<p>A Harvard alum recently contacted me for an interview. It piqued my curiosity as to how Harvard selects applicants for interviews. I've heard that they obviously don't bother unless they think you have a shot at getting in, but also that the strongest applicants don't get interviews because they have a higher chance of getting in anyway. Any insight?</p>
<p>i wonder as well</p>
<p>Domestically, interviews are offered based on availability, not on the strengths of applicants’ applications.</p>
<p>Everyone gets an interview if there’s someone available to interview them, even if you’re a joke applicant.</p>
<p>dwight’s right. think about it. the colleges are assigning interviews BEFORE they review your applications for the most part. thus, it’s purely on availability.</p>
<p>Thanks! Good to know 
I’ve always been the person that somewhat overanalyzes things.</p>
<p>If you’re from the US, it’s based on availability. However, if your country is on the “don’t call us, we’ll call you” list then it’s a different story.</p>
<p>^ Yes, those interview tend to come after they have read the apps and they need something clarified/you are a borderline applicant/something else; they have a specific reason… In the US, they just see 17 apps from x, send the contact details to interviewers and you get talked to</p>