Interviewing for Harvard College can be a nerve-racking process. Although your admissions interview is not all-determinative, your interviewer's recommendation is influential and can make a difference, especially if you are an applicant the admissions office is unsure of. Therefore, it is important you approach your Harvard College interview with the utmost preparation.
Dress Appropriately
The first thing your admissions interviewer is going to notice about you is the way you dress. Do not come to your Harvard College interview wearing shorts, gym clothes or flip-flops. Casual clothes are simply not appropriate for this occasion. Instead, wear clothes that would be considered "business casual." For boys, this would be nice slacks and a collared button-down shirt. For girls, this could be slacks or a skirt paired with a nice sweater. Hair should be neatly combed, and makeup, if worn, should be subtle. It is appropriate to add individualized touches to your outfit if they are a reflection of your personality as long as they are not offensive and neat.
Conduct Yourself Professionally
Your Harvard College admissions interview is essentially the same as a job interview. During the interview, sit up straight and make eye contact with your interviewer. Slouching, sitting with your legs wide apart, or acting distracted is conduct that will not endear you to your interviewer. When speaking, remember to use good grammar and avoid the use of slang.
Highlight Your Accomplishments
The main purpose of the Harvard College interview is to allow the admissions office to get a humanized perception of you as a candidate. Your written application, although informative, might not reveal all the nuances or details of your high school career. When revealing information about yourself, emphasize your good qualities and steer clear of information that could be misconstrued or put you in a negative light. It is important to highlight your accomplishments, but do so without bragging.
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