<p>As an outsider to this particular process I hope you don’t mind me asking, Wharton3, what the letter said exactly? Also, did you send them your letter of interest by smail mail? Otherwise, I’m suprised it wasn’t an email in this day and age!</p>
<p>@AlexaCH</p>
<p>I don’t think that cancelled Visitas will actually make a difference (sadly for us). I think people have been impressed by the Harvard students uniting and posting the virtual visitas stuff, plus the Boston bombings won’t have scared anyone off I think as a lot of serious crime happens in other college towns too (e.g. New York and Columbia) and it was a one off event. I’d guess not as high as last year’s but only slightly lower.</p>
<ol>
<li>HarvardWait17, United States, Given two alumni interviews</li>
<li>Accept3d, United States (applied as international student), scientific research (published)</li>
<li>baddriver, United States, perfect scores: 36, 800 800 sat2s</li>
<li>stupiddorkyidiot, United States, legacy</li>
<li>tchaikconcerto, United States, average to low SATs/non-URM/sincere essays</li>
<li>Cedardog, United States, numerous political campaigns</li>
<li>Maulrus, United States, no hooks. excellent essays maybe?</li>
<li>cac815, United States, URM</li>
<li>jellyksong, United States, unhooked</li>
<li>olibonn, United States, legacy</li>
<li>kitsacat, United States, legacy</li>
</ol>
<p>Eh, my updates were just a letter, an extra essay, and two award updates. Nothing too complicated. As far as the waitlist thing goes, I really doubt the yield is going to drop at all this year. Not that many people need to visit Harvard to decide between it and another top school: it’s Harvard, that’s enough reason for many people. That said, will the Princeton / Yale / Harvard cross acceptances tend more towards Princeton or Yale? Probably, but I doubt there’s going to be any severe effect on the yield. On the bright side, from what I’ve looked at Harvard has in the past accepted way more waitlist spots than at other top schools, plus there’s always the z-list if you’re a truly great candidate and they run out of spots.</p>
<p>At risk of sounding obsessive, here’s some tidbits on when yield rates came out the past few years:
2012= May 10 (Thursday)
2011= May 12 (Thurday)
2010= May 12 (Wednesday)
2009= May 8 (Friday)
So my bet is that we’ll hear about it on Friday!</p>
<p>I am so impatient…I just want to know that I didn’t make the cut so I can move on.</p>
<p>Iman123194: What factors led you to commit to Johns Hopkins? At first not terribly interested, our son did the same thing after visiting JHU and now seems happy with his choice. But we’re a little nervous that he just wanted to make a decision rather than prolong this otherwise excruciating process of waiting out wait lists. Then again, we have been reading more and more great things about JHU. </p>
<p>Also, I’d just like to add that for candidates who are on the wait list of the most desired and prestigious college in the country, you are all so incredibly respectful and polite to each other. It is truly inspiring. Based on your amazing credentials, I think everyone here has a shot.</p>
<p>nina22: First off, my sister went to Johns Hopkins and LOVED it. She was a public health major (very popular at JHU) and was very involved in Greek life. She has only good things to say. I have not visited as an admitted student but when I stayed with my sister last year when she was a senior I had a great time. Everyone was friendly, down-to-earth, and open. While not particularly well known out here in California, Hopkins has a fantastic academic reputation. I ended up choosing Hopkins mostly because I decided that I wanted a private experience coming from a large public high school in LA. This was the deciding factor between Berkeley and Hopkins, and I am very excited for next year, regardless of this excruciating waitlist! Did your son go to SOHOP? I heard great things about it.</p>
<ol>
<li>HarvardWait17, United States, Given two alumni interviews</li>
<li>Accept3d, United States (applied as international student), scientific research (published)</li>
<li>baddriver, United States, perfect scores: 36, 800 800 sat2s</li>
<li>stupiddorkyidiot, United States, legacy</li>
<li>tchaikconcerto, United States, average to low SATs/non-URM/sincere essays</li>
<li>Cedardog, United States, numerous political campaigns</li>
<li>Maulrus, United States, no hooks. excellent essays maybe?</li>
<li>cac815, United States, URM</li>
<li>jellyksong, United States, unhooked</li>
<li>olibonn, United States, legacy</li>
<li>kitsacat, United States, legacy</li>
<li>iman123194, United States (CA), unhooked baby!</li>
