Hello.
I am an Iranian student, and I applied to Harvard through SCEA after a LOT of thinking. I was just offered an interview; However, my interviewer is an admission officer, which is strange to me. I thought that the interviewers are generally chosen from the alumni? My current theory is that this matter has something to do with my interview being conducted via Skype.
Also, I saw a thread in this sub-forum that said that being offered an interview is a good sign for int’ls applying from under-represented countries. Can any int’l confirm this?
Given the recent history between the US and Iran, I imagine very few Harvard alumni actually live in Iran, so the Admissions Director is doing their due diligence and offering you a Skype interview. I wouldn’t take it as an overly positive sign, but rather a sign that there isn’t an alumni in your area to interview you.
@gibby Thank you for your helpful response, I think that I understand it better now.
Just to clarify:
I understand that there are no local interviews available. I am more concerned about why they didn’t have an alumnus/ alumna do it through Skype. Maybe they don’t even have enough Iranian alumni that are residing in the US? That seems implausible.
By “a good sign”, I meant the interview offer itself, not the fact that is going to be conducted by an adcom. Here is the thread i was referring to:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1620087-harvard-interview-offered-only-to-good-international-applicants.html
^^ If you look at the OP’s first post in that thread, they are specifically talking about India, where there are hundreds, if not a thousand, applicants applying to Harvard every year and not enough alumni to interview all of them. I don’t think that’s the case with Iran, where there might be about a dozen students applying every year and probably no Harvard alumni living in your country. So, it’s just more expeditious for the Admissions Director to conduct Skype interviews. FWIW: It’s not uncommon for students living in the Boston area to have in-person interviews with Harvard Admissions Directors.
@gibby thanks again.
I assume that an interview with an adcom will probably be given more weight than one with an alumni, perhaps inadvertently? I am slightly stressed about meeting somebody who undoubtedly has a say in my admission decision, though this can also be a great opportunity.
In any case, Thanks a lot Gibby, you have put some of my fears to rest.
FWIW: some of the posters on that thread were from less represented countries like Germany and <THIS WAS INCORRECT, THANKS TO GIBBY FOR CORRECTION.
FWIW: http://www.hio.harvard.edu/statistics. For the pull-down menus select STUDENT’S, HARVARD COLLEGE (the undergraduate school) and the COUNTRY.
Germany actually has more students studying at Harvard College (31) than India (20) or Iran (2).
Thanks @gibby . and I apologize for making false assumptions.
A new Iranian? Good for us! there was only 1 there last year! I am hoping that they are not satisfied with the number of their Iranian students though! 
@gibby They also said that there will be two adcoms interviewing me. Is that normal too?
Both my kids had their alumni interview at the Harvard Club in New York City and were interviewed by two alumni at the same time. So, yes it may be somewhat normal, as each interviewer can then compare notes after the interview has finished.
@gibby Thanks, this is a relief.
When did you receive the interview email?
The day before yesterday
I had two alumni interviewers as well. Good cop and bad cop. 
Best of luck.
@gibby, @NavalTradition: Loved the way you handled this thread. Great info, great touch.
I agree. Big thanks to everybody
@Soheils when you submitted your application?
Did you email them to request interview?
@Harvard2020s I submitted my app at the last minute, 11:59 1 November.
And no, they emailed and offered me an interview.
Why?
BTW, where are you from?
@Harvard2020s I wouldn’t worry if I were you. you say that you are from a not listed country. For such countries, lack of interview is simply due to situations beyond your control. Harvard site clearly says that you won’t be penalized for lacking an interview.
@Soheils wow why did you wait until the last min??