), the interviewer's report didn't provide enough info for H to make a decision. </p>
<p>Could be that going into the interview, you didn't stand out in H's extremely competitive pool), but the interview report included info that impressed the admissions officers so much that they want to take a second look at you.</p>
<p>Those are just a few of the possible reasons, but whatever the reasons are, H would not be having busy alum interviewers take more time with you unless H was interested.</p>
<p>Best of luck! Please also keep in mind that if you end up getting deferred or rejected, that won't mean that you messed up the interview or the interviewer hated you. More than likely factors far beyond your control -- including thing like Harvard's trying to create a class that is as diverse as possible in all meanings of the word (ECs, region, religions, political orientations, sexual orientations, academic interests, type of secondary education, legacy, race, SES etc.) caused others to get tipped in even though (as is typically the case for 90% of applicants) you had the background to have been chosen for the class.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, even in March some people in the U.S. still will be getting alum interviews due to the availability of interviewers. I've done such interviews as late as mid March, and yes, admissions officers are still making decisions then!</p>
<p>Students who can't interview because there aren't interviewers located in their area are NOT at a disadvantage. In fact, my guess is that if one lives in an area in which there are so few H alum, it could be an advantage in that H is interested in getting students from areas in which few people have gone to Harvard. That's among the factors H considers in creating a well rounded class.</p>
<p>It can only be a positive. Harvard is spending more resources on you. They can deny people without a second thought. This (IMO) suggests that they think very highly of you, and you are very likely in/waitlist/bubble, and not a 'gonna be rejected unless you are absolutely amazing this time'.</p>
<p>I think definitely a good thing, and concur that they wouldn't spend more time interviewing you if they weren't interested. My D had a 2nd interview last year with an admissions officer. They didn't have the results yet from her alumni interview so it had nothing to do with that. It was relaxed and very positive. They just talked about things on her application, her interests etc and she was not especially nervous because she wasn't counting on getting in. But turns out she did get in, though another student from her school who also received a 2nd interview was waitlisted. So it's not a guarantee of admission. I tend to think it means that they're interested and just want some more info in order to make their decision.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity. So is it because they are unsure of me in a positive way, or in a negative way like, "Let's see if we should put him on the back burner yet"?:p</p>
<p>Definitely positive, I think. If they thought they would probably reject you, why would they waste their time? </p>
<p>For the record, I know a girl who was interviewed twice for Harvard last year and is now a Harvard student. So good luck!</p>
<p>I would say definitely positive. I don't think they would be looking to trip you up or seek out negatives. I would assume they have a positive impression and want more info to help them decide. But they take so few kids, you can't take it personally if it doesn't work out.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. While I loveeee* interviews, I rather not have more than one to a top-choice college because there is always the possibility that my interviewer might not like me through no fault of his own or mine, or that I might bomb and knock my admission decision into the ocean. Funny thing is I am going in knowing that Yale has accepted me and offered me generous four years of financial aid. It is stressful {It's Harvard After All} and yet anti-climatic. Oh well, I hope the admission officer will not chew the living daylights out of me :P. I will still come out laughing regardless of my Harvard Decision :). Although it's one of my favorite schools. :p</p>
<p>*dying sarcasm here</p>
<p>I don't see how you can think of a 'should we put him on the back burner' thing.</p>
<p>If you are in that position, that they don't want to reject you based on what they've seen, you are in the top 15%. That is excellent positioning. Sure, you might not get in, but for them to even question rejecting you(if you want to view it that way) you are in a very very good position.</p>
<p>Harvard rejects people. A lot of people. For them to want any more information means that you are better than the vast majority.</p>
<p>That makes alot of sense now. I should see it as an opportunity. Nevertheless, either an opportunity to save myself from the the back burner or to add wood to the fire. :)</p>
<p>This is not meant to be argumentative in any way: [:)]
If you are doing an operation, and you are 85% complete with the operation, I don't think your patient will be very happy. :p. As Yoda would say, "Accept or Accept Not, There is No Maybe" :p. But life's neither fair nor black and white. :(. Be happy, that's the key :)</p>
<p>NSM's response is the authoritative answer.
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1059824777-post10.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1059824777-post10.html</a></p>
<p>From an undergrad perspective I think Yale might be a better fit anyway, as they are more undergraduate focused than Harvard. Obviously that depends on the major and so on, but you are in an amazing position.</p>