<p>mine went really cool. my interviewer told me that I was the only one he was interviewing (he just had triple twins a month ago lol)</p>
<p>“Basically I think he asked me questions about - the AP system, the PSAT National Merit program, the difference between private and public schools (I didn’t know how to respond because I had never attended a private school), the racial ethnicity balance of my school, how I felt about Mao Zedong, give him examples of questions that an Academic Decathlon test would ask, tell him what I thought was most interesting about learning Climatology, explain to him about the American government system, and explain to him what the Harry Potter series was about. Oh, and also recommend him Korean restaurants.”</p>
<p>I think he asked about the PSAT, private/public schools, AP, questions on Academic Decathalon because he was trying to learn enough about the American educational system and Decathalon to be able to rate the difficulty of your coursework and how bright you appear to be.</p>
<p>While I think he could have asked better questions, I don’t think the interview was so off base that it would be worth your while to complain and to try to get a different interviewer.</p>
<p>I am curious, though: Did you attempt to take control of the interview at all by steering it toward your ECs, research, interests, etc. or did you just respond to his questions?</p>
<p>mywayalie,
Check the CC archives because your questions have been answered many times.</p>
<p>Northstarmom </p>
<p>So how do you feel about Mao Zedong?</p>
<p>I had my interview a few weeks ago and it went great! I did get lost on the way there (had to drive an hour) and he showed up late because his kids were sick, but we had an hour and a half conversation. It really was a conversation and not an interview. We talked about what I was interested in and covered everything from black and white photography to politics. He did ask me to bring a resume so he started off the interview with questions about that. Overall, I think (haha HOPE!) that is was a great interview. I have had better, but I have also had WAY worse. Good luck to everybody… we get our letters in a month!</p>
<p>I am an International applicant from Libya, and since it’s such a remote location, I was not expecting an alumni interview. What happened next was most unexpected.</p>
<p>Just yesterday, 4th of march '08, I called the admissions office regarding a question and surprisingly, my call was transferred to Judy Partington, an admissions officer herself. I stated my name and that I was an applicant for the class of 2012. Shockingly, she seemed to recognise me and asked me how things were going on in Libya. From there on, she asked me several questions about my life in Libya, my school, extra-curriculars etc. Our conversation lasted for 45 minutes in spite of her tight schedule at this moment, what with the upcoming decisions.</p>
<p>So, I guess I had an impromptu interview after all and that too with an admissions officer. I fumbled a bit during our conversation as I wasn’t expecting an interview, was not prepared for it and became nervous when she started asking me questions and was scared to be actually speaking with an admissions officer. But overall, it was pleasant talking to her as she was extremely nice to me.</p>
<p>But right now, I can’t make head or tail of why the interview was held so suddenly and at such a late date. </p>
<p>And of course, in all my anxiety, I forgot to ask Ms.Partington the question for which I had called the admissions office in the first place!</p>
<p>"But right now, I can’t make head or tail of why the interview was held so suddenly and at such a late date. "</p>
<p>My guess is that you are on the short list for admission, and your file has been recently discussed including by Judy Partington. You had the good fortune to call at a time when they had recently been talking about you and were delighted to have an opportunity to talk to you.</p>
<p>Yours is a wonderful example of how luck can play a role in admissions.</p>
<p>I wonder what my chances … for Harvard.</p>
<p>SAT I (by section): 780 800 800
SAT IIs: 800 US History, 800 Math II, 800 Physics, 770 Math I
Rank: 1/362 </p>
<p>APs : World History (5), US History (5), Physics B (5), Chem (5)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: 3 letters in football (All County, but not recruited by Harvard; recruited by Williams and Amherst), 3 letters in baseball (again, only recruited by Division III), 2X county champ in wrestling, finished 5th, and 3rd in state tournament (will not wrestle in college, finished high school with 110-19 record)</p>
<p>^^ make a chance thread in the chance forum</p>
<p>Northstarmom,
Oh…I was just thinking that since there were 27,000 applicants this year, they were a bit behind schedule…but what you said was encouraging …thanks!
oh well, i still don’t wanna get my hopes up!</p>
<p>Pretty crappy. </p>
<p>He had a packet of questions to ask me like “Who do you admire the most” “Which class do you dislike the most” and would take (some) notes while sitting in his chair just staring at me. He wouldn’t come up with followup questions, but more or less just expected me to carry the conversation. It was pretty frustrating (I mean, how can you ramble on about a class that you don’t like). It ended in thirty minutes. He just read the questions off the packet, asked if I had any questions about Harvard, my grades, and if I had “anything else to say about myself” (anyone want to give me an example to say? :P), then it was over.</p>
<p>Northstarmom: As an interviewer, do you think it was my fault for not making the interview longer? Do you think it was more of my inability to elaborate on questions or did I just happen to get an interviewer that was in a bad mood or just couldn’t connect with me? Thanks.</p>
<p>hehee bump!</p>
<p>It really is the interviewee’s job to carry the interview by providing expansive answers. It’s a gift when an interviewer asks open ended questions and doesn’t waste your time by talking about themselves. That allows you to steer the interview into directions that would most display your strengths.</p>
<p>Questions like, “Do you have anything more to add that I haven’t given you a chance to talk about” are your golden opportunity to talk about anything that may impress the interviewer about you: your goals, things you’d like to do in college; challenges you’ve faced; activities you’ve enjoyed, etc. </p>
<p>A half hour is a reasonable amount of time for an interview. What’s important is the info that you managed to provide within that time.</p>
<p>I am absolutely terrified about my interview, which I have next Friday. I’m not a very sociable person, so I won’t be able to impress him with my people skills…Does anyone have any tips on how to prepare?</p>
<p>I think the best way to prepare is to enlist a friend or a parent to ask you a bunch of typical interview questions.</p>
<p>agree with mathmom. she speaks truth very often, and this is a case of just that.</p>
<p>Hi Northstarmom,
My son has an interview with Harvard on Tuesday this week in New York. I’m wondering if you know wether or not the interviewer gets a copy or any information about him before the interview.</p>
<p>The interviewer called a week after he applied and just told him to meet him at his office for the interview. He did not ask for any additional information. Should my son bring a resume with him, and if so, should he give it to him at the beginning of the interview or at the end if he doesn’t ask for it?</p>
<p>Any thoughts would be appreciated!</p>
<p>In most cases, interviewers get only basic info on the applicant: name, high school, whether their parents went to Harvard as an undergrad, e-mail, phone #, and possibly some ECs the applicant listed (vague like "tennis) and a possible major.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that in some places where there are hundreds of applicants – places like Long Island, admission sends more info, however, it’s usually wise to bring a resume, copies of any published articles, artwork, anything that might help the interviewer get a quick overview of the applicant so that the interviewer doesn’t need to waste time getting that info verbally.</p>
<p>My interviewer asked that I bring my resume and my transcripts. By resume, does she mean a list of my accomplishments and samples of my work? Could anyone post a sample resume? I have one that I used when applying for internships, but I feel as though it is too word-y for the interview.</p>
<p>Northstarmom- Thanks for your input. I appreciate your feedback here on CC.</p>
<p>will an interviwer ever ask something like where did you apply early action? (since harvard does not have an early program anymore?) if so, what would be the best way to handle this?</p>