My Interview Experience...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I have to say it went really well!</p>

<p>The interviewer had an engineering degree from MIT (undergraduate) and an MBA from Harvard. He's around 50 yrs old and is Colombian. The intervew lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes. </p>

<p>He first looked over my resume for two minutes and didn't ask me any questions. From that on, the whole time, he was like "so do you have any questions for me?"</p>

<p>Thank God I prepared many great questions. He seemed very excited every time I asked a question. We talked from Isaac Newton to Einstein to Cardiovascular devices to learning Chinese characters to playing golf to his trip to China to Calcium regeneration in bones to world's GDP to E=MC^2 to PV=NRT to centripetal forces to his gold/chemistry experiment at Harvard to life philosphy to the art of science to his daughter's professors at Harvard. And much more...Also, I told him I want to major in Engineering and did some research with heart devices during the summers. Then he proposed two innovations for me to research in college and wanted me to make a fortune out of those two ideas. </p>

<p>I was surprised that he didn't ask me any of those common questions like what are your favorite activities, what do you do for fun, why do you want to come to Harvard....etc. The only question he asked me was to explain why science is so beautiful. I don't know if I explained it right or not, but he seemed very pleased with my response and even recommended me a book to read by a MIT scientist on the art of science. I think I'm really lucky that he majored in Physics, and I will be majoring in Engineering, which brought us together because we had a lot in common to talk about. </p>

<p>So basically, it was a great conversation that encompassed a wide range of topics. He said he enjoyed the conversation very much with me, and I had excellent questions. He said his overall impression of me was an extremely inquisitive and very charming lady. </p>

<p>At last, he said he can't gurantee my odds of getting in, but he will write a very good report and recommend me for Harvard Engineering because of my innovative thinking. He also mentioned that he wants to see me at the Harvard Student Reception in December and something about an invitation. (I didn't know what he meant by that, but I didn't want to be stupid to ask). </p>

<p>Interviews are unpredictable and are actually fun and interesting...</p>

<p>So guys, relax!</p>

2

<p>What "great" questions did you have for him? Only specific to engineering? Or, were some broad-based?</p>

3

<p>I kept them broad based like how the certain experiences at Harvard affected his life philosphy or career? I didn't really go into engineering questions because I knew beforehand that he got his MBA at Harvard, so I didn't think he would know too much about engineering at Harvard.</p>

<p>Try to do research beforehand and word questions that are broad in which the interviewer can use his or her examples to answer the questions. That instigates more conversation.</p>

4

<p>Why science is beautiful</p>

<p>That is such a great question
Some people are just brilliant</p>

5

<p>Why do u keep misspelling philosophy? And i was wondering how REAL that "interview" of yours was...The time seems exorbitant, so it is rather fishy.</p>

6

<p>debate_addict: Some brilliant people cannot spell worth a flip. Pointing out someone's mistakes is not exactly a friendly (or, since you seem to enjoy using big words, congenial) thing to do.</p>

7

<p>debate_addict:
You become green-eyed or maybe blearily, red-eyed too easily...
Well, I can't blame you. It's part of human nature.
Some people just shows it better than others.</p>

8

<p>Actually, I had an interview go a lot like this -- Same "science is beautiful" question and everything -- where do you live, Forest? He meets the age and demographics listed in your post. Actually, I wouldn't say he's 50 years old. Seemed a little younger to me. </p>

<p>I'm more interested in the humanities, though, so we talked a lot more about life philosophy, modern economic schools of thought, some biopower from Foucault, etc. Stuff I ususally talk about with friends, so it was all good.</p>

<p>He recommended me TWO books! Looks like I one-upped you there.</p>

<p>But as you said, overall friendly fellow. He seemed impressed with my credentials and towards the end of the interview assured me of my admission prospects. </p>

<p>I want to go back!</p>

9

<p>I live in Florida. How about you?</p>

10

<p>how did you set up these interviews- did you apply first or contact the college?</p>