<p>What Byerly says is true.
However, for those of you who continue to be obsessed with the size of the waitlist, my guess is that it is extremely large --perhaps over 1,000-- so that Harvard can pick and choose from it to balance the entering class.</p>
<p>Acccording to US News, 81 students were accepted from the wait list (presumably last year or the year before).</p>
<p>My advice is to certainly accept the waitlist if you want a chance at going to Harvard. Take the time to update Harvard with any achievements that occurred after you sent your application info in. However, don't hold your breath waiting for an acceptance. Indeed, assume that you won't get in.</p>
<p>Concentrate on selecting from the colleges that accepted you and fall in love -- deep love -- with that college. If you end up with a Harvard acceptance, you can always fall back in love with Harvard. </p>
<p>I sympathize completely...but hey, I just got my Princeton envelope today, and it was nice and fat ^_^ . So that's a wrap for me, 2/top 3 is not bad at all, and I am more than willing to accept that and make the next decision...I don't know if I'll stay on the waitlist at Harvard.</p>
<p>I'm going to post my decision in the official place...then, see ya, Harvard boards! No resentment at all--at least I wasn't rejected anywhere!</p>
<p>Yes, listen to Northstarmom and Byerly - they offer unbeatable advice. It's difficult to get in, but persistence pays off. Update as much as you can, and I don't think it hurts to tell them that you're still strongly interested.</p>
<p>Yeah, apparently Harvard decisions at my school this year were quite random. ~35 or so admits. ~20% of admits didn't break 2000 on the new sat. ~20% didn't break 4.0/5.0 gpa. But some of these ppl with low stats had something that stood out, such as this asian kid who is part of step squad. Note to future applicants: Harvard wants diversity.</p>