<p>So, I have a question for a friend who is currently applying SCEA to Harvard. She's extremely well-qualifiedcoming first internationally in a competition I am not at liberty to disclose, but one which is quite well-known, and just variously controlling every extracurricular component of my high schooland I think that she has a reasonable-to-likely shot at being admitted.</p>
<p>This past week, she got notified that she'd been selected for a second interview. I figured this was a good thing (based solely on the idea that they're starting to evaluate applications, and an additional interview this late is probably a sign she's still in the running or on the verge), but honestly haven't heard about this kind of thing before.</p>
<p>A cursory Harvard forum search indicates that there is a strong correlation with these second interviews and applicants who are admittedactually, I couldn't find anyone saying that they were rejected after a second interviewand so I'm wondering if this is more substantial than I initially thought. I don't want to get her hopes up but I'm curious anyway.</p>
<p>What have everyone's experiences been with this mystical phenomenon?</p>
<p>It’s probably just a weird anomaly that most of the search results which mention second interviews are in reference to people who got in, then. Thanks for the info! :)</p>
<p>Apart from the last two, every one of Northstarmom’s second-interview reasons is positive for the student – someone is backing his or her candidacy strongly. A little negative, too, in the sense that whatever that positive backing is, it hasn’t carried the day yet. But in a context where overall 3 out of 50 applicants get accepted, being on the bubble is way better than average.</p>
<p>^ bump the last sentence. Not to add any more pressure, but the second interview while not dispositive, will be quite influential. If they are going to have an alumnus/a take the time to conduct it, and also to have you run the gauntlet again, means that the information will have a significant effect upon the application.</p>
<p>Just be your charming, interesting, inquisitive self. Don’t come across as pompous or indifferent. If you are thinking of a gap year (which I highly recommend regardless) you might mention to the interviewer that if Harvard so desires you would be very agreeable to getting accepted and taking a gap year (the Z list) which provides an additional way for the Ad Com to take you…) However, it will almost guarantee that if they are going to take you that you will be offered the Z list so don’t say it if you don’t mean it.</p>
<p>etondad, that’s exactly what I thought—and what I told my friend. From what she said, it sounds like her second interview also went really well. We’ll have to see what happens come December 15!</p>
<p>I got a second alumni interview, too! And I also have national and international honors in several extracurriculars.
My second interview was in the skyscraper office of a high profile lawyer (my interviewer)–a VERY different setting from my first interview which was the classic laid back kind in a local Starbuck’s. Maybe they wanted to see how candidates handle different settings/levels of formality? Just a thought.</p>
<p>I also had a second interview, both alumni but the second was the head of interviewing in my region. They were both at a Starbucks but my second interviewer came to the local Starbucks in my city while the first asked me to drive out some place an hour away. Right now, I have only a shaky grasp on why I had a second interview (My second interviewer implied something about my first interviewer not being very experienced), but it went much better than the first. I can’t believe decisions come out in five days!</p>