<p>I visited Harvard in early November of 2004. I arranged to have an interview at the admissions office, and I did -- about a half hour long, same types of questions as any other interview. However, the first thing my interviewer said was that this interview would not act as my admissions interview, and that when I went home, I would have to interview again with an alumni.</p>
<p>So I went home, and after a few weeks, I got an e-mail from my interviewer. Had a nice hour-long chat at his home.</p>
<p>I'd just like to know if anyone else had a similar experience. Does anyone know why Harvard has this policy?</p>
<p>because not everyone can get interviews. especially if its on campus and they may have to fly out to boston...</p>
<p>I had an on campus and an alumni one as well. He didn't tell me oncampus that it wouldn't "count", per se, but that I'd probably have another one. He had his little sheet out and everything, so I'm sure his report went into my app.</p>
<p>I know that not everyone can get an on-campus interview; my question is: if it is possible to get on-campus, why not just let it be your interview?</p>
<p>The whole point of an alumni interview is for adcom to get a NON-adcom view of the applicant. In my experience, the on-campus interview is more relaxed, giving the applicant to ask his own questions about the school. Think of on-campus as "Getting to know Harvard," and alumni as "Harvard getting to know the applicant."</p>
<p>I concur with sunglasses. I had both interviews but I think that both were to get a picture of who you were. The on campus interviewers are experience in interviewing and can probably get a lot of your character from how you interact with them. I did not have a 1/2 hour interview but rather an hour long interview on campus.</p>