<p>This is one of the "generic" interview questions, as far as I know, but I was looking for a nonconventional and actually meaningful response (rather than laundry-listing ECs and positions held). Here's my plan so far:</p>
<p>Interviewer: What will you bring to campus (hopefully he phrases it this way)
Me: I'll bring myself and a suitcase. <em>after interviewer rofls, i say</em> I don't have much, but I know I can bring myself, my accomplishments, and my point of view. I've participated in debate, and can offer a more analytical angle to the typical classroom discussion. Also, being multicultural, I can bring a broader, more detached perspective of American society and the world in general.</p>
<p>Hm...I said I would bring my "weirdness." :) Seriously, I said something like "I'm the sort of person who you would expect to attend a radical liberal arts school." Yours sounds pretty good. Go for it.</p>
<p>your banking on the fact that the interviewer is in fact going to laugh. i suppose they would, although they could be so dumbfounded, laughter isnt the first reflex. therefore that response could eaither be amazing, or end up in an awkward haze.</p>
<p>My interview actually started with the alumna saying "So basically you've got to show me why you're different from every other kid applying to Harvard." I rattled off my list of ECs and positions for a good amount of the interview...I was actually reading off my own resume at one point.</p>
<p>For a prepared answer, I think that's kinda weak...</p>
<p>"I don't have much, but I know I can bring myself, my accomplishments, and my point of view. I've participated in debate, and can offer a more analytical angle to the typical classroom discussion. Also, being multicultural, I can bring a broader, more detached perspective of American society and the world in general."</p>
<p>How many applicants to Harvard could say that about themselves? I don't think that's necessarily awe inspiring. Just my opinion...</p>
<p>john that will sound like what it truly is...a calculated and pre-planned response. </p>
<p>"Also, being multicultural, I can bring a broader, more detached perspective of American society and the world in general" thats just weak, you're trying way too hard</p>
<p>I never got asked that. Instead, I pretty much took control of the flow of my interview and started asking about HER and HER JOB. I then showed her an album of pictures taken while doing service work in Mongolia, Thailand, and Japan. We started talking about family life afterwards and finished it at that. I did have to tell her my rank and SAT score though.</p>
<p>Anyways, John Doe - don't sweat it. The more natural the interview is, the better.</p>
<p>I was not asked that, but if I had been I was planning to say that I would bring an open mind. I think that is very important, and I would have followed up by talking about my willingness to seek out clubs that maybe I had not heard of previously, also a willingness to experiment with different classes. Those are just a few examples, but theres def a lot you can say if you say your bringing an open mind. i would have ended by saying something about how 18 year old tend to think they know everything about everything, but im not like that, and by bringing an open mind I wouldnt jsut find out more about whats around, but find out more about myself in the process.</p>