How important is the interview?

<p>I heard that the interview only helps if the applicant is on the "edge" Is this true?</p>

<p>No, Harvard apparently takes it quite seriously- it's a chance for applicants to stand out.</p>

<p>However, no one can tell you for sure how each element of the application is "weighed," so it's not really worth trying to predict anything. I sincerely recommend you relax for a few months until decisions come back- it's the only way to find out.</p>

<p>only GREATESTEST interviews and terrible interviews will make a difference</p>

<p>Your interview won't be bad--imagine mine, an interview with the 6'7 former basketball team captain who later toured professionally in Europe!</p>

<p>i havent even been contacted about an interview yet - should I be worried? Should I call the admissions office?</p>

<p>Don't worry, I was only contacted today and some of my friends in the same school have not yet been contacted. If your classmates/people in your area got an interview, then you WILL get an interview; they will not interview only some people (I have this info from a good source)</p>

<p>o okay well good - I dont know about classmates in the same area as I graduated from H.S. last year and I am taking a year off, but hopfeully they'll contact me soon. Thanks MallomarCookie.</p>

<p>So far I know of 3 people including me who have had the same interviewer from my school. I also know of atleast 3 other people from my school who applied to Harvard. Anyway my interviewer was an 80 year old retired lawyer. I think the interview went pretty well.</p>

<p>Do you guys really think the interview counts that much? Lots of people don't even have the chance to interview....like me : (</p>

<p>^^ interview DOESN'T count much at all.</p>

<p>What do alumni interviewers from Harvard typically ask? I had an interview for Princeton, and the interviewer (an alumnus) mainly asked about my extracurricular activities, and then we just talked, and he asked me if I had any questions. Are the Harvard interviews generally very different from this? I have seen a list of questions (emailed to me by the interviewer) that could potentially be asked. Most rely on reflecting on one's academic background. Do the alumni interviewers from Harvard generally rely mostly on these, or do they use some questions and rely on conversation? Thanks.</p>

<p>My interview started with "Tell me about yourrself," and the rest relied on conversation; however, every interviewer is different.</p>

<p>Just had my interview.. ^ interview started with "tell me about yourself".</p>

<p>Anyone know how they match the interviewer with the interviewee(is that even a word)? My interviewer didn't share any of my interests :(</p>

<p>they match your interview with whoever is available and closest to you in your area.</p>

<p>In areas where there are a lot of interviewers available, the match between interviewer and student may be random. Between two of my friends and me, all three of whom scheduled interviews for Harvard, we ended up having three different interviewers, despite all of us living near each other.</p>

<p>(And yes, "interviewee" is a word.)</p>

<p>^ A girl I know also applied to Harvard, and we had different interviewers, too.</p>