The question is pretty simple actually. Harvard doesn’t provide any interviews/interviewers in my country (Turkey), and they are telling me that I will not be affected by this unfortunate problem. But I have heard that people sometimes actually get a boost in their application when they have good interviews.
Meanwhile, I was planning on a trip to some Europe countries which do provide Interviews.
Do you think I should schedule an interview in a foreign country, perhaps in the middle of my trip? Would this show great ambition? Or would it just tell them that I came in a random country with some tourist clothes, and maybe affect me in a bad way or not affect me at all? Is it worth the shot?
In my opinion, a lack of interview won’t hurt you, but a great interview could help you. So I would say if you can afford to go to a country where interviews are offered and you’re already planning on being there anyway you should definitely try to get an interview there. I don’t see how this would make you look bad! The only thing is that based off of what I’ve heard, the interviewer is the one contacting you to schedule the interview. So if you are only planning on being in town for a very specific two weeks it’s not like you can automatically get an interview, since these interviewers are volunteers taking time out of their lives.
I think your best bet would be to call the admissions office, explain your situation, and see if anyone is available to interview you during your vacation. If not, it’s not the end of the world. Good luck!
Since you already have planned the travel, you can indicate that you will be in country A, B and C on the following dates and could meet w/an alumni interviewer if your application advanced far enough. Make sure you don’t appear presumptuous.
Once they read your file, they’ll know whether or not this is worth your or their time.
I can’t speak for Harvard’s policies in particular, but you may not even be granted an interview based upon your country of residence; the interviewers have only so much time. An interview or lack thereof has a totally neutral effect on your application; there are more productive uses of your time.
@T26E4 I have not yet planned my trip in detail, it’s just a vague idea in this very moment. @GMTplus7 My family does not have that kind of money. There are some really cheap opportunities ranging from 1 Euros a bus trip to 7 Euros a night stay at motels. It would be more of a curiosity adventure trip rather than an expensive one.
I see your points though. So, my assumption that interviews could really boost up my chances in getting admitted isn’t that much of a big deal?
I mean, if it’s convenient for you to do so, an outstanding interview can definitely help you. A less than stellar interview could hurt you, and a decent interview won’t really do anything. Not having an interview at all, also will not hurt you…
It’s really up to you to decide. If you feel like there’s something about you that Harvard needs to see or hear about that they don’t already know from your application alone, then I think the interview could be a good idea. Otherwise, if you’re just doing the interview to say that you’ve done the interview, there is really no reason to spend time doing it if they haven’t asked that you do so.