<p>My Harvard interviewer just called me and scheduled an interview for tomorrow after school. He told me a list of things to bring, which included my transcript, ACT/SAT scores, and my essay that I wrote. The problem is, I chose not to write the optional essay. At the time of the call I thought he was talking about some mandatory essay that I somehow didn't notice so I kept my mouth shut. What should I bring/tell him? I have some decent essays from other college apps that I could quickly adjust and bring him, but the won't be sent to Havard because I already sent in my supplement. Any advice from CC'ers?</p>
<p>Don't bring the essay and tell him that you didn't choose to do it. It would be dishonest into showing him that isn't even for that university placing him under the illusion that you did write it. Imagine if he wrote down, after interviewing you, that your optional essay was brilliant. Yet, when the admissions office checks--nothing's there.</p>
<p>Sounds good to me; I have no intention of cheating. I just wasn't sure whether or not that was a viable (or ethical) option. What would be the best way to tell him that I didn't write an essay after staying quiet on the phone?</p>
<p>I'm not an ethics expert but I think it would be wise to make sure it's upfront. If he told you to bring it, make sure you make it clear. If you had to do the common app for harvard (I'm not sure whether you did), possibly give him that essay. He's expecting to see something and you need to make it clear, from the first moment that you did not write it. </p>
<p>Be prepared to have a damn good explanation on why you didn't do the essay.</p>
<p>I will be up front with him and let him know at the beginning of the interview. AFAIK, the common app doesn't have an essay; all of the essays that I wrote were supplements for the different schools. I don't have a "damn good" explanation for my lack of an essay, but I hope my reasons are rational and decent.</p>
<p>Thank you for the help.</p>
<p>Didn't you send Harvard one of the essays that you wrote for the other colleges that you applied to? Harvard wouldn't have cared if the essay was written for another college unless you submitted an essay on the subject of something like, "Why I want to go to University of Chicago."</p>
<p>However, not submitting any essay at all to Harvard sounds like a big mistake because the essay is the admissions officers' best way to get insight into who you are and how you express yourself. I'm referring to the personal things about you that one can't tell by reading the rest of the app.</p>
<p>I don't understand, the common app DOES have an essay requirement. It also has a short answer and an optional essay. Anyway, it's not the first thing the interviewer is going to ask, and I would just focus on being a good interviewee....</p>
<p>hpg90 is correct. There is one short essay regarding an EC, and a long essay, also referred to as a personal statement. The choice of prompts for the long essay were:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.</p></li>
<li><p>Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.</p></li>
<li><p>Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.</p></li>
<li><p>Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.</p></li>
<li><p>A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.</p></li>
<li><p>Topic of your choice.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you didn't include a personal statement on your main common app, I'd write one now and send it to all your schools. Assuming you did write one, I'd bring a copy of that to the Harvard interview.</p>
<p>Thank you very much, hpg90 and 2blue. I completely forgot about that part of the application! I remember having to write a bunch of essays in the "supplements" section of the common app so I looked through the Harvard supplement looking to find an essay section. I forgot that I wrote one for the general application! I'm glad I checked on here one more time before going to the interview. Thank you very much for reminding me.</p>
<p>Whew! I'm glad you checked in too. Good luck with the interview!</p>
<p>Glad to hear that. If you hadn't sent any essay, you would probably have greatly lowered your odds of admission. People do get in, however, without submitting the optional one, which truly is optional.</p>