<p>Something that I don’t like about the “Why should we admit you?” question is that it carries the unstated overtone of “maybe we shouldn’t”. This implied challenge, which comes at a potentially tense, uncomfortable time for the applicant, could trouble some personality types, people who might think to themselves, “I don’t know if I am worthy”, or “Maybe I am not worthy”, or even “Truly I am indeed not worthy,” when in fact the applicant may well be worthy and no doubt is not in a position to judge objectively anyways.</p>
<p>For this reason, I personally prefer the noncommittal, but still open-ended, “tell me about yourself”.</p>
<p>ADAD,
I usually begin interviews with, “Tell me about yourself,” and toward the end of the interview say something like, “It’s very difficult to gain acceptance to Harvard because there are so many excellent candidates that, unfortunately, most applicants end up getting rejected even though they qualify for admission. That being said, what do you see as the reasons that you should be admitted?”</p>
<p>IMO someone who drops the ball on that question isn’t likely to have the confidence to survive in an atmosphere like Harvard’s, which is not a warm fuzzy.</p>
<p>“how has your leadership style changed over the years?”
“do you think a certain amount of discontent plays an active role in diversity and politics? why?”
“what factored into your decisions about extracurriculars and school work?”
“you are a poised and confident speaker and communicator. you mentioned you are interested in medicine. do you plan on integrating these two characteristics with your career? how?”
“why UVa?”
“what impact did (a specific summer program) have on you?”
“you seem very comfortable in this situation. how did this come about?”</p>
<p>so on and so forth for a good 30 mins. i didn’t balk at one of them though and was called back for the next round of interviews in charlottesville (jefferson scholarship)</p>
<p>it was a loooooooooooong 45 mins but totally worth it!</p>
<p>Asked by an admissions officer: If we told you right now that you were admitted, would you come? Unfortunately this wasn’t a first choice school. Yuck.</p>
<p>My D was asked an interesting question by CMC , what 3 items might represent who you are as a person and why. She answered it well, but on the spot I’m, not sure I would have thought so quickly.</p>
<p>My S was asked, “If you were a shoe, what kind would you be?” I would have been thrown, but he thought it was a great question. He said he would be a flip-flop, because he is open and casual and because a flip-flop always makes a slapping noise as you walk, and he (as a verbal person who loves theater) usually has a running dialogue going on in his head as he walks along.</p>
<p>for a scholarship interview, this one guy told me, “I am going to play God. You ask me a question, I ask you one.” ALL of his questions were current event questions - some of them rather specific. Sometimes when I said something he disagreed with, he would argue with me until proving me wrong.</p>