Anonymous
01/28/2025 14:29
Subject: Re:No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:To my knowledge, Harvard only gives interviews to a subset of applicants - after deciding to reject the majority without an interview. Basically if you make it past the first cut based on SATs, GPA, and ECs, then you'll get an interview as the final filter.
My understanding is that Harvard's interviewers are told to deliberately try to throw the interviewee off and see if they hold their composure under pressure. They have a stronger emphasis on social skills and leadership ability than more "bookish" peers like Princeton or MIT. So for them, the interview is actually a really important part of the application.
When I was in high school, I actually tanked my first Harvard interview but because my profile was otherwise extremely strong, Harvard gave me a second interview, which apparently I did better on since I was ultimately accepted.
None of this is true. Interview guidance is very generic. Signed, Harvard alumni interviewer
+1
Anonymous
01/28/2025 14:26
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:DC didn't do interviews for Dartmouth, Penn, or Pomona last cycle and was admitted to all three in RD. For most schools, interviews are unlikely to move the needle on admissions and are heavily reliant on alumni availability.
Besides availability of interviewers, it's also a function of how on top of things or involved the local alumni association club's leadership is since they are the ones who coordinate the interview process and logistics/assignments in a region.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 14:15
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
DC didn't do interviews for Dartmouth, Penn, or Pomona last cycle and was admitted to all three in RD. For most schools, interviews are unlikely to move the needle on admissions and are heavily reliant on alumni availability.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 14:12
Subject: Re:No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:To my knowledge, Harvard only gives interviews to a subset of applicants - after deciding to reject the majority without an interview. Basically if you make it past the first cut based on SATs, GPA, and ECs, then you'll get an interview as the final filter.
My understanding is that Harvard's interviewers are told to deliberately try to throw the interviewee off and see if they hold their composure under pressure. They have a stronger emphasis on social skills and leadership ability than more "bookish" peers like Princeton or MIT. So for them, the interview is actually a really important part of the application.
When I was in high school, I actually tanked my first Harvard interview but because my profile was otherwise extremely strong, Harvard gave me a second interview, which apparently I did better on since I was ultimately accepted.
This is ALL wrong, and this person is a troll. I've been doing interviews for Harvard for 20 years.
The interview is not the final filter nor is it "very important."
Interviewers are NOT told to deliberately throw off the student. In fact, they are trained and told NOT to do anything that would even be perceived as stressful or intimidating. Interviews should be pleasant, low-pressure chats. If an interviewer does do this and the university or local alumni club hears about it, they will take action and pull that person off of interviews. I've seen it happen.
Harvard giving you a "second interview" is BS as well. That's not how it works.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 14:06
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No interview, means not being considered
Generally true for Yale.
But FAQ regarding interview on their website has the following
Is my application disadvantaged because I was not offered an interview?
No. Interviews are not required, and many successful applicants are not interviewed
Yale AO on podcast says Yale apps are put in 3 piles:
1. Absolute yes; exceeds all metrics; maybe a likely letter (will not get interview)
2. Definite no (will not get interview)
3. On the cusp….unsure. Will get interview if interviewers are available in region.
My kid didn’t get a Yale interview either. He was not a #1….
If your kids’ friends with lower stats got interview, I’d assume your kid was not a #1?
But who knows? And lots of Yale Interviewers in DC
I can confirm that the DC area is not lacking in alum interviewers. When I moved here years ago, I tried to sign up, since I had interviewed in another city. They didn't need me. Had more than enough.
signed,
Yale alum
Anonymous
01/28/2025 14:04
Subject: Re:No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:To my knowledge, Harvard only gives interviews to a subset of applicants - after deciding to reject the majority without an interview. Basically if you make it past the first cut based on SATs, GPA, and ECs, then you'll get an interview as the final filter.
My understanding is that Harvard's interviewers are told to deliberately try to throw the interviewee off and see if they hold their composure under pressure. They have a stronger emphasis on social skills and leadership ability than more "bookish" peers like Princeton or MIT. So for them, the interview is actually a really important part of the application.
When I was in high school, I actually tanked my first Harvard interview but because my profile was otherwise extremely strong, Harvard gave me a second interview, which apparently I did better on since I was ultimately accepted.
This is all incorrect. Troll.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:58
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No interview, means not being considered
Generally true for Yale.
But FAQ regarding interview on their website has the following
Is my application disadvantaged because I was not offered an interview?
No. Interviews are not required, and many successful applicants are not interviewed
Yale AO on podcast says Yale apps are put in 3 piles:
1. Absolute yes; exceeds all metrics; maybe a likely letter (will not get interview)
2. Definite no (will not get interview)
3. On the cusp….unsure. Will get interview if interviewers are available in region.
My kid didn’t get a Yale interview either. He was not a #1….
If your kids’ friends with lower stats got interview, I’d assume your kid was not a #1?
But who knows? And lots of Yale Interviewers in DC
In regions with a lot of interviewers and a really active alumni club, they will try to interview every student if possible.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:57
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Probably. About 99% of the amazing kids are rejected in RD so it’s probably true for her too.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:55
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No interview, means not being considered
Generally true for Yale.
cannot be more false. many Yale likely letter recipients never had an interview.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:45
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
What about Stanford?
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:16
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No interview, means not being considered
Generally true for Yale.
And for Harvard. And for Duke.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:06
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have a Northwestern interview? All of the applicants I know got a note saying they didn’t have interviewers available and the students could submit additional information.
Northwestern no longer does interviews. This is first year they haven’t offered them.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:06
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have a Northwestern interview? All of the applicants I know got a note saying they didn’t have interviewers available and the students could submit additional information.
NU stopped doing alumni interviews. You could do an alumni information session but no imterviews this year.
+1
OP, Northwestern offers an option to submit a Glimpse video, though they've never done that before, and I doubt they care.
I have a freshman at NU, admitted ED last year. Did not interview. Did not even request one.
I used to do alumni interviews for NU and I'll be honest that I doubt it made a difference. The kids I met were all generally bright, polite, and a bit nervous. I don't have any horror stories to share and the kids who had big stuff to talk about I'm sure also wrote about it in their essays.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:03
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have a Northwestern interview? All of the applicants I know got a note saying they didn’t have interviewers available and the students could submit additional information.
NU stopped doing alumni interviews. You could do an alumni information session but no imterviews this year.
+1
OP, Northwestern offers an option to submit a Glimpse video, though they've never done that before, and I doubt they care.
I have a freshman at NU, admitted ED last year. Did not interview. Did not even request one.
Anonymous
01/28/2025 13:01
Subject: No Interview - Harvard, Yale, Northwestern
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have a Northwestern interview? All of the applicants I know got a note saying they didn’t have interviewers available and the students could submit additional information.
NU stopped doing alumni interviews. You could do an alumni information session but no imterviews this year.
https://admissions.northwestern.edu/visit/experience/alumni-conversations.html