<p>Hello, I'm sorry to post especially directed to you personally but I think I've seen on another post that you don't normally reply to PMs(since you get so many) and I thought I could use help from you since you're a Harvard alumn and also you interview students.</p>
<p>I'm an international applicant applying from Asia, and I recieved an e-mail notifying me about an interview appointment. I was thrilled, but taken aback since what I gathered from the Harvard website and my counselor--an interview is not offered in my country. My upperclassmen had previously applied to Harvard, but none of them had an interview(and none of them got admitted, or even waitlisted. Is this a good sign? I'm nervous...)</p>
<p>I wanted to ask you if you could mention some insightful questions that your
previous interviewed applicants had asked you. I know that I shouldn't be expecting anything from Harvard EA since getting in is just lucky(even for olympic medalists and others) but I came to really love the school and I'd like to make the best impression possible on the interview, regardless of how much the interview actually counts.</p>
<p>The interviewer is a lawyer in my country's biggest and best law firm, and he asked me to meet him at his own office. I think he is one of the very few people in my country who graduated Harvard College in 1989, and he also graduated Harvard Law School in 1992.
Would it be appropriate if I asked him about is job, his career path after graduating Harvard? Would I seem arrogant and impolite if I asked for a business card after the interview? (I've read in a "admission help" book to ask for a business card but there are many unhelpful informations on those books and I'm wondering if I'd look rude)</p>
<p>Thank you for reading this post, and please help me out, anyone :)
I'm so excited!</p>
<p>I don't think Northstarmom will return your request....
"I wanted to ask you if you could mention some insightful questions that your previous interviewed applicants had asked you." </p>
<p>Do you have your own opinion? You know the purpose of the interview is to show who you really are. They have enough material about your academics and ECs, but this is your chance to show them that you're a real person and not just some numbers. So if you want to make a good impression, then don't pretend to be someone your not. I would assume that most Harvard interviewers can tell right away whether an applicant really is who he pretends to be. "Insightful questions" should come from you and not from NSM. Not just because it would be unethical but also becaus it would not reflect your true personality.</p>
<p>""I wanted to ask you if you could mention some insightful questions that your previous interviewed applicants had asked you." </p>
<p>They asked questions that they had created themselves by reading the website out of genuine interest, and having thoughtful reasons for applying. They didn't ask questions that they gathered from others. Indeed, people whose interview preparation is asking others for their questions don't seem like Harvard material.</p>
<p>You also can check CC's archives and find plenty of back posts with excellent info about how to prep for interviews. This includes some detailed posts by me.</p>
<p>The questions that you've posted on this board as recently as Nov. 2 demonstrate a lack of doing the kind of basic research that one can do by reading a college's web site or using Google:</p>
<p>"How many sororities do you have? Are they active? If you have detailed information, could you elaborate on the types of these sororities and possibly give some names?</p>
<p>How hard is it to get into club activities, or join magazines? I want to write
for the Harvard Lampoon, is it hard to join?</p>
<p>Is it true that most Harvard students have 1500+ SATs
(the average SAT score for Harvard is incredibly high, and including athletes and other special admitted people, the majority must have like 1600s to make that average!)</p>
<p>How's the undergrad housing? Does it have good facilities, a nice bathroom, and good airconditioning?</p>
<p>Are there many internship opportunities (even for internationals?) Are there many people who plan to work in the Communications field at Harvard?</p>
<p>How's the general atmosphere in campus? Are there a lot of people outside doing whatever, or do most students stay in the library?"</p>
<p>I feel so embarrassed after reading your comment Northstarmom. Thank you for kindly posting for me when I asked such a stupid question. I really should try to find more information by myself by searching the internet rather than try asking on CC. I really appreciate your advice. And, I'm sorry if I sounded like a lazy student who tried to copy questions from other applicants' interviews. I already had in mind many questions and things to say, but I just wanted to get an idea what others asked and said. This is my first interview, and I'm not really familiar with the process so I wanted to get an idea.</p>
<p>pgcokie,
The sincerity and alacrity of your apology after my post indicates that yes, you do have what it takes to go to a top college. One character trait that is important is the ability to learn from experience.</p>
<p>I do think that you'll find very comprehensive explanations about what to expect on interviews by checking my old posts including many on this forum. If you still need more information after checking those posts, then post here again.</p>
<p>I also have the feeling that after you proceed in examining Harvard's web site and Harvard info via Google -- you'll be well prepared with plenty of insightful things to say and ask during your interview. I presume, you've followed the advice in the featured "stalker" thread here and have Googled your interviewer. </p>
<p>Best of luck! Do post with an update after your interview.</p>
<p>Northstarmom, this is kinda dumb, but i've been wondering...do you live near syracuse, ny? cuz i know a school who's team name is the northstars.</p>
<p>Thank you for the encouraging post Northstarmom, I'll make sure I post my update after the interview. I did google him and searched him in Korean Search Engines, but couldn't fine anything so I contacted my cousin who worked in the same firm and found out what he does in the firm and that he's a very nice, extremely intelligent, and relaxed person. I'm recently rereading, and newly reading info by perusing the Harvard Website, and I can't believe how many useful information that I didn't catch before on. I'm also googling and searching on CC about all the "Harvard Life" aspects that I wanted to know, and I'm also tracking your posts. I never knew CC could be this useful :D Thank you so much again for the advice and for posting so many good information, and I guess I'll have to try my best.</p>
<p>ya just need to be the real you. I dont think it works if you care about the interviewer's personality so much. you are the interviewee, you just need to show yourself. and " nervous" would not make the process easier. Be relaxed, you are talking to a guy who also had an interview when he went to harvard...there's no need to worry much...
i also had my yale interview as the first one in my life. And i think it was great, i love talking to the interviewer and i was not at all nervous...because I was talking to/ and sharing my experience with a HUMANITARIAN PERSON;)
Good Luck!</p>
<p>After the Interview--update:
The interview was very nice! There was no reason for me to get nervous...
My interviewer made an extremely comfortable atmosphere and everything went pretty naturally. I didn't try to force a point, or do anything--we just talked, about whatever topic that came up! The interview ended well too, and it was a pleasant experience. I hope I made a good impression. He said he really enjoyed the interview and said let's hope for the best. He also said it was fun talking to me, I just hope that means well, and I'm just thankful that I ever got a chance to have an interview with such an accomplished, and also nice person. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed, but I'm trying to work on my Regular apps now. Harvard is a reach for everyone.</p>
<p>hey pgcokie!!! you're from korea? i applied from korea last year, too, though im a U.S. citizen so i counted as a domestic student. getting an interview is definitely a good sign. my guidance counselor told me last year that they only give interviews to applicants in korea if they're interested in admitting them. they can't give interviews to everyone because SOOOO many koreans apply.. haha.</p>
<p>good luck :) im glad it went well for you. im the first student from my school to be at harvard for a long time, so i understand the odds that you're coming from and hope that you, too, will be admitted.</p>