Why do you want to go to Harvard?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>For the interview,</p>

<p>Should I learn more about myself?
The interviewer?
Harvard?
The World?</p>

<p>SHould I read some Crimson articles?</p>

<p>Why do <em>you</em> want to go to H? How did you answer this question? Did you do actual research or just read five pages off the big blue college handbook? I lost my brochure...</p>

2

<p>If he/she asks you, answer the question honestly. None of my interviewers have asked me, though I have always expressed the answer through a lot of what I say. You don't need to be quoting the president (and maybe that's something to avoid!) to answer it. Remember, Harvard (and schools like it) expect to be your top choice; they do not need to increase yield by weeding out kids who don't want to attend. </p>

<p>Talk about the school itself and the unique programs and opportunities you would have at Harvard that you wouldn't have other places. Do not answer this question by talking about prestige, Boston, or grade inflation.</p>

3

<p>Well, don't mention Boston, but I see nothing wrong with mentioning Cambridge and Harvard Square.</p>

4

<p>so specifically what did you put down? i mean "harvard has a fantastic math department" sounds kinda lame</p>

<p>Also, is it ok to put down something quirky for this answer? ben jones from mit said one of his fave admits put daydreaming as his favorite ec, but some other adcom hated it (the other one was a jerk) still, you never know how cool the adcom you get will be.</p>

5

<p>Put down? Put down where?</p>

<p>Yeah, PorSK, but even Cambridge shouldn't be your #1 reason. :)</p>

6

<p>Oh sorry, I thought it was a short answer question that you answer on the app. (is it?)</p>

7

<p>Nope. All I remember is a short essay on your most meaningful activity and the normal essay.</p>

8

<p>my interviewer actually asked me "if you want to go into the Marines, why don't you just go to the Naval Academy? why do you want to go to Harvard?" i had already been accepted to Annapolis, so that question put me in a difficult situation, because i wasn't (and still am not) sure about which school i really want to end up at. but i answered the questioned very honestly, and, like others have suggested, talked about the Harvard programs that are of specific interest to me. i mostly talked about majoring in Classics and other opportunities i would have within Harvard that i wouldn't get anywhere else. i just explained as best i could what really has drawn me to Harvard from the start. you want to show that you've done your research and aren't applying just "because it's Harvard".</p>

9

<p>i simply talked about harvard's great programs and undergrad research opportunities and such.</p>