Generally its a very good sign being asked to provide more info.
Harvard mounts the most extensive alumni interview process of any undergraduate institution during admissions, and it might be more useful to think of it as a time-tested way for Harvard to engage its alumni rather than a critical way for Harvard to make decisions about candidates.
Few candidates who otherwise would be admitted because of all the other elements of their application are then rejected because of a “bad” interview, and few candidates who would be rejected based on all the other elements of their applications are, instead, admitted because of a “good” interview. Both happen, but not often and not typically. Typically, all other things being equal, the interview is a neutral, as it it should be when alumni of every personality and interviewing skills spend a scant 30 to 90 minutes with candidates most of whom are socially pleasant and academically accomplished young adults. Interviews are typically much less important than what candidate’s recommendations say. If something new comes out of an alumni interview that interests the first reader or subcommittee, that reader might look further into something that the application might have missed…but that reader will probably do a bit of due diligence rather than relying solely on the interview.
Speaking of due diligence, a request for additional information can certainly be a positive and represent a plan to assemble more facts to strengthen a case for a full committee vote. On the other hand, it could also be that there is something puzzling about the application or because the reader wants to confirm the reader’s reasons for not supporting the candidate. Either can happen, and every possibility in between these two extremes can also be the case. There is simply no way to know from the act of the request itself what it portends. It could really mean anything.
All this is very unsatisfying, I know.
My DS got an alumni interview the other day. Lasted about 40 minutes he said. Not sure if that’s too short of an interview but he thought it was good. I guess now he waits??
It’s not.
Yup
Has anyone from the state of Michigan been interviewed yet? If so please let me know when you submitted your application and when you were asked to interview, thank you.
MA—no interview yet
Any interviews held in the South Asian region as yet?
Atlanta , GA - No interview yet…
Which state are you in or regional area?
Which area state or region are you in?
Los Angeles area.
Perhaps there are less alumni available for interviews due to the
pandemic…
My daughter’s interview was on zoom. Ontario, Canada. But this interviewer just seemed very on top of things.
I am impressed that elite schools are able to find alums willing to devote often over an hour each to interview so many applicants. How many interviews a year does each interviewer conduct, I wonder?
With Zoom, there are likely to be more interviewer. Plus, they aren’t as restricted Geographically. Last year my daughter was RD, didn’t submit until 12/30 and had her interview either late Feb or Early March. Took a while, but ultimately was successful.
Obviously, REA timing is much more compressed.
From Harvard interviewer handbook 2011 -2012
4- Interviewing Applicants
The interview is perhaps our most important recruiting tool. In recent years, the Admissions Committee has been able to admit only about one of every fourteen applicants to the College, and so alumni/ae interviewers may be the only personal contact applicants have with the Harward adinissions process.
That is not true…
I am familiar with that handbook, and too many years of handbooks preceding it and following it.
Note the handbook passage you quote references recruiting. Very few candidates outside of athletics are recruited for any reason. Recruiting “sparse country” candidates is a subset of alumni interviews where the interview is, indeed, a recruiting tool to reach those who do not traditionally consider applying.
Also, just a bit of common sense: a handbook directed at alumni volunteers is not going to say, “your input is seldom the deciding factor.” I stand by what I noted that the alumni interview is unlikely to be the tipping or major element in admissions decisions. Sometimes? Yes. Most times? No. Many of the young people who are admitted have great interviews since being personable with adults is a common trait. But, a far, far larger number have great interviews and are rejected, often to the disappointment of new, eager alumni interviewers.
I also stand by another statement, which is if you think about the extensive alumni interviewer structure Harvard still maintains as more an alumni relationship maintenance effort than an essential admissions decision tool, you might have a better insight into what is really going on. Over the years, many peer institutions have dramatically curtailed interviewing or even abandoned it altogether, and it is not because their admission processes are less selective, complete, or sophisticated as Harvard’s.
But, none of this information is actionable, so feel free to interpret things how you wish. My advice to applicants is not to stress about the interview.
With @skieurope @tamenund being Harvard’s interviewers I think we have some great info in this thread. Though admission file I have seen have some places that talk about interview report I would agree with @tamenund they serve more as confirmation than determination. One big piece of information missing in any admission file that students can see is the recommendations from teachers and counselors which can play a decisive role in admission. Even if the interview report contradicts the LORs I doubt the 60min alum impression (being positive or negative) is going to come even close to overriding those of teachers for 6+ months.
I do not know either way. But a few years ago, as kids were posting on admission notification night, one legacy applicant said she got rejected and she thought it was her interview that went badly. Don’t know the facts, only what she posted.