I am extremely nervous for my interview ><

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>My brain is literally just about to explode right now...I have my interview with a Harvard alumni tomorrow, and I don't think I can handle it.</p>

<p>To be up straight, I have horrible grades for such a school. I have a 3.0 UW and a 3.3...really pathetic right? =/ (with our max weighted being 4.9, although no one in our history haver ever gotten this close)</p>

<p>I do go to an academically challenging school, it is a magnet school ranked 60th in the nation, out of 10,000 high schools. I have been enrolled in mostly AP courses, and as you can tell, I didn't do so well in them and received lots of B's and C's, although I did receive consistent A's in my AP History courses (US History, European History, World History), and English (AP Language and Composition). I am going to pursue a major in the humanities, and I have received A's in these subjects. </p>

<p>Still i know, for such a challenging school, I should have done much better, and I'm ashamed about it. </p>

<p>A lot just happened, I was overwhelmed, many times I was just stubborn and thought I could take on full AP classes, and obviously I ended up failing with my B's and C's ...</p>

<p>I did receive a 4.0 my freshman year however, but that was before I took my AP classes. </p>

<p>I had a liver transplant before the 10th grade too, and I missed many classes my sophomore year, and I didn't do well. Still, when I was recovering in my junior year, I still received bad grades. And my brother is doing so well(he also shares this account, and he got into Purdue)...he has a 4.1 and it's so like, idk I just have too much pressure.</p>

<p>Still, I think I'm somewhat intelligent? I took 6 AP exams, got 5's on all of them, and got a 2270 on the SAT I. I got an 800 on Math II, 700 on U.S. History, and 670 on Literature. </p>

<p>I know I'm not going to get into Harvard, my grades are too low, and I'm just really scared my interviewer will blow me off as someone who doesn't care about school. I'm applying out of respect to my parents, even though I know I don't have a chance. </p>

<p>Also I would like to add, that I am extremely active in music. I have been in the wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, marching band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, all-state honors bands, and local prestigious youth orchestras. I was thinking about going as a music major, and I spent much of my time practicing flute, percussion, trombone, and contrabass (i'm proficient at all of them, although flute is my main instrument). In fact, two local youth orchestras actually came to my school to recruit me. </p>

<p>I switched however, since many people advised me that pursuing a field in music is not wise in the economy. I regret listening to them- I should have followed my dreams, but it's too late now. I haven't gone through the proper training to prepare for an audition.</p>

<p>I already have many safety schools, so you don't have to worry about that. (And yes, I made sure that they are safeties, and I got accepted into three universities already! and the three of them have a good reputation, they're above the top 60 national rank in us news).</p>

<p>Still, I'm just really really nervous about my Harvard interview, as I feel that he'll misjudge me because of my GPA, and that he will have a distorted image of my persona.</p>

<p>Do you guys think that he'll admonish me for not doing well in school? I really don't want to deal with that, I've dealt with it so much already. I described my situation to a representative from UC Berkeley, and she just blew me off saying that I shouldn't bother applying to that school since my grades are so low. I don't know, I'm so nervous, I don't know what to expect.</p>

<p>I'm going to wear formal clothing, to show this man that I am a decent person, and I am going to show him my strengths, my SAT scores, my AP Scores, my A's in my humanities subjects, and my stellar extracurricular activities. To those of you that have had interviews already, was it chill, and you just chatted, or did he actually "counsel" you and based on logistics, told you your chances of getting into Harvard? Should I just tell him that I'm not expecting to get in, but I'm doing it for my parents? </p>

<p>Thanks so much...I'm just super nervous.</p>

2

<p>Don’t sell US…sell your INTERVIEWER! However, don’t worry! Your interviewer doesn’t have your grades/stats…and doesn’t care. They just want to form an impression of YOU. They aren’t reading your application. They’re just providing one more tiny little bit of info. If you pick your nose and wipe it on the table…well…that might not be so good. It’s just a chat. TRULY. “Tell me what your interests are, why do you want to go to Harvard, have any questions about me regarding my time there, anything else, ok…bye and good luck”. Seriously, it’s NOTHING like what you’re imagining/explaining here. Like you, my D also switched from a music major to academia. You can talk about that, your interviewer will probably lead you. They didn’t volunteer to be an interviewer if they didn’t want to do it. They DON’T work in the admissions office. They haven’t read your application. They just want to see if you show up late, dressed in scuba gear, or if youwear your underwear on the outside. It’s ALL GOOD. He/she KNOWS you’re nervous, and expects it. Do as you said…dress “nicely” respectfully…but I don’t know if you should go with what one would call “formal” (unless you’re very comfortable in that). And write a nice thank you note afterward. Worrying will make your interview more stressful, and that is NOT what you want. Keep your goal in mind.</p>

<p>I want to add - it is NOT too late for music. You can minor in it, and/or be involved in some way all your life. Do NOT let that passion slip away because you’re focusing your education in a different direction.</p>