<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>Really quick question. Today, I was offered a Harvard interview from someone whose family has gone to harvard for about a century, has a wing named after him there, and still donates millions to the school. Does this mean the interview is more important than normal?</p>
<p>Thanks,
Robbie</p>
<p>As a matter of principle, I hope his interview report does not carry more weight than any others. Practically, whether it carries more weight depends on whether the admissions officers are snobs.</p>
<p>Not to stoke controversy here, but how could his opinion not matter at least a bit more? I’d imagine that, if he’s someone who donates millions to Harvard, Harvard wants him to keep doing that. Therefore, if the guy submits an enthusiastic interview report, strongly recommending someone’s admission, and the admissions committee disagrees - well, couldn’t he be offended, something Harvard would probably want to avoid?</p>
<p>Perhaps I’m not giving this guy enough credit, but it seems hard to imagine that he’s treated exactly the same as other interviewers.</p>
<p>Ya…thts wat I was thinking heinochus. Not to keep pushing this, but do they give any random kid these “prestigious” interviewers. Is there anyway this could indicate that Harvard is seriously considering me = D. Lol sorry if this is a dumb question…Im just trying to boost my confidence.</p>
<p>wish you luck but, isn’ Princeton your dream school?
So how are you to have an honest Harvard interview without giving that away despite who is offering that interview?
Also, it really doesn’t matter who interviews whom, regardless of their background or money. Alumni is alumni, and they all are offered this gig upon gradation.</p>
<p>Pton absolutely is my dream school…tho the odds of getting into one of these schools is so slim that I am open to any of them = D.</p>
<p>The fact that he was chosen to interview you is almost certainly random except for the fact that he lives or works near where you live. There is probably some validity in saying that alumni like him probably have more pull than some 20-something-year-old recent graduate. I still don’t think it will really make or break your application though.</p>
<p>It’s widely said that the Harvard interview can’t make you but can break you.</p>
<p>How did you find this info out? Did you research your interviewer?</p>
<p>Of course this is random. Do you really think the admissions office folks looked for a special interviewee for this interviewer?</p>
<p>I am surprised that a large donor is allowed to interview. It would seem to create a conflict of interest. Perhaps the interviewer sees his role as extremely peripheral and does not care if his interviewee gets in or not. Otherwise, I think he should not interview at all.</p>
<p>If the interviewer is a public figure, it’s easy to Google him/her. But the assignment of interviewers by Harvard has nothing to do with the merits of the applicant. </p>
<p>There really is no conflict of interest for an alumnus/a who is a large donor to interview applicants. Where’s the conflict? Whether donating or evaluating applicants, the interviewer is working for the good of his college.</p>
<p>yes, how do you know the name of the interviewer? I never had an interviewer’s name until physically at the adm. office</p>
<p>This is the local alumni interview, which takes place near the applicant’s house, and is not the interview one can request to have at the admissions office. The applicant knows the interviewer’s name when the interviewer contacts the applicant to schedule the interview. Is there any applicant who does NOT Google the interviewer in advance?</p>
<p>I actually have another public figure for my interview. I was contacted and had to schedule the interview with his receptionist. I have to drive about 2 hours for the interview (I’ll probably miss an entire day of school). I was wondering the same thing. Will my interview effect my admissions anymore than an average alumni and is it completely random I got the interviewer I did?</p>
<p>Regardless, I’m sure it will be a fun interview :). I’m excited I finally got contacted.</p>
<p>No, your interview probably won’t have any more weight than it would have had if your interviewer had been a nobody. Yes, your interview assignment was “random” in the sense that it had nothing to do with your merits as an applicant. </p>
<p>By the way, you mean “affect,” not “effect,” and you mean “any more,” not “anymore.” I’m sorry to point this out, but you will be evaluated on, among other things, the gramar and diction you use in your application and interview.</p>
<p>I’m pretty my resume will be expected to be written in fragments and my conversation will be spoken not written.</p>
<p>I’m sure they will be judging my character not my grammar. They have my entire application to critique my grammar. Obviously, if you have an inability to communicate that will hurt your interview, but I have done a lot of public speaking including Mock Trial.</p>
<p>I’m not too worried that if I misuse affect/effect that I will be completely disregarded as a good candidate. Moreover, its a commonly misused homonym, so I doubt that would carry any weight in my interview at all.</p>
<p>Affect and effect are not homonyms.</p>
<p>Wowie, calm down, browniebaker did not mean any harm, you sound like somebody I would dislike if I were the interviewer, since you sound so defensive. Chill out</p>