<p>Hi everyone. Another anxious Harvard hopeful here :(. I'm generally curious about how interviewers correspond with admissions officers. Do they just write their interview report, file it online, and leave it at that? Do they often go beyond and actually correspond?</p>
<p>On a specific note, do they receive any indication from the adcoms at any point in the process of an applicant's chances (even in passing in an email reply?), or especially in the run-up to March 30 when decisions are released. Do our interviewers now possibly have an idea of our chances?</p>
<p>Please forgive my paranoia: my interviewer lives in our neighborhood and I see him so often at church. Our interview was the best I had, and he's been very hopeful to my family and I. When we bumped into him last week though, he didn't wish me luck for next week as much as asked me to let him know how things go on the day. On another date, his wife made a remark to my mom about how hard it is to get into Harvard nowadays, and that Yale which I was accepted to SCEA is an amazing school in itself. No doubt it is. But there's something about that comment that sounds like a soft hint not to expect much, consoling me in advance ... (also, from a fiercely spirited Harvard family, and one that was previously very gung ho about my chances). Not an explicit indication. I might be reading way too much into this. My paranoia might be acting up again. I apologize in advance, and appreciate any effort to calm this anxious Harvard hopeful's nerves! :/</p>
<p>I think you’re overthinking what your interviewer said. Interviewers (in general) are not told anything regarding their interviewees once the report is filed. In my area, we do get a list (which is usually in the regional Harvard Club newsletter sometime in the summer?) of all the students who receive and offer AND accept the offer to attend. However, this is not published well until after May. From hearsay, I do know that some regional heads alert interviewers regarding the status of the applicants–but again, this is after March 30.</p>
<p>Anyway. Congrats on Yale. I love my alma mater, and I will trash Yale whenever I get a chance (:D) but I’m not ashamed to say that Yale was my first choice as a high school senior–esp as someone musically-inclined. Alas…</p>
<p>I love my alma mater too – and will even help you with a question you have about Harvard! That’s how generous we Yalies can be.</p>
<p>I know that H and Y have very similar interview protocols. Interviewers don’t know anything once reports are filed. On the rare rare occasion, we might get a call if the officer needs clarification. (in 20+ years, no one has ever asked me for more than the reports I’ve filed). Once decisions are released, interviewers are kept in the dark for a few days – to ensure that the students hear directly from the college. Then, if any of our interviewees were admitted, we’re asked to call and congratulate and to nudge them to matriculation (yep – both Y and H still need to convince students). </p>
<p>Unlike the previous poster, privacy rules don’t allow Y to publish a full list for dissemination – even to the local alumni corps – only our local director.</p>
<p>As for his and his wife not wishing you good luck – experience tells us that no one has a good chance – therefore we’re pretty neutral in our enthusiasm b/c we know anything can happen. Don’t read into that whatsoever.</p>
<p>If you happen to get the nod from H, you’ll be in the sweet spot – both a H and Y acceptances. Some even have the triple crown: HYP accepts. </p>
<p>Thank you for the thorough and very, very re-assuring replies. It’s great to have interviewers on this forum. If I may ask a follow-up question though: Should I take my interviewer’s word for it that the interview went well?</p>
<p>After what felt like a great interview, he was very kind in saying that he was impressed, that he was confident adcoms would “consider very seriously” my application, and then sent my mother an email telling her the same, along with some very flattering comments that my proud mother loved to hear. <_< We know him as a very kind and polite man, and this could just be his standard protocol after any interview. Perhaps the interview was mediocre. Worse yet, perhaps it was a flop (for whatever reason :/), and I worry he wrote a not so flattering report, as an honest interviewer should in such a case.</p>
<p>Sorry to ramble, but I’m curious as to how much one should take an interviewer’s positive remarks. In this case, strongly worded encouragements at the end of the interview, and a very kind email to my mom. Undoubtedly a strong recommendation, possibly an average one, or even possibly a poor one? :[ These posts may be irritating, but I cannot stress enough how re-assuring these replies have been. Thank you again!</p>
<p>Don’t infer too much into a strong interview. It’s the thinnest slice of your file. Seriously, you should stay off of CC for a while. Why are you torturing yourself? Egads, you have a Yale SCEA in your back pocket and now you’re nervously twiddling your thumbs for the entire world to see. </p>
<p>Go enjoy life a little. relax. Have a great remainder of your senior year. What happens will happen. YOur keyboard punches on CC won’t do a single thing.</p>
<p>thinkingaloud: your interviewer has no idea of your application status; he only knows what he wrote; his regional chair doesn’t know your status either. Having had a great interview is terrific - but it’s only one piece of the application. You must be a strong candidate to have been accepted to Yale EA, so rejoice in your good fortune! If you get into Harvard, you get to choose between two great schools. If you don’t, you get to go to a great school. With everything else going on in the world, you are sitting right on top - no matter what happens on March 30th. Get down on your knees, give thanks to the gods, and stop worrying this instant.</p>
If I may ask a follow-up question though: Should I take my interviewer’s word for it that the interview went well?</p>