Do you have a lower chance of getting into Harvard if you apply for Early Action? I really want to apply for Early Action to show that this is my #1 school and I really want to go, but I heard you have a lower chance of getting in if you do. So should I apply regular or early? BTW I’m a 9th grader rn I’m just asking for the future
Harvard has said they don’t take anyone in SCEA round that they wound’t take in the RD round. That’s Admissions-speak for “We take the best-of-the-best in the early round.”
Unless you are one of best-of-the-best from your high school, you stand a good chance of being deferred if you apply in the early round, as the SCEA round is more self-selective.
Generally speaking, that means that a competitive SCEA applicant should be ranked in the top 1% to 3% of their high school’s graduating class with a high GPA (54% of Harvard freshman reported having a 4.0 GPA in high school), SAT scores of at least 2200 (the average self reported SAT for Harvard freshman is 2228), stellar teacher recommendations, interesting EC’s, and a thought provoking essay.
FWIW: Harvard defers more students in the SCEA round than they could possibly admit in the RD round – and that’s not including the 25,000 applications they receive in the RD round: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2014/12/977-admitted-to-class-of-2019-under-early-action/
Harvard assumes they are everyone’s #1 choice, so they don’t track a student’s interest. An applicant’s interest has no absolutely bearing on whether a student is admitted or denied.
There are some who believe that early action applicants gain an advantage in admissions. Harvard denies this, but the rate for early action admits is much higher than RD admits, so it’s hard to say. It is likely that if you are deferred, you will be no worse off than if you had applied RD. However, you will have used your SCEA unsuccessfully.
So I should apply regular? :-/ cause im not the BEST u know, just trying my hardest. It just seems like early decision means you LOVE that school while regular decision could mean u just decided to apply there on a whim or something …also why do people not apply early more
^^ @YaraHarvardLyfe: As you are a rising 10th grader, it’s way too soon to ask if you should apply SCEA or RD. You don’t have an ACT/SAT score, you don’t know your 3-year ranking or have a track record at your high school with a rigorous curriculum and high GPA, you don’t have 3 years of EC’s, and you don’t know which teachers are going to write your letters of recommendation, or what rating your guidance counselor will give you on your Secondary School Report (SSR).
The best advice I can give you is to leave College Confidential for the next two years and concentrate on your studies and on the EC’s you love. When you come back in 24 months, the answers(s )to you questions will become very clear.
FWIW: The goal of any student should be to get admitted into the BEST college that gives you the most financial aid. If you are not ranked in the top 1% to 3% of your high school class or do not have a 2200+ SAT or the ACT equivalent, you may be wasting your early slot by applying SCEA. Instead, the better alternative for most students who are not in the top of their class is to apply to a broad range of non-binding early schools, and to apply to HYPS in the RD round. In that way, student’s have at least one acceptance in their back-pocket come mid-December and still have a chance at high-reach schools in the ED round. It’s called hedging your bets, instead of putting all your eggs in one basket.
I was too too late to correct this sentence: “In that way, student’s have at least one acceptance in their back-pocket come mid-December and still have a chance at high-reach schools in the ED round.”
It should have read RD round.