Would my interviewer get a negative impression if I said...

<p>that I got into Stanford Early Action?</p>

<p>do NOT say that...</p>

<p>Why would you be telling them that instead of using your limited interview time to convey important information about yourself that might impress Harvard? Harvard tells interviewers not to ask students about where else they applied. Harvard doesn't care: It knows it's by far most applicants' first choice.</p>

<p>I actually purposefully scheduled my interview for before I found out my decishy from Yale so that I wouldn't even think to mention it. I knew it would be tempting to talk about if I got in (especially since the interview would have been held the day after decisions came out).</p>

<p>What if she asks me about it? Should I lie? Should I just say "Oh I don't think you're supposed to ask that"? I don't want the mood to be awkward because of that.</p>

<p>The interviewer shouldn't ask you. If she does, then that wouldn't be right; the interviewer is not there to ask you about other schools but to ask you about why you want to come to Harvard.</p>

<p>During my MIT interview, he did everything he <em>wasn't</em> supposed to do:</p>

<p>He asked about every single college I applied to, as well suggesting others (besides MIT)that I should also apply to (Princeton, Stanford, etc). He said he was trying to help me, because statistically if they all have low acceptance rates I should apply to as many as possible to raise my chances of being accepted to one. I just stared at him.</p>

<p>Then, he asked everything that could be found on my transcript (ACT, rank, and everything else.)</p>

<p>The interview was pretty pointless. But I really don't think it was my fault; the guy seemed totally unprepared and unaware of his job as an interviewer.</p>

<p>The point is, the OP has every right to worry about whether he'll be asked about other schools and other decisions. The interviewers are not always perfect. </p>

<p>Disclose what you feel is relevant, then try to change the subject to what it is about HARVARD that appeals to you. Just my opinion... I'm not an expert interview-taker or anything.</p>

<p>lol my MIT interviewer also kept on reccomending other schools but he didn't ask any academic information</p>

<p>pink001, you had an awful interviewer</p>

<p>Naturally people will be curious to find out where you got in early. It's just a matter of curiosity, because honestly if i'm an interviewer i'll want to know which one of my interviewees got into H after all. And theoretically those who got into Yale or Stanford EA are the ones to watch out for (so i'll also hold those to a higher standard)</p>

<p>It's not like all interviewers do only what theyre supposed to.</p>

<p>That said, i still havent got my goshdarn interview yet so i'll see if Y comes up :D</p>

<p>
[quote]
Then, he asked everything that could be found on my transcript (ACT, rank, and everything else.)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure Harvard interviewers are supposed to ask about all of these things. So your interviewer didn't do anything wrong in this respect.</p>

<p>@eatingfood:</p>

<p>Oh, I didn't know that. I've always thought that the interviewer was supposed to stick (mainly) to what couldn't be found on the application (in other words, letting your personality shine through and showing them there's another side to that gleaming transcript). </p>

<p>I mean, you are right, they should ask. But I didn't emphasize how much he REALLY focused on it. 95% of the interview could have been ascertained by looking at my application (which admission committees obviously do.) The interviews are more about finding out what is not instantly revealed by the application. It's about adding another dimension to the applicant, beyond their test scores.</p>

<p>Well, that's what I always thought at least. :)</p>

<p>My interviewer was awesome, but he did ask me where else I was applying and did ask me what my SAT score was and what my GPA was.
I think he just wanted to know some very basic facts since he didn't get to see my application.</p>

<p>I wouldn't necessarily brag about it, but...if you got into Stanford already and you're still willing to go through the application process to Harvard, doesn't that tell them that you are still at least heavily considering Harvard? If they had EA maybe things would be different, but it provides action to back up the talk you'll give them about wanting to go to Harvard.</p>

<p>I applied SCEA to Yale (deferred), and if anyone asks me I'll tell them with the "just keeping my options open" line (which is true).</p>

<p>^ i'm with vballerk</p>

<p>Fortunately, I had my Harvard interview and find out twenty minutes later I had gotten into Stanford.</p>

<p>If he asks, tell him honestly. If Harvard is your first choice, say so! If it's not, just say that you're applying because you're interested.</p>

<p>If he doesn't ask, don't say it. It's irrelevant.</p>