<p>I know that basically everyone gets an interview from Harvard, so does that mean it plays a crucial role in the admission process?</p>
<p>I think it does if you are in the international pool...due to a soaring number of applicants and a lack of harvard alumni (thats why international interviews are given at the end of february/ start of March, after harvard has carried out some kind of a screening process--this is what many people say) .. But if you are in the US, yea...pretty much no meaning cuz everyone gets an interview there.</p>
<p>In the U.S. an excellent interview can tip you in and a horrible interview can tip you out. An excellent interview can't, however, "raise the dead" as the dean of admissions would put it.</p>
<p>I'm an alum interviewer and have headed a regional committee of alum volunteers.</p>
<p>What defines a "dead" person, a non-URM with sub-2300 SAT scores and sub 4.0 GPA?</p>
<p>Ka-zing.</p>
<p>^I'm not sure why, but that comment made me smile a bit :)
maybe because it is so true..</p>
<p>oh, actually, I am an international. So although I'm trying not too get to hopeful, how selective are they about granting interviews overseas, especially in a country that's not in the official list?</p>
<p>While I've never officially heard this, I doubt that Harvard goes out of its way to provide international interviews at countries not on the list unless they are very interested in an applicant. Doesn't mean you'll get in, but it probably does mean that you've got better than normal chances of getting in.</p>
<p>Do conduct the interview in English even if your interviewer starts in your native language. The interview form asks the interviewer to assess the English skills of nonEnglish speakers. An alum who hasn't done many interviews, may not realize this, however, until after the interview.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>