You’ve submitted your Common App, agonized over every supplement, and now—your inbox pings with an email from a Harvard alumnus. You’ve been offered an interview. Cue the nerves.

Take a deep breath. This isn’t a trap or a final hurdle. In fact, it’s one of the few moments in the entire admissions process where you’re in the driver’s seat. The alumni interview offers you a rare chance to humanize your application, highlight your story, and make a lasting impression…if you know how to use the time well.

Let’s break down what the Harvard interview is (and isn’t), what it’s for, what kinds of questions to expect, and how to prepare like a pro.

What Is the Harvard Interview, Really?

Harvard’s alumni interview is an optional but evaluative component of the application process. Not all applicants will be offered one. Not getting one doesn’t hurt your chances. But if you do receive an invitation, you should take it seriously.

The interview is typically conducted by a Harvard graduate: someone volunteering to speak with applicants and submit a report to the admissions committee. According to Harvard’s official site, interviewers only receive your name, high school, and intended area of academic interest. They don’t have access to your essays, transcripts, or test scores.

This means: you’re walking into a conversation with someone who has no preconceived narrative about who you are; just your name and your goals. That’s a powerful opportunity to shape the impression they bring back to the admissions committee.

So, Does It Actually Matter?

The short answer: yes, but with nuance.

Harvard makes clear that the interview isn’t the deciding factor. However, it’s one of the few real-time, interactive opportunities to demonstrate personality, self-awareness, and cultural fit, qualities that are hard to capture on paper.

The interview can:

• Confirm the narrative your application has already presented.
• Show how you communicate, reflect, and think on your feet.
• Give Harvard insight into how you’d contribute to the campus community.

And for international students, it may hold more weight, as interviews can help contextualize unfamiliar school systems or environments.

What to Expect Logistically

Your interview will likely take place over Zoom or video chat, although some may happen in person or by phone depending on your region. (Source) Expect it to last 30–45 minutes and to feel more like a conversation than a formal Q&A session.

Remember: interviewers are volunteers. They’re donating their time to connect with you, so approach them with gratitude, curiosity, and professionalism. Dress neatly, choose a quiet and neutral setting, and test your tech beforehand.

What Harvard Wants to See

Unlike an AP exam or a résumé brag sheet, the interview isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about exploring your personality, passions, and potential fit with Harvard.

That said, you’ll likely face some variation of these common questions:

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are you excited about: inside or outside the classroom?
• Why Harvard?
• What do you want to study and why?
• What’s a challenge you’ve faced, and how did you grow?
• What are you like in your community: your school, your team, your family?

It’s also common to be asked about your hobbies, your goals 10 years from now, your favorite book, or a recent intellectual obsession. The goal isn’t to quiz you: it’s to get to know how you think, communicate, and reflect.

How to Prepare Without Sounding Rehearsed

You don’t need to script your answers. In fact, you shouldn’t. But you do need to prepare strategically so you can speak confidently about the themes that matter most in your application.

Here’s how to do that:

1. ‍Craft Your Narrative: Think about what three words describe you best. Now link each to a story, activity, or moment that reveals those qualities in action. This is the start of your elevator pitch, a concise but rich snapshot of who you are and what drives you.
2. ‍Connect the Dots: Great interviewees don’t just list activities, they connect them. How does your love of debate tie into your interest in public policy? How has your role on the robotics team taught you about leadership or failure?
3. ‍Know Why Harvard: Generic answers won’t help here. Go beyond “great professors” or “Ivy League prestige.” Instead, show you’ve done your research: maybe there’s a freshman seminar that excites you, a public service initiative that matches your values, or a specific lab or professor whose work aligns with your goals. (Pro tip: Check out Harvard’s academic and co-curricular offerings and student life page before your interview.)
4. ‍Practice Mindfully: Ask a friend, parent, or mentor to run a mock interview with you, or better yet, work with an expert who can provide targeted feedback. Focus on both content and delivery: clarity, eye contact, tone, posture, pacing.

Bonus: What Questions Should You Ask?

Interviewers almost always ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” Don’t say no. This is your moment to demonstrate curiosity and make a personal connection.

Avoid asking about prestige, rankings, or your own odds of admission. Instead, ask things like:

• “What surprised you about Harvard?”
• “What opportunities shaped your experience most deeply?”
• “How did Harvard shape your path after graduation?”

Genuine questions spark genuine conversation and memorable interviews.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Just Applying, You’re Connecting

The alumni interview is a conversation. But more than that, it’s your chance to bring your application to life. Harvard wants to know: Are you intellectually curious? Self-aware? Open-minded? Able to engage thoughtfully and authentically with others?

That’s why your goal in the interview isn’t to impress. It’s to connect.

Want to Ace Your Harvard Interview?

At AtomicMind, we offer specialized Harvard interview prep packages tailored to help you:

• Shape and refine your personal narrative
• Practice interviews with real-time feedback
• Prepare for both content and delivery
• Learn how to frame your story for different interviewers

Schedule your 15-minute consultation today. Our team is ready to help you feel confident, clear, and fully prepared so you can walk into your Harvard interview knowing exactly how to shine.

About the Author: As a Head Advisor, Lucas helps students ask the questions that matter: Who am I? What do I care about? Where am I going? An award-winning Harvard philosophy researcher who studied at both Harvard and Oxford, he's spent years teaching students of all ages how to think clearly about themselves, their interests, and their futures. Beyond his work with students, Lucas can often be found lost in a fantasy novel or a philosophy book.