<p>"The Family Letter is a time-honored tradition at Harvard, offering background information to senior members of the FDO staff to help set the stage for a successful transition to Harvard. Letters can include information about experiences that have significantly shaped a student’s personality or academic world, how a student responds to new situations and challenges, and any other information that would be helpful in getting to know the student."</p>
<p>There was also a paragraph in the getting started brochure, but I somehow still can't imagine how the family letter should look ;-).</p>
<p>Can anybody tell me what the family letter really is? Does everyone do it? Is it required? What should it include? How long should it be? </p>
<p>We’ve written two of them and sent them in. There’s never been any feedback or evidence that they’ve been used in any way. I sort of suspect that they’re done for the placebo effect or letting parents feel as if they have some input.</p>
<p>We wrote one, and I believe the details we included help the FDO (Freshmen Dean’s Office)and housing match her up to the perfect roommate and best-suited dorm. When she met Dean Dingaman, he remembered her from the letter and had some basis for their insuing warm relationship, and faculty/freshman dinners.</p>
<p>My recollection is that my parents wrote they trusted me to know what I wanted and what would be best for me. I got a great roommate who had all the attributes I asked for (non-smoking, well travelled and speaking German would be a plus.)</p>
<p>the Family Letter was a request that we received after my son’s acceptance to H. We spoke to a former student and they said that the letter is just one aspect in the housing/roommate selection. It’s not in anyway intended to be the absolute criteria when choosing roommates or housing, it’s simply just one other thing to look at to make the housing situation better and more comfortable for the students. Only 2 of my son’s roommates parents wrote a Family Letter and everything turned out fine. </p>
<p>For us, it was just a fun thing to do. We were not placing too much stock into it. That’s all!</p>
<p>We didn’t write one. I think my son would have been rather embarrassed if we had done so. He wrote a very brief response regarding his roommate preferences - covering the basics. He and his roommates were so pleased with their arrangement, they blocked together.</p>
<p>We wrote one for our D last year, it was light hearted and fun-nothing embarrassing and will write one for our son. Not sure if they used it but it must have been memorable (my H wrote it, he is a great writer) because my D’s Proctor and the Dean both made comments relating to the letter when we were introduced and knew a bit about our D which was a nice personal touch. So they do read it…it may just be to get to know the kids better from a perspective other than their own…</p>
<p>Bump. I’m also looking for the answer to this question and, with all due respect to the previous posters, no one actually mentioned what should be in it.</p>
<p>There is no formula for what “should be in it”. It is strictly voluntary, and the Harvard notice gives suggestions of what you might want to include, such as family conditions which might affect a student’s performance/mood/emotional state such as divorce, illness, trauma, etc. Or just comments about the student’s personality or approach to life which might influence their coping skills, living patterns, etc. </p>
<p>Read the Harvard suggestions to determine if a letter could help the FDO know you/your student better.
There is no right length, format, etc. You create your own unique response.</p>
<p>Agree with fauve, there is no formula or anything that “should” be in it. Its a personal family letter to further personalize your child. We didn’t have anything startling about our family to tell but did talk about family dynamics, coming from a larger family used to having lots of people around not necessarily always talking with them all the time but having people around. She ended up with 5 roomates 4 bedrooms and a common room (kind of like a large family). Good fit for a kid with a big family, a single or double would probably not have worked for her.</p>
<p>I’m sure if it gets there a couple of days late, it still will be used.</p>
<p>Don’t overthink these letters. You’re in Harvard now, not lobbying to be accepted. Harvard is just trying to find out a little more about you. You’re a member of the club whom they’re trying to get to know. They aren’t looking for reasons to kick you out. :)</p>