<p>Does applying to Harvard for the second time affect your chances in any way? I had no experience when I applied for the first time, I applied just for the sake of applying. I don't think I even listed any ECs in my app and my essay was completely rushed and showed nothing about me.</p>
<p>What do you mean? Did you apply last year and trying again? As a transfer or as a freshman?</p>
<p>Yeah, I did apply last year, and I want to try again. I am applying for freshman admission.</p>
<p>What have you been doing in your gap year?</p>
<p>I’ve mainly been working ( I own a small non-profit organization), and on occasion, I join protests (I’m Egyptian).</p>
<p>The protest thing looks great ! I think you should apply again, except the application fee (which I think they will be okay to waive if it represents a hardship), you’ve got nothing but time (I’m not even sure i’t a waste of time since it’s kind of a great adventure) to lose.
May I ask you why you think you’ve been rejected last time ?</p>
<p>^^Thanks for your reply. I had no experience with filling out applications. My school’s guidance counselor doesn’t know anything about applications to colleges beyond Egypt. Last year, I just applied for the sake of applying. I didn’t even fill the ECs section, and my essay was a piece of garbage. I only started to learn about the “holistic” admission process after I sent my application. So my application was basically a bunch of numbers.</p>
<p>Third time is the charm</p>
<p>^^ I don’t appreciate the sarcasm.</p>
<p>Harvard keeps an electronic file of every application for 3 years, so when you re-apply, an admissions director will easily be able to see the comments that were written on your initial application, and will also have access to your essays from the first go-around. So, give them something completely NEW this time around!</p>
<p>^^ Will do. You seem to know an awful lot about admissions; are you an adcom?</p>
<p>No, I’m not an admissions director – just a parent. Besides, at this time of year, AD’s are way too busy reading files to have the time to spend looking through CC threads.</p>
<p>I listed some ECs that I didn’t list during my last application, do you guys think that will hurt me?</p>
<p>Please note that when I applied last year, I was completely unaware of the holistic admission process so I didn’t put any effort into the application.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine how listing additional ECs would do anything to weaken you application. To the contrary, doing so will most probably improve your chances. As Gibby states above, Harvard maintains an electronic file of every application for a 3 year period. Be cognisant of this whilst writing your essays, and the like; they <em>will</em> be looking at your previous application.</p>