<p>Ok, so I just got a call from my Havard interviewer. I googled him and found out a bit about him. I figure this is good so I know where we might stand on some common ground and try to bring those topics up. </p>
<p>Should I mention that I googled him and then ask about stuff I found out while googling? (for example, he owns his own company so I could ask about that) Or should I avoid mentioning that at fear of sounding really creepy?</p>
<p>Help!! I'm so bad at telling what is stalkerish and what is not.</p>
<p>You shouldn't mention that you googled him. But try to tend to his interests. For example, if he owns a publishing company, subtlely mention how you love books/writing books/etc.</p>
<p>However, he was a computer science major and seems like a total coding geek. As far as I could tell, we didn't have very much in common... he writes... I write. But he writes technology stuff. He likes skiing. I hate skiing? </p>
<p>Just be yourself and don't worry too much about the interviewer. I think if he was written up in Forbes or something it would be OK to mention something from the article, but I'd avoid anything that required detailed online research lest you freak him out. Do the usual interview prep stuff by thinking about answers to common questions and having an intelligent question or two of your own.</p>
<p>You're not dating the guy! Just be yourself, talk about your interests and strengths, and ask him about his experiences at Harvard and after. Do not tell him you Googled him. That would creep me out to no end.</p>
<p>I did read somewhere to google your interviewer, so it wasn't totally my own creepiness. Thanks for the advice, guys! Cross your fingers for me!!!</p>
<p>Northstarmom - what are things to avoid in an interview?</p>
<p>I'm worried about bragging too much. For example, my article got onto the front page of a local paper, and I'm obviously going to talk about my love for journalism, but it is appropiate to say stuff like, "I'm editor in chief and I accomplished X Y and Z"?</p>
<p>Lingbo - Yes. Bring a copy of your article and work your interests and accomplishments into the conversation.</p>
<p>Do not tell him you googled him. And do not say anything more about him on this or any other threads. Not to make you (or anyone paranoid) ... but there is always the possibility that he's reading CC and could identify himself!</p>
<p>True story: Back in the old days of CC when some people posted their full names and cities in their profiles, I saw a person posting here who was from my city. </p>
<p>The student ended up being randomly assigned to me to interview for Harvard. I didn't mention that I'd seen the student's posts here, which were, BTW, perfectly appropriate posts.</p>
<p>Later (after my report went in), I saw posts by the student in which the student was cursing on the board and doing things like calling the moderators obscene names. This was in March of that same year. I have no idea why the student was making those kind of posts, but I have noticed that sometimes students do things like that here after they've gotten a rejection. (This was before Harvard rejections came out.)</p>
<p>No, I didn't tell Harvard what I saw. The student eventually was rejected from Harvard, but I don't know why.</p>
<p>Anyway, when I interview students, I assume that if the student has any kind of good sense, they will have Googled me. It's just common sense now to use Google that way. I certainly do Google students whom I interview. Why not? It's a free Internet.</p>
<p>As for someone's question about what to talk about in one's interview: It's your chance to show Harvard why they should accept you over the many other highly qualified students who apply. It's not a modesty test.</p>
<p>Are there any topics that you should not talk about, though? For instance, religion or politics? Or should you just reveal yourself compeletely? Also, just out of curiosity, could you describe an interviewee that would really impress you, and who you would really support? It just seems that there's this whole mystery surrounding Harvard interviews, and a "demystification" would really make me more comfortable. Thanks in advance</p>
<p>The idea is to show yourself and your interests, including religon/politics if those are your passions. Harvard wants all kinds of diversity including political and religious.</p>
<p>Of course, if your passion is looking at pornography or belonging to the KKK, that's not the type of thing that will impress interviewers.</p>
<p>Otherwise, go to the interview with the viewpoint that you will reveal yourself and your interests. If those things keep you out of Harvard, tough luck for Harvard (though, truth is that your interests and personality are unlikely to keep you out. What's likely to keep you out are the 10 other outstanding students competing for the same space).</p>
<p>When I went to my H interview, my interest at the time was the black power movement. I am black, grew up in a conservative, overwhelmingly white area, and had a white interviewer. I talked about my interests and figured if they kept me out of Harvard, I didn't need to be there. I got in.</p>
<p>I've continued the same pattern when applying for other things. Sometimes I get the opportunities. Sometimes I don't. I don't ever have to worry, however, that I was accepted for something because the people making the decisions thought that I was a totally different person than I am. I know that I was accepted for being myself. When I'm rejected, I figure there are many other good people who applied, and I know that I can't get everything that I may want.</p>
<p>Anyone interested in details about H interviews should look in CC's archives. There are plenty of detailed posts, including by me.</p>
<p>Oh thanks, so there are no real tabu topics. So when you interview a student are you just trying to look at his strength or are you actively searching for "weaknesses" asl well? I mean interviewers have probably seen so many outstanding applicants, that it's probably pretty hard to impress them?</p>
<p>I'm sure Northstarmom is like my interviewer, who is like MOST other interviewers.</p>
<p>My interview: I'm here to advocate for you.</p>
<p>Given, unless you make some HORRIBLE start to your interview, you'll be fine. The alumni are not trying to keep you OUT of harvard. They want you to get in. If a person gets in from your town, you're happy to. So, don't worry about it. Just be yourself and they'll try to put your best foot forward.</p>
<p>"Hi, Mr. X. Thanks for interviewing me! I love setting fire to small animals in my free time and building explosives in my basement. Won't you get me into Harvard?!! If you don't... refer back to things I like to do."</p>
<p>I figure that kind of interview would not be a winner.</p>
<p>I read archived posts and found that a brag/academic sheet is acceptable. To attach color photo or not? B&W photo? I'm not hideous looking by any means.</p>
<p>I was reading on other threads about brag sheets to put in a photo... I really have no idea. I figured it was a "jog your memory" kind of thing.</p>
<p>Hi guys... Had my Harvard interview yesterday, FYI. Went swimmingly. Super relaxed - was not asked a hard question, except for one I should have known, haha. Turns out googling my interviewer wasn't a huge help, except for feeling strange whenever he mentioned a personal detail that I already knew. So I don't <em>highly</em> reccomend it, though it doesn't hurt. It turned out we had more in common than I thought.</p>