<p>For international students living in countries where there aren't many Harvard alumni, does having an interview imply that their chance is higher than others? Or are all international students interviewed?</p>
<p>It depends on the country, applicants from some countries will only be interviewed after an initial read, which basically means a first cut according to people here on CC.
There’s a list on the Harvard website with the list of these countries. </p>
<p>I haven’t heard anything about an interview yet, so I fear the worst (since I come from one of these countries)!</p>
<p>Applicants from some countries will only be interviewed after an initial read, which basically means a first cut according to people here on CC.</p>
<p>Can you tell me where you got information from?</p>
<p>Not all internationals are interviewed; being selected for an interview in a country where there are few alumni and many applicants usually means that Harvard is interested in you. Mr. Guilty got his info from ‘International interview’ section in Harvard’s admission website. I wonder whether getting an interview in a country with few alumni is in any way different than getting a phone interview with an admission officer because the country doesn’t have any interviewers.</p>
<p>^well, that’s basically the case in China. I don’t know too many people who have been accepted without an interview in China - so Harvard does give interview only to prospective students.</p>
<p>^ Applicant from China. Just what I have been hearing. Though listing China on the website as “no interviews available”, Harvard selects very few Chinese applicants for interviews, so getting one generally means good news, though not necessarily the news of admission.</p>
<p>One of my friends emailed the admission office and they said that they interview only the applicants that they need to find out more about/clarify a few things. Not having an interview does not in any way indicate that your chances of being admitted are bad.</p>
<p>I dunno how true that is, since they won’t come out and say ‘Hey! We interview only those applicants who stand a chance, and you are not one of them. Goodluck!’</p>
<p>But at least ‘officially’ there is no advantage it seems.</p>