I’ve Been a Harvard Interviewer for Years. Here’s What Actually Matters.
College Admissions Interview: Why It’s Not as Serious as You Think
College admissions interview is often misunderstood by students, but after years as a Harvard interviewer, here’s what actually matters. You’ve submitted everything. Every essay, every activity description, every recommendation request. Done, right? Wrong. You’re still going to need to sit across from someone you don’t know, a representative of the school, as they ask you questions about your life. I know because I’ve been on both sides of this, getting interviewed before my admission to Harvard and serving as a Harvard interviewer for prospective students.
1. It’s not as serious as you think.
Students come to me pretty scared with their interviews upcoming. While I totally get the nerves, I think the fear is largely misplaced. Not a ‘don’t worry it all works out for the best’ misplaced. Like, ‘actually incorrect’ misplaced. The reason? Because if a school hasn’t opted out entirely (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Penn, etc.) they will usually: (i) use unpaid volunteers (ii) offer to only some people and (iii) allow students to opt out.
Ultimately, an okay interview doesn’t hurt you. A mediocre essay actively weakens your candidacy. An okay GPA brings down your application, as do average extracurriculars. With an interview, 99% of the time it won’t make a difference. You can only score points here.
2. Look up your interviewer beforehand.
This is honestly the most important part of any interview process. Search up the person on LinkedIn, Google their name. A little healthy dose of stalking. This allows you to find areas of connection and also things you might want to avoid discussing, whether that’s political or some other sensibility. Don’t be too obvious, just keep the conversation feeling natural and bottom-up.
3. Answer the why, not just the what.
Just like with a college essay, don’t only answer what you did. This isn’t a chance to re-list your activities. They already know your activities list. This is another opportunity to answer why. Explain the decisions driving each activity and what they mean to you. college admissions interview
So instead of “I’m the editor of my school newspaper and I manage a team of 15 writers,” try “I saw this disconnect between students and the administration, and I wanted to use the paper to bridge that gap.” Instead of “I interned for a local congressman last summer,” try “I chose his campaign specifically because he was one of the only candidates talking about education funding, which matters to me because of my younger sister’s experience in school.” If you do that, not only will you mention the cool things you want to show off, but you’ll connect much more to the person in front of you and allow them to ask deeper questions in return. college admissions interview
4. Know how to handle “So, any questions for me?”
What you should not do is ask generic stuff like “So tell me about Harvard” or “What was really amazing about MIT?” Those questions will get you a bland, parroted answer. Instead, people like to hear their own voice. So, ask a question that will get them reflecting and talking.
Two questions I really like: First, ask them about a unique club, community, or off-the-beaten-path experience they really enjoyed. For someone like me, I’ll go on forever about Broomball at Harvard and the rock climbing gym, things that are actually interesting rather than stuff you can find online. Second, if you could go back in time and tell your college self to do something differently, what would you tell them? You have to feel out the vibe a little bit, but that question gets people talking and shows you’re genuinely curious about their experience. college admissions interview
5. Ask questions throughout and stay relaxed. 
Don’t save all your questions for the end. If there’s real alignment with the person you’re talking to, don’t just say “oh, cool” and wait for the next question. That’s a missed opportunity. Work in questions naturally throughout the interview when they’re really there. Don’t be annoying about it, but once or twice, if the moment is right, lean in. Smile. Be relaxed. college admissions interview
Above all, don’t lose sleep over it. The interview is not where applications are made or broken. Your essays, your grades, your activities, and your recommendations are where the real weight sits.
And if you don’t get an interview at all? Even better. One less thing to worry about.