If this were an alumni interviewer, I think he is just generally saying he is part of the "overall team". I don't think he is any more or less influential than any other alumni interviewer based on who he is. His report may be more or less useful in helping the AO assess a candidate he reports on because of the quality of his report. I can also easily see situations where an interviewer has a long track record of interview reports and the AO considers/handicaps the interviewer's reports based on precedent. I understand people wanting to read tea leaves, but unless you receive a likely letter, there just aren't any (positive or negative).
@familymom wrote "If the alum interviewer said, "you'll hear about the next step from the admissions team." after the interview, is this a good sign or neutral remark meaning that he would say this to a person who may get the rejection from the AO team as well?"
In the 9 years I've been on CC, this is the FIRST time I've heard of alumni interviewer from any college, not just Harvard, say such a thing. So, my gut feeling is that what the alumni interviewer meant was "should there be a next step, you'll hear from the Admissions team." In other words, your son or daughter is a wonderful candidate for Harvard, but the actual decision is out of my control and rests with the Admissions Committee. IMHO, it's a neutral remark and you/your child should not read anything into it.
Idk how you guys had your interview, but my interviewer and I had the most unusual conversation in the history of conversations. What started out as a philosophical question regarding the principles of identity eventually spiraled in to a long discussion about the purpose of life and what our purpose is on Earth. Heck, my alumni interviewer even started joking around about living in a simulation haha XD. While we did talk about my academic interests, extracurriculars, and social background– which all went really good actually, compared to my other interviews, Harvard is by far, the most abstract and quirky interview I've had lmao. I guess that just shows you how unpredictable Harvard really is haha.
@love2cheeses: No your daughter should NOT contact Harvard, as Admissions does NOT schedule interviews. After your daughter pressed the submit button, her contact information was forwarded to the alumni chapter closest to where you live. It's the alumni chapter's responsibility to schedule interviews and they are probably overwhelmed with too many applicants and too few volunteer alumni interviewers. Also keep in mind: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/application-process/what-we-look/interviews
if an interview cannot be arranged, you will not be at a disadvantage during the application process.
Thanks for the quick response, but please read what @jzducol said above:
"However, I have never heard of any Harvard admit without an interview; some interviews can take place after the candidates receive likely letters. In another word, you may not need one to get admitted but you must have one as an admitted student."
@love2cheeses: If you're that concerned, you could try to contact your local Harvard alumni chapter and make an inquiry about when an interview will be scheduled. However, realize it's still early in the process with 8 weeks left for your daughter to receive notice.
Hi everyone! I also applied RD to Harvard and I have not been contacted to set up an interview. Should I be worried? How are the interviews scheduled? Does this mean I will most likely not be accepted? Thanks!
@pinkpony921 wrote "Does this mean I will most likely not be accepted?"
Last year, Harvard had an RD acceptance of 2.43%, meaning 97.57% of RD applicants were rejected. As such, the minute you press the submit button, you should assume you will most likely NOT be accepted.
If you are a US applicant and have not received an alumni interview by the third week of March, I think it's a fair assumption that Admissions did not prioritize your application for an interview and therefore you will not be accepted. As it's the first week of February though, it's still early in the process with plenty of time yet to receive an interview!
@gibby Harvard prioritize kids for interview? I thought only international students are screened for interview and US students get interview based on alumni availability. Did Harvard change the process? Thanks.
@love2cheeses: Every US applicant is supposed to get an interview, however interviewers are volunteers. And in some parts of the country, there are just not enough alumni stepping-forward to interview the ever increasing number of applicants applying to the college -- especially in the RD round. So, in those instances it's thought that Admissions prioritizes which students are interviewed first, second, third and so on.
You said "it's thought that Admissions prioritizes which students are interviewed..."
Is that just your guess or you heard it from some reliable sources? The reason I question it is because from my very small sample size, in certain areas, either all kids got interview or none which is very strange.
And not only Harvard has much less interviews this year, so do other top schools.
I have a feeling there is some kind of policy changes. but don't know what they are.
QUESTION: My interviewer let it slip that I was marked a high priority candidate. What does this mean for my admissions chances?
ANSWER from @T26E4, who is no longer on CC but was an alumni interviewer for Yale: Harvard does initial read thrus immediatly. Thus, they can target Likely Letter recipients. THen with the rest of high likelihood admits, they can informally ask the area alumni groups to "Yeah we know we sent you a list of fifty, but can you really make sure you cover these five?"
Replies to: Harvard Regular Decision Interview
In the 9 years I've been on CC, this is the FIRST time I've heard of alumni interviewer from any college, not just Harvard, say such a thing. So, my gut feeling is that what the alumni interviewer meant was "should there be a next step, you'll hear from the Admissions team." In other words, your son or daughter is a wonderful candidate for Harvard, but the actual decision is out of my control and rests with the Admissions Committee. IMHO, it's a neutral remark and you/your child should not read anything into it.
"However, I have never heard of any Harvard admit without an interview; some interviews can take place after the candidates receive likely letters. In another word, you may not need one to get admitted but you must have one as an admitted student."
This is why I am concerned.
Last year, Harvard had an RD acceptance of 2.43%, meaning 97.57% of RD applicants were rejected. As such, the minute you press the submit button, you should assume you will most likely NOT be accepted.
If you are a US applicant and have not received an alumni interview by the third week of March, I think it's a fair assumption that Admissions did not prioritize your application for an interview and therefore you will not be accepted. As it's the first week of February though, it's still early in the process with plenty of time yet to receive an interview!
You said "it's thought that Admissions prioritizes which students are interviewed..."
Is that just your guess or you heard it from some reliable sources? The reason I question it is because from my very small sample size, in certain areas, either all kids got interview or none which is very strange.
And not only Harvard has much less interviews this year, so do other top schools.
I have a feeling there is some kind of policy changes. but don't know what they are.
Thanks.