Hello everyone,
Sorry to post another Harvard interview question, but I was wondering if anyone knows how important the interview is in the application process compared to Penn? I know at Penn that it carries fairly little weight in the process, and I thought that I saw somewhere that the interview is a huge factor for Harvard. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!
For the vast vast majority of applicants, the interview matters not a whit.
Why? Because the vast vast majority of applicants aren’t going to get past the first read and no interview report will alter that, however good. Also, there’s a smallish group of shoo-ins that will be admitted barring some spectacular melt down. For them, even a mediocre interview report won’t doom them – Harvard simply wants them too much.
Now for that very narrow band that’s left over – these are the ones actually under consideration. For them, an interview report might fill in some gaps with good points or point out some weaknesses or red flags – or the report may not add/detract a thing.
But the rub is this: you have no idea where you fall on that spectrum of these applicants
I agree, I’ve been waiting for an interview for Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Brown and have yet to receive an interview. I live in a smallish town in the south and after reading up I don’t think there is any true correlation with nailing your interview and getting in. Or even receiving an interview for that matter.
@T26E4 Thanks for responding! I wasn’t sure if Harvard was different in that they take the interview extremely seriously for everyone 
@Mauriciog Thanks! Like I said, I thought I heard somewhere that the interview is really important to Harvard, so I thought I would try to alleviate/raise my stress
I’ve heard it’s about 10% of the decision, although I’m not sure where that figure came from/how accurate it is. It does seem reasonable though!
This is how urban legends get started. Unless you have a written source, or you personally were told something by an employee of the admissions office (and not an alumni interviewer), take the info with a grain of salt.
That said, for the applicants’ purposes, the answer really does not matter; it is what it is.
@skieurope Thanks for responding! I just wanted to hopefully alleviate some of my concerns about the interview
You need to have the attitude that you are interviewing them. Maybe you don’t really want to go to Harvard
@compmom I am confused about what you mean o_O
I just meant that an interview should be two way. You are also interviewing them to see if it is a good fit. So come to the interview with that attitude. A side effect is less nervousness.
@compmom that is great advice! Thanks!!
So glad it helped. I mean it too!
@compmom I understand!