Hello. I applied to Harvard under the Restrictive Early Action program. I had my interview yesterday at her office. She was very sweet when she welcomed me in and seemed like a very nice and regular person. We had a couple laughs, but I was feeling sick and with a headache during the interview. I’m afraid she’ll think I’m cocky or unfit for Harvard because I didn’t smile much or converse (because I felt bad and very nervous). I believe my application was strong, and I have a sister at Harvard. Should I email to request a second interview in better health so I can show who I truly am? Is this even a possibility? Will it look bad to the admissions committee? Help.
Doubt Harvard will assign another interview. Were you obviously sick? Did you mention it to the interviewer during the interview? Were there visible signs of physical distress? Here is how I would handle it as an interviewer. If an interviewee was obviously not feeling well during the interview, e.g. coughing, facial coloring off, other signs of distress, and they emailed me, thanking me for my time and expressing concern that they were not at their best because of xyz sickness and hoping to meet again when they felt better, I might take them up and schedule another time. If I thought they were hoping for a second bite of the apple with an “excuse”, it might negatively affect my view of this person. Some interviewers may be more empathetic than me, others much less so. Having a better second interview is not going to be the reason you go into the “yes” pile from the “no” pile. Getting an interviewer to question your integrity in her/his report is much more likely to hurt you.
It was mostly a headache. I mentioned I wasn’t feeling well during the interview, but it wasn’t physically apparent just because headaches usually aren’t. It just probably made me seem plain and with little personality and spark. That’s my biggest fear.
I agree with @BKSquared. Asking for second interview – which are arranged by the alumni office and NOT the Admissions office – might negatively effect your application. For example, during your time at college you might have a headache and need to take a test. Asking for a second interview might give the Admissions Office pause, wondering if you are the type of student who would take a test in college, do badly because of a headache, and then ask the professor for a redo or better grade. IMHO, I’d just let it go.
Agree with @gibby in that asking for a second interview might negatively affect your application to Harvard because it suggests that you do not deal well with stress.
Interviews will rarely make or break an application. I agree with everyone above that you NOT request a second interview for all of the reasons stated.
You could just follow up with a polite email thanking the interview for his/her time and saying how nice it was to speak with him/her You could drop a quick line in there to say that if you seemed somewhat out of it and/or if the interviewer sensed a lack of enthusiasm on your part, it was because you were feeling a bit unwell at the time, but how genuinely excited you are about the school and everything it offers.
^ I agree with Lovethebard. The emphasis should be on the thank you and your overall enthusiasm with only a quick mention of your being under the weather.
Agree with the above but want to add that you don’t need to stress too much about this.