<p>" 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>I suggest that you find a way of saying your views without evasiveness or lecturing. One thing that Harvard asks interviewers to consider is whether they'd have liked the applicant as their roommate. Most alums would not want a roomie who lectured or was evasive.</p>
<p>An important part of the college experience that leads to a broader perspective is being able to discuss one's views with others in a way that is respectful, informed and elicits dialogue. Demonstrating the ability to do this can be an asset during one's interview.</p>
<p>Oh that's the key right there. So, I give the guy my opinions in a non-confrontational way, then ask him what he thinks. So it's really just a conversation as opposed to a question and answer session. </p>
<p>Excellent. </p>
<p>Thanks for the great advice. I think I'm set. Man, time for bed...</p>
<p>BTW, my interview is on Thursday.</p>
<p><em>Edit</em> lol mensa. I don't think that's fair, because I was <em>asking</em> to be lectured here. The reason NSM comes off as lectury is because we keep asking her to lecture us. I don't see college students complaining about profs lecturing too much...</p>
<p>That being said, I think you were saying that in jest, but I just needed an excuse to throw that out there.</p>
<p>hey, prefrosh, guess what. just<em>forget</em>me and I are friends in real life. crazy, yeah? 'tis what happens if you spend enough time on this website pre-college and become obsessive with college admissions.</p>
<p>A day or two before my daughter went for her Harvard interview, I printed off several threads from CC wherein Northstarmom was offering advice about interviewing and what she looks for in a Harvard applicant. I gave the printouts to my daughter and said "Here, read these." My daughter is now enjoying her sophomore year at Harvard.</p>
<p>Do you really think that admissions committees would base a significant part of their decision on the opinion of some random alumnus who is easily wooed by professionally put-together students?</p>
<p>First of all, you're speculating, and the interviewers and former admissions office employees on this thread are reporting facts about how the process works based on direct observation.</p>
<p>Second, it would make no sense for Harvard to ask several thousand of its alumni to volunteer their time every year in a pointless exercise. Alumni interviewers would be able to tell if their recommendations were being ignored year after year, and they would get very angry. That's the last thing any school wants to do.</p>
<p>Finally, I don't know why you think that interviewers are less able to distinguish a slick operator in person than admissions officers can via a few pieces of paper in the application. Both ways of judging an applicant have their limitations, which is why they are used in conjunction. Why would having fewer data points improve the likelihood that the officers are getting a full picture of the student?</p>
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<p>I know plenty of people who got in w/o interviews. </p>
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<p>You know plenty of people who got into Harvard College without interviews? Either they are all from places like Namibia, or you are mistaken.</p>
<p>"First of all, you're speculating, and the interviewers and former admissions office employees on this thread are reporting facts about how the process works based on direct observation."
We really know little about the admissions process from "interviewers" who only have a small involvement. It's really hard to argue that the interview process is a decisive part of admissions. It's really hard to totally flub an interview, and those who do probably weren't going to be admitted anyway. I hate to be a cynic, but most of the top applicants ARE slick operators by their very nature, and will get in anyway. </p>
<p>"Second, it would make no sense for Harvard to ask several thousand of its alumni to volunteer their time every year in a pointless exercise. Alumni interviewers would be able to tell if their recommendations were being ignored year after year, and they would get very angry. That's the last thing any school wants to do."
Alumni are happy with the fact that they are somewhat involved and it ensures a happy core base of alumni for future capital campaigns and the like. However, alumni are not admissions professionals and therefore can easily be "worked" and "wooed" by the aforementioned "slick operators." That is perhaps not the best way to say things; my point is merely that this is a college-admissions interview with open-ended questions, not a cross-examination or a business interview.</p>
<p>First of all, I would think that Harvard grads aren't easily wooed. They've been there, and seen all kinds of people. Many people they have met probably are geniuses in their field.
Also, I don't think they have time "being happy with the fact that they are somewhat involved." Noone wants to do something voluntary just to realize it has no effect on admissions.
Shy people are also less likely to get in. Harvard trains leaders, and frankly the shy are not likely to be so. Believe me, I was shy, as in VERY shy. I'm just overcoming things like that now.
BTW, what I said is worth exactly what you paid for it. Take it or leave it.</p>
<p>My son was also asked about his political views (the election) by his Harvard interviewer. I think this may have been because one of my son's main ec's was debate and he also expressed a possible interest in being a government or poly sci major. While he expressed his ideas honestly (despite sensing that the interviewer did not share his leanings), he found this to be the only part of their varied and interesting conversation that felt awkward. Personally, I feel that this kind of question puts the student in a tough spot...there are so many other ways to find out about a student's interests and ability to think/express themselves.</p>