Someone told me that Harvard interviewers have a tendency to ask about current (political, social, economic) events and the interviewee’s opinion on them. Is this true? If so, how can I prepare to the best of my ability within the next few days? Any hot topics I definitely need to know? (Sorry, I don’t keep up with the news too closely)
I think it’s 100% fair for a Harvard interviewer to ask you your opinion on major topics of the day. The fact that your universe is so tiny won’t bode well for your candidacy to a school like Harvard. H wants students who already have a world view – they may not know their exact path in that world, but they want to know that the student clearly wants to engage this world. The insular island of HS classes, some ECs, test prep and family won’t be very impressive in this context.
What’s your opinion on these? Why? (for instance)
North Korea hack on Sony
“Je suis Charlie”
US economic recovery
Last two years of Obama’s presidency
Boko Haram
Scan the front pages of WSJ and NYT. But even more importantly (regardless of your H interview), please get off your island. If indeed, you possess skills and academic potential to be a viable Harvard applicant – then you’re wasting them in your little bubble.
To be frank, if you have no opinion on those, you’ll likely be considered a dullard
We live in Cambridge so I know quite a few kids who have done Harvard interviews. I have never heard of these types of questions being asked. I’m sure it’s happened before, and it is a good idea to prepare for the interview by catching up with important current events, cultural trends, etc, but do not stress out about it.
My D’s interviews have been good, but very informal, and frankly seemed like an inconvenience to most of the interviewers. I think the interviewer was late to most of the 5-6 she’s done, and the Harvard one was at the interviewer’s home, and he had forgotten about it (good thing he was home). The H interview was not even close to what @T26E4 describes- I doubt the interviewer himself had views on some of these topics. In fact, the Cambridge interviewers seem to be predominantly older and fairly out of touch with current events.
Regardless, it is a good idea to prep for these types of questions but don’t overdo it.
"(Sorry, I don’t keep up with the news too closely) "
Um…okay…
(Checks thread to make sure OP said Harvard.)
Have you heard of National Public Radio?
This is false…
I interviewed with both Harvard and Yale and was never quizzed on anything.
Except for what I’m learning in my classes.
^^ No, it’s not false. Your Harvard and Yale interviewers didn’t ask these type of questions, but HY alumni can pretty much ask any questions they want during an interview to see where the conversation goes. Look at questions being asked from 2009; many had to do with historical, political or current events: http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/12/current-interview-questions-harvard.html
I don’t know how common this is, but my interview (which my interviewer initially told me should last about half an hour to an hour) ended up lasting about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and not a single current events/affairs question came up in the entire session. So it’s not a necessity that you will get current affairs questions however, it can’t hurt to prepare for them.
I was asked some current event questions during my interview. I’d expressed interest in Harvard’s Government and Near Eastern Civs concentrations, so it was to be expected. My interviewer asked about me about ISIS and US foreign policy in the Middle East and my opinions/thoughts on these topics. It was very lowkey and I felt the questions were intended to spur interesting conversation – which they did – rather than to quiz me on my knowledge of current events or try and trip me up. Don’t stress out about this. I agree that just reading the newspaper would definitely suffice, or listening to NPR on the way to school as another poster suggested. As gibby said, it’s definitely not “false”. Just because some interviewers don’t ask about the news doesn’t mean that all don’t, as was previously implied. Good luck!
I’ve certainly asked them if the flow of the conversation was heading that direction. I don’t always ask but it’s not off limits. Once I had a young woman state that she was hoping to go into politics and had gone to a ldrshp conf in WashDC. I asked her opinion about the govt bail out of auto companies happening at the time. She gave a very commonly voiced line opposing it. That was fine. I asked her to expand and to address why those supporting that option were doing so. She really was didn’t offer much and again stated the same sound bite and couldn’t speak deeper about the underlying subject or what others’ rationale was.
I didn’t mean it to be a trick question whatsoever – I was hoping for a good and well formed rationale. Instead, what she revealed was her shallow thinking on this matter and her quick retreat to the common “party-line” argument – this was disappointing. And I noted the exchange in my write up.
Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it.
When I said I don’t follow news too closely, I meant that for many issues I don’t know much beyond surface information that I’ve gleaned from radio, TV, some online reading, etc. So I’m not sure I’d be able to discuss in detail the government bailout of auto companies, but I think I’m at least aware of most current issues. Although, it is worth noting, I’m going to be majoring heavily in the sciences, so I’m not headed in the politics/economics direction. Maybe that’ll help my case with knowing details about current events?
That’s pretty much exactly what happened at one of my student’s interviews. Same topics, same wording.
I think it really depends on the interviewer, and probably what their interests are. My interviewer was a physics professor at a local university, so we spent a long time talking about my research, and current events never came up.
We talked about the political situation in Russia and the Ukraine at the moment.
My interviewer did not discuss current events with me.
I interview for Yale and one of the questions I always ask is what current event in the news interests them. While what they choose to talk about is obviously personal preference, all I am looking for is an answer that shows that the applicant knows there is more to life than keeping their nose in a text book. People have talked about sports scandals, terrorists attacks, political elections, some scientific advancement, or some protest or other. I’ve even had some talk about the latest celebrity scandal. It gives me a good sense of the applicant as a person to know what kinds of things pique their interest.
OP said they don’t follow the news. If that is the case, please don’t sit there watching the news before your interview like you are studying for a test. It will come across as fake and disingenuous. Be yourself. Heck, it could be something on ESPN - the current New England Patriots scandal about under inflated footballs comes to mind. If someone told me that, it would be great. Would let me know that they are actually a real live teen and not a robot.
I asked all my interviewees about current events - terrorist attacks in Australia and France, Russia/ Ukraine etc… I am fine with you having a different opinion but not being aware of major political/social events makes you look like not the best candidate…
Yea. We can agree to disagree. That’s the beauty of the interview process they’re no canned questions. The interviewer can let the interview go in whatever direction it goes.
How does a 17-year old have enough world experience or historical education to intelligently discuss the Russia - Ukraine situation or the Islam versus the world condition? Most of them can’t find Canada on a map, let alone the Ukraine, Crimea, or Russia. None of this precludes them from being a “best candidate”. Maybe politics is not their thing. That’s you’re digging for here - their political bent.
I agree. That’s why I said I let them talk about anything that catches their interest outside of school. I just want to see that they’re engaged.
Not all kids are the same. Some can discuss world events, particularly if they are shooting for a selective university. Some might even be going to college to study things like International Relations.