</ol>
<p>iman123194: You made my day. Thank you so much for responding. Your sister’s experience at JHU (and your own take when you visited) dispelled my worries that the school may be too serious. My son didn’t go to SOHOP (he’s still so busy with school and after-school activities that we were really pressed for time); but we did spend an afternoon at JHU and found it to be beautiful and very welcoming. My son has also been in touch with a friend who is a sophomore and seems quite happy. He is on the verge of giving up on his wait lists so that he can start getting more excited about JHU rather than waiting for something that he feels will never happen. (And his stats were not as stellar as many of the wait list candidates here, which he realizes.) He also really likes the fact that core requirements are pretty loose at JHU as he’s not yet sure what he wants to major in (but has many interests). Many thanks again for your post!</p>
<p>Our daughter was accepted to both Harvard and JHU and she chose JHU because of fit and major (BME). We also visited both Harvard and JHU. Our visit at JHU was very good, the campus was beautiful, and the students (at least the ones we interacted with) were nice (not so serious, but seem very intelligent).</p>
<p>baddriver: haha thanks so much, I was going to try and find those dates myself. </p>
<p>I’m kind of worried, I’m really involved both in and out of school, I’m a Hispanic recognition program scholar, and I participate in cultural events (I’m in mariachi, ect. ) but I’m sure everyone on the waitlist is just as, if not more qualified.</p>
<p>[Despite</a> Cancellation of Visitas, Class of 2017 Hits 44-Year High | News | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/8/2017-yield-high/]Despite”>Despite Cancellation of Visitas, Yield for Class of 2017 Hits 44-Year High | News | The Harvard Crimson)</p>
<p>'Eighty-two percent of students accepted into Harvard’s class of 2017 have decided to attend Harvard—the highest yield in 44 years. The record yield comes despite the College’s cancellation of its Visitas program for admitted students in the aftermath of a security lockdown in the Greater Boston area.</p>
<p>According to a University press release, this year’s record yield means that all spots in the class of 2017 have been taken, although a “small number” of students may be accepted off of the waiting list later this month or in June.'</p>
<p>well.</p>
<p>82% yield this year…sadness</p>
<p>Well, at least they are considering from the waitlist… though the word “may” is making me nervous.</p>
<p>Can anyone find the press release that quote is referring to? It might be less ambiguous than the article.</p>
<p>Edit: This press release states that, “This year’s high yield means that the Class of 2017 is currently full. It is possible that later this month or in June a small number will be admitted from the waiting list”. Still, seemingly contradictory statements.</p>
<p><a href=“http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/05/harvard-yield-hits-82-percent/[/url]”>http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/05/harvard-yield-hits-82-percent/</a></p>
<p>I think that the few students accepted off of the waiting list will be “Z-listed” and will be accepted to the Class of 2018. Historically, Harvard has done this to qualified applicants who just would not fit into their incoming class (also to high profile legacies).</p>
<p>I agree with Und3rC0ver. I wonder though what makes the admissions committee consider Z listing a candidate above others? I understand there is a legacy element to it but I also understand its not always the case, so for those to which it does not apply, I wonder why they are selected above other great candidates? Also, I wonder, do people think Z list decisions will be made earlier this year (historically I believe they were made latest) because the class of 2017 is already full?</p>
<p>It will be interesting to know how many of the 46 students admitted from wait list last year were Z-list’ed to class of 2017.</p>
<p>From reading through the older waitlist threads, it also seems that Harvard encourages admitted students to take a gap year, which could be another reason for being able to admit a couple more kids in the coming months.</p>
<p>Also, the 52.4% male thing seemed a little… off. I thought it might’ve been related to people being more wary of sending their daughters to Boston, but I checked and the class of 2016 was 52.5% male. So maybe Harvard doesn’t worry so much about securing a perfect 50/50 balance?</p>
<p>This is depressing 
The dream for years has ended. Time to move on</p>