<p>So, yeah, how cool (or uncool) would that be?</p>
<p>I'd like to interview with Byerly. He seems to be more open and relaxed. I am pretty sure I'd freeze if interviewed by NSM.</p>
<p>lol, me too. The "mom" in Northstarmom is what gets me. I'd definitely freeze if I was getting interviewed by a "mom" figure...</p>
<p>But if she's your interviewer, I advise you not to arrive either early or late ... but ON TIME. (And no jeans!)</p>
<p>haha, def Byerly, Northstarmom is cool and all, but she seems more frigid and aloof.</p>
<p>I bet she'd be asking hundreds of question on ECs only :D</p>
<p>Lol, if my interviewer does that then I'll be screwed...</p>
<p>But I don't think she'd do that; I get the impression that the interviews are geared towards more general conversation...but then again that's just me...</p>
<p>Did I ever tell you all the true story that I did interview someone whom I'd originally met here on CC? To my knowledge, the student never realized I was NSM. The student had put so much info on CC including their real name (which in the old days, one could do in the profile), that I immediately recognized them.</p>
<p>I'm sure you're wondering whether the student was accepted. The answer is "no," which is the case with 90% of the Harvard applicants who are interviewed -- by anyone.</p>
<p>I an actually people oriented. I can do good interviews, unless I'm interviewing for Oxford...</p>
<p>and that was relevant because?</p>
<p>haha. I had the exact same thought spyder. ;)</p>
<p>NSM- How important do you think interviews are in the application
process?</p>
<p>NSM-</p>
<p>Why didn't you ever tell us that story??? That's pretty much the coolest thing that I've heard on the CC boards. Wow wow, may be you'll be my interviewer...</p>
<p>What state are you in?</p>
<p>And while we're at it, what state are you in Byerly?</p>
<p>Like almost any other factor, interviews can make the difference. Harvard spends a great deal of time, energy and money on the interviewing process. There are few schools that aspire - as Harvard does - to interview every candidate. They do it because other factors have become less reliable indicators of what kind of person the candidate may be. </p>
<p>1000/1 ratio of counselors to advisees in many high schools means many counselor reports are next to useless; many schools refuse to rank their graduates, and high school gpa inflation is far worse than anything seen at the college level; SAT scores have been flattened to the point where the differences are a fraction of what they used to be; the coming of the "admissions consultant" class onto the scene means that the essay - and even the EC list - can be a work of art... but you sometimes wonder who the artist is.</p>
<p>I agree with that.</p>
<p>Now, I have another question. What if your interviewer is a confirmed Republican, and your political views on certain issues (i.e. foreign policy) differ significantly from the Republican view. And I don't mean just "differ", I mean the type of difference where Republicans would probably use your viewpoint as the antithesis of everything they stand for. </p>
<p>How would I handle a question say on the war in Iraq, or the war on terror? My plan for handling it is to just B.S. a pretty generic and vague response that couldn't possibly be offensive. However, I'm worried that that might make me come off as possibly uninterested/uninformed about critical current events.</p>
<p>Often the question is only intended to get you talking, so the interviewer can see how you handle yourself. Frankly, the substance of the answer can be less important the style of your response.</p>
<p>My interviewer was very liberal, and he assumed that I was too. In actuality, I consider myself to be fairly moderate politically, as I am split down the middle on the major issues. </p>
<p>At one point my interviewer shifted the topic to politics, and at one point he asked me, "With all this conservative court-packing Bush is gunning to do, are you worried for your generation of women that Roe v. Wade will be overturned?" Instead of trying to fake an answer I thought he wanted, I just said "No, no I am not." MORAL OF THE STORY--Relax, don't lie, don't try to gauge what answer your interviewer wants.</p>
<p>Word to the wise #2--Don't assume your interview is going to be a walk in the park. Every interviewer's style is different. My interviewer's style was to challenge me. When I told him I was enjoying my AP English class's unit on short stories, he asked me if I could think of some ways that the short story is a more effective construction than the novel.</p>
<p>I guess he must not have hated me, since I got in early action last year. But I would urge you all to be honest in your interviews, and to resist feeling worried by questions or tripped up by a weird question. You have time. Try to enjoy the interview.</p>
<p>Ah, now back to cramming for my delightful midterm tomorrow at this school which you all so deeply wish to attend. I hope you all like studying. And reading. And note-taking.</p>
<p>"Wow, I have another question. What if your interviewer is a confirmed Republican, and your political views on certain issues (i.e. foreign policy) differ significantly from the Republican view. "</p>
<p>As long as you articulate your views with facts, not vacuous, factless emotional appeals, your views should not hurt you.</p>
<p>The interviewer is not looking for clones of themselves, but students who can grow from and contribute to Harvard's environment. Interviewers also know that students politics can radically change once they are in college and exposed to divergent views.</p>
<p>A student whom I interviewed and gave a strong recommendation to had political views and a background that differed greatly from mine. The student also got in.</p>
<p>"Frankly, the substance of the answer can be less important the style of your response."</p>
<p>I don't quite understand what you mean by that. Isn't substance important i.e. to determine how well you analyze issues?</p>
<p>"Relax, don't lie, don't try to gauge what answer your interviewer wants."</p>
<p>I wasn't planning on lying, but just sort-of avoiding the question. My problem is that if I get going on current international events, I'll just keep going. I'm afraid that I'll lose control and give the guy a massive lecture on the topic. </p>
<p>Also, when I say "Republican"; I mean REPUBLICAN i.e. this is a guy that ran congressional campaigns, and had photo ops with Bush back when he was governor and nobody knew him. What I'm trying to say is that this guy is hardcore - politics is literaly his life/job.</p>
<p>Oh, didn't see your response before I posted NSM. </p>
<p>"As long as you articulate your views with facts, not vacuous, factless emotional appeals, your views should not hurt you."</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm big on facts. Facts all the way! Not so big on emotion, but I do like to inject a little dry humor; so hopefully my views won't be a problem...however:</p>
<p>After what I told you about his background, does what you said still hold true, or might he be the exception to the rule?</p>