<p>Harvard says they may or may not give you an interview AFTER you submit your application. So I have two questions:</p>
<li><p>Does this mean that I have a better chance of getting an interview if I submit my app earlier than the January 1 deadline? </p></li>
<li><p>Is it still possible to get an interview if I submit my app on January 1?</p></li>
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<p>I would assume it is helpful to have an interview, so I want to make sure I maximize my chances of getting an interview. Thanks.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Possibly, but I wouldn't worry about it. They can certainly arrange for an interview that will be helpful to them in the end of January or early February.</p></li>
<li><p>It absolutely is. Most schools I applied to I submitted the application on Jan 1, and still got an interview.</p></li>
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<p>I was always told that Harvard REQUIRES interviews out of its applicants. In fact, I've gotten several e-mails from them telling us to apply before December 1, a false deadline given so that we may get it to them earlier so that they may contact alumni to interview you. Then again, it's really not a false deadline, as it is when they start to begin looking at applications I believe. Although, I wouldn't understand why they wouldn't look at it earlier if you've sent it in earlier.</p>
<p>By the way, I sent my application and all the required items in October and haven't been contacted for a Harvard interview yet.</p>
<p>QuixoticRick- it's true that they give interviews to everyone that they can, but some people live in more remote areas and are difficult to get interviews for.</p>
<p>Either way, the OP definitely shouldn't worry. Almost everyone that lives in an area they can arrange an interview for gets one- time submitted isn't a concern.</p>
<p>i have been contacted for an interview yesterday although i have only sent in my common app (no supplement). i haven't paid the money yet either. <em>shrugs</em></p>
<p>oh and i turned my app in on 11/1</p>
<p>Interviews are scheduled by alum chapters, I believe, so it's dependent on how they do things. In our area, my daughter was recently contacted - they are organizing a series of interview days, and are assigning slots. Other schools have done it differently, just having an alum contact the applicant to schedule an individual time. So I think the pacing is determined by the alum chapter, and how they do the interviews.</p>
<p>Had my interview; VERY conversational. The only real questioning is your interviewer asking you to fill out a sheet with test scores on it. After that, it's up to who your interviewer is.</p>
<p>Hi, where do most harvard interviews take place? it seems like it's usually in the interviewer's house or office...</p>
<p>It varies a lot. My elder daughter had hers in a coffee shop, my younger daughter had hers today at a local company, with a whole group of alums there, each interviewing one applicant in a conf room... I think it's whatever the chapter coordinator decides.</p>
<p>Ailey, when you say that "Other schools have done it differently, just having an alum contact the applicant to schedule an individual time", do you mean that they interview students depending on what highschool they come from or just a general area? Thanks.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant other <em>colleges</em> ('schools' is too confusing!) have done it differently this year than Harvard is doing it in my area. On the other hand, 2 years ago, my elder daughter's harvard interview was in a coffeeshop. That's why I said it really varies a lot.</p>
<p>Oh, I see. Thank you!</p>
<p>So, is it normal for interviews to take place after January 1st? </p>
<p>(I'm actually an international applicant, and I have to initiate contact in order to get an interview; however, the representatives in my country told me that interviews are done way after the deadline... and that I was too "early" to contact them. I'm worried if there is a deadline to finish interviews.)</p>
<p>Actually, that's when most of the interviews happen.</p>
<p>my interviewer said last day for interviews was 1/7</p>
<p>Intereviews can happen as late as early March. I know. I've been an alum interviewer for years. But please don't take this as an invitation to PM me with Harvard questions. If you have questions, ask them on the board because when I take the time to answer questions, I like my answers to benefit as many people as possible.</p>
<p>There's lots of info about Harvard interviews in CC's archives. The subject comes up every year here.</p>
<ol>
<li>Does this mean that I have a better chance of getting an interview if I submit my app earlier than the January 1 deadline? </li>
</ol>
<p>yes and no. yes as in they have more time to interview, no as in if you get eliminated in the preview then it won't matter either way</p>
<ol>
<li>Is it still possible to get an interview if I submit my app on January 1?</li>
</ol>
<p>yes, a friend of mine did reg last year and submited very late december and still got an interview (and got in afterwards) gl!</p>