Interview???

<p>Has anyone NOT been contacted for an interview yet?</p>

<p>I have not been contacted, which is rather scary. My friend, however, got contacted on November 7th and went for her interview already. She asked the interviewer about my situation (no contact about interview whatsoever), and he gave her his phone number to have me contact him directly. </p>

<p>I called Harvard admissions first to ask about my situation, and they gave me the usual spiel of "interviews are not garanteed, etc." Then I called my local interviewer (there is only one for EA), and set up an appointment (finally). It's rather late, though, since he will be going on a trip for the next 2 weeks. </p>

<p>When I expressed this concern, he said that Harvard admissions was aware that he'll be away, so it's not too late. My interview is set on Dec. 5th. </p>

<p>Northstarmom and Byerly, my question is, is this too late of a date for an interview, since decisions are sent out Dec. 15th? I'm really worried that without an interview, the adcoms will just throw my file directly into a catergory (ie. rejected or deffered), and regardless of my interviewer's report (be it good or bad), my fate would have already been decided by then. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>guess your not the only rickoid not contacted yet</p>

<p>'Northstarmom and Byerly, my question is, is this too late of a date for an interview, since decisions are sent out Dec. 15th? I'm really worried that without an interview, the adcoms will just throw my file directly into a catergory (ie. rejected or deffered), and regardless of my interviewer's report (be it good or bad), my fate would have already been decided by then."</p>

<p>U.S. interviews mainly depend on the availability of alumni volunteers. If an interview isn't possible during the short EA application review period, my understanding is that applicants are deferred (though I imagine that if an application is clearly unsuitable for Harvard, an applicant would be rejected. However, since 90% of applicants clearly qualify for Harvard, this kind of rejection would be unlikely). </p>

<p>If it's not possible to interview applicants during the regular admission period, their applications would be decided up and the lack of interview would not count against them.</p>

<p>All of this is what I think occurs due to what I've seen as an alum interviewer. I also have interviewed EA applicants up to about Dec. 5. While Harvard would like applicants interviewed by about Nov. 15, that often isn't possible due to the shortage of interviewers and the busy interviewers' schedules.</p>

<p>I have yet to be contacted as well by my local alum for an interview. I am an international student, so I'm curious to know whether other internationals have had their interview.</p>

<p>Should I email Harvard?</p>

<p>elife: International applicants are supposed to initiate contact with a local interviewer. See Harvard's</a> website for info on how to go about doing this. </p>

<p>I live overseas, but there are no local interviewers where I live, so unfortunately I won't be able to have an interview.</p>

<p>Well, not really.</p>

<p>I applied last year and was called up by the local alum for an interview. I was unsuccessful though, so I am reapplying this year. For international students, their interviewer will call them up after receiving the short-listed name list from Harvard. I am not sure about other countries but for years, this is the practice in my country.</p>

<p>Hmm... that's interesting. Maybe it changed this year? It does state clearly on the site that "If you are applying from one of the countries listed below, you should initiate contact with one of our interviewers." If I were you, I would be proactive and get the interviewer list from Harvard. But... I'm not you. =P</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply, Northstarmom. </p>

<p>I am no longer worrried. Come to think of it, even if the interview is late, but Harvard finds you suitable for their school (either during the EA review or RD review period), you'd get in anyways. So in the long run, my later interview date shouldn't really affect anything, I guess.</p>

<p>Sounds logical. Will try to contact my local alum and see what happens next. Thanks!</p>

<p>wait so if i haven't been contacted for an interview then i am automatically deferred SCEA?</p>

<p>Well my brother (an Int'l SCEA applicant), contacted Harvard something like a month and a half ago, received a list of interviewers and initiated his own interview, so it's definitely possible.</p>

<p>I find it simply ridiculous and frustrating that I might be deferred because of interview scheduling problems, especially since I live in MA.</p>

<p>Found out through the International Interviewer booklet that Harvard will contact me if they need more information. There's no interviewer listed for my country. So, I guess for now there's nothing more I can do but wait.</p>

<p>Is there anybody who can confirm the idea that no interview for SCEA Harvard will result in automatic deferral/rejection?</p>

<p>If that were true, wouldn't that be extremely unfair to people in areas with no interviewers available within a reasonable distance?</p>

<p>ucrotcpaplc: where have you heard this? As far as I know, this is a ridiculous idea- the Harvard admissions website clearly states that if they can't set up an interview, it will not hurt your admissions chances in the slightest.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/utilities/faq/admissions/app_reqs/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/utilities/faq/admissions/app_reqs/index.html&lt;/a> - see the third question.</p>

<p>Also, next time, check the admissions office website before you ask a question on the boards. You should certainly read through this FAQ if you're applying to Harvard.</p>

<p>Maybe it hurts your chances if you could have set up an interview and didn't.</p>

<p>It cannot be correct that no interview results in deferral. At the other ivy league schools there is a statement on the website and in their materials that not being able to have an interview will have no impact on the admissions decision. It must be the same with Harvard</p>

<p>Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous. I was just pointing out what Northstarmom posted earlier with </p>

<p>"U.S. interviews mainly depend on the availability of alumni volunteers. If an interview isn't possible during the short EA application review period, my understanding is that applicants are deferred"</p>

<p>Admiral, I've seen that page already, but it still concerns me when somebody who has named himself/herself as a alumni interviewer makes a statement like that.</p>

<p>But yes, I don't think it's possible either. Just expressing my concern...</p>

<p>Wow, yeah, I hadn't seen that.</p>

<p>Northstarmom, can you provide evidence that that's true?</p>