<p>Sending warm wishes today to all of the Harvard hopefuls. As an alum who also has interviewed applicants since almost before some of you were born, I have never encountered a Harvard applicant who was not extraordinary in some good way. I am sure that is the case for all of you. Whether or not you are accepted, keep that in mind.</p>
<p>A Harvard acceptance will not guarantee whatever your idea of a perfect life is. Your actions and your attitudes will determine your life’s course far more than will the name on your college diploma. Whether or not you get into Harvard now, at some point in your life, there will be things that you want, but will fail to obtain. Still, life will go on, and the unexpected path that you take may bring rewards far more meaningful than your original dream would have brought.</p>
<p>A Harvard degree didn’t prevent my having bumps in the road in my career and personal life. I was rejected at my first and second choice graduate school. However, I ended up loving the grad school that accepted me, and I am grateful now that the others did not!</p>
<p>What my Harvard experience gave me was four years of a learning environment with interesting people, nice friends and amazing opportunities that permanently changed my view of myself and of the world. I wish the same for you, whichever college is fortunate enough to obtain you as a student.</p>
<p>I'm trying to keep things in perspective, but no one in my school has went to an Ivy League school in decades, and everyone is really on my case about it. I feel like I will be letting my school and community down if I don't get in. I wasn't even thinking to applying to an Ivy League school until I got a letter back in May or so. Now, everything seems to have changed. I'm just so worried I'm going to let everyone down. I just want to get it over with.</p>
<p>Brokenchild,
It sounds like your community is wishing you well.They are proud of you and think you are so special that you deserve admission to a place like Harvard. That doesn't mean that if you don't get in, that you've let your community down. More than likely, if you get rejected or deferred, your community will view Harvard as letting them down. </p>
<p>I have seen IRL and on boards people complaining that Ivies turned down one of their community's shining stars. I even heard of a Harvard alum who stopped being an alum interviewer after the first and only student whom he interviewed didn't get into Harvard. The interviewer thought the student was terrific, and became angry at Harvard for rejecting the student!</p>
<p>Anyway, if you don't get admitted, view your community's response as supportive, not as their being disappointed in you. You also could remind your well wishers that only 1 in 10 Harvard applicants each year gains acceptance even though Harvard says that 85% of the applicants would be successful at Harvard if Harvard had the space to admit them.</p>
<p>I disagree that the process is as "luck" based as you seem to suggest when you say, "Harvard says 85% could be successful, but they only admit 10%."</p>
<p>I mean sure a kid with 1450, 3.9uw, normal public school, decent ECs could be "successful" at Harvard. But we all know that kid will definitely not get in. The reason why people say "crabshoot" is because they dont know how many really competitive applicants are out there. They don't know that people with legacy, perfect scores, as well as another good hook such as USAMO exist as well.</p>
<p>I didn't say that the process is luck. What I said is that because Harvard's freshman class isn't 15,000 students, many very qualified students who could be successful at Harvard are turned down.</p>
<p>Very few students apply who lack the academic qualifications to be able to graduate should they be admitted at Harvard.</p>
<p>"I mean sure a kid with 1450, 3.9uw, normal public school, decent ECs could be "successful" at Harvard. But we all know that kid will definitely not get in."</p>
<p>Such a student could get in with remarkable essays or recommendations or if the student is first generation college, comes from an underrepresented region, is a URM or has blue collar/pink collar parents. Of course, even if a student has such qualifications, the student still wouldn't be guaranteed admission, but that's true for virtually all applicants.</p>
<p>NSM, I think everyone here probably feels the same way I do, in that you have been extremely helpful throughout the entire application process. I want to thank you for all of your words of wisdom AND inspiration.</p>
<p>I'm saying that the kid with those stats, period, will not get in. He is "qualified" and could be successful at Harvard. that is why I think when admissions says "85% could attend"--Its a little bit misleading for the ultra competitive students.</p>
<p>stcole, I think you are misunderstanding what NSM is saying. The point is that students shouldn't take a rejection as a sign that they are not smart enough to succeed at a place like Harvard -- most applicants are, and its just a function of the huge number of highly qualified applicants that its so difficult to get in. I don't think there's anything misleading about saying that the vast majority of them could succeed if admitted, but obviously only a small percentage are chosen to make up the class.</p>
<p>That's what i'm arguing against, I am saying that there is a clear divide between many of the applicants. </p>
<p>YES, the vast majority are "qualified" and could do the work. But there is a clear differnece between someone who is qualified for harvard (1450, 3.9uw, no hook, good ECs) and someone is well-qualified for harvard (1550+, 4.0uw, hook)</p>
<p>THat's what i'm trying to say, its misleading to say that harvard has to choose between 85% of applicants that are equal, that is not true!</p>
<p>Stcoleridge,
NSM didn't say the applicants were all equal - she said they were all capable of succeeding. Once you pass a certain point in SAT scores, GPAs, ECs etc, people are all generally qualified. I don't see a "clear divide" between a 1450 and a 1550. But everyone being "qualified" doesn't mean they're "equal" because people are clearly different. And she didn't say they were choosing from among 85% applicants, because not all 85% will stand out in some way - she just means that most people who apply would do fine at Harvard, and aren't rejected because they're dumb or something.</p>
<p>OMG, THAT IS WHAT IM SAYING. YES, 85% are qualified, but clearly not all of them stand out! Thats why I hate when people baby us and tell us, "Oh 85% are qualified, don't worry, its a tough decision."</p>
<p>I think there is a clear divide between those applicants, mainly hook and SAT...SAT scores do make a difference at that 1550 level, and I would definitely argue that a 1550 would get a closer look than a 1450.</p>
<p>Will you guys stop taking me for such a fool by saying "I dont think you see what NSM is syaing"--I see veyr well what she is saying. I'm simply arguing against the consolation that 85% are qualified, because she's implying that its a crabshoot by saying 85% are qualified, she may not have said it directly. But in a thread intended to console the deferrees, I think it's pretty clear shes using that number to say that decisions are hard to make.</p>
<p>From Northstarmom: "You also could remind your well wishers that only 1 in 10 Harvard applicants each year gains acceptance even though Harvard says that 85% of the applicants would be successful at Harvard if Harvard had the space to admit them"</p>
<p>Clearly this implies along with her post saying "Harvard has to turn down many very qualified applicants" that there isn't that clear of a divide between those 85%.</p>
<p>I am simply arguing that that is not entirely true. I would say that Harvard makes logical decisoins on who they accept and who they dont, ONCE AGAIN, on US standards a 1450 and 3.9UW and like Editor and Chief is very qualified, but without a hoook, his chances at Harvard are very small.</p>
<p>That is what I'm saying, stop reiterating what NSM said as if I'm not understanding her--I'm only taking contention with this point of hers.</p>
<p>You're clearly stressed about this whole EA thing so I'm not going to continue trying to clarify. However, I will tell you that the word is "craPshoot" - with a P. :)</p>
<p>I very much respect ur opinions, I just happen to think one of your points might have been a little misleading. Sorry if you took any of my things as aggressive.</p>
<p>That kid described with the 14?? SAT and the 3.9uw GPA does have a shot at getting in...
I have below a 1400 SAT with a public school background and I got in. I wish luck to anyone that is applying from a public school without the hottest SAT scores, grades, or the next attempt at curing AIDs. You have a shot, go for it.</p>