Harvard 2020 Waitlist Discussion

"I am very sorry to inform you that it is not possible to offer you admission to the Class of 2020. I wish I were writing to report a different decision, but only a limited number of students will be admitted from the waiting list this year.

In recent years, the Committee has been faced with increasingly difficult decisions; more than thirty-nine thousand students now apply for the sixteen hundred and sixty places in the freshman class, and the great majority of our applicants could certainly be successful here academically. In addition, most candidates present strong personal and extracurricular credentials. The Committee has, therefore, been faced with the necessity of choosing a freshman class from a great many more talented and highly qualified students than it has room to admit.

We wish it were possible for us to admit more of our fine applicants, and we understand how difficult the college application process can be for students and their families. While the Committee conducted its deliberations with the utmost care, we know that no one can predict with certainty what an individual will accomplish during college or beyond. Past experience suggests that the particular college a student attends is far less important than what the student does to develop his or her strengths and talents over the next four years.

We are grateful for your patience over the past weeks. We very much appreciate the interest you have shown in Harvard and hope you will accept the best wishes of the Committee for all your future endeavors."

So @thereds got an email first but @Smythe did not? Hmmmm


No portal change yet


I never got an email for any update.

My daughter did not get an email and no rejection on her portal. But there is something I just noticed on her portal today. Under “Important Dates”, it says “Waitlist Reply Deadline: May 20, 2016”. Does anyone else see that or know what that means?

@Hamotron, did you login to your portal to see if they posted any update?

Rejected unfortunately. Is it still possible to get z-listed? I doubt that it is.

Well damn. Third generation legacy, really hoping for z-list, just rejected.
I’m going up at the end of the month for my mom’s reunion and was hoping to talk to people, and I had some updates pending to give them in the next few days, but there goes that plan.

Does anyone know if rejected waitlistees still have a chance to be on z-list?

@RISearch, not sure what that date is. We have that date as well, and like I said above we got the reject mail/portal update.

If I were to guess, it is the date by which the candidates admitted off the waitlist have to reply to their offer.

@RISearch im in the same boat. no acceptance but no rejection. i dont think its pertinent to us. either that means that you have until may 20th to confirm your spot on the waitlist OR the kids who were accepted in the first wave have until may 20th to accept their spots. not sure and it could even be something else but thats my guess.

@RISearch It shows up for me too. I assume it’s an error and it’s the date those accepted today are supposed to reply by.
@TheReds Yes, I was rejected.

It is the date that those who received offers earlier this week have to reply by.

Rejected but not unexpected. Grad School here I come!

@ScreenNameeee @Skiier3

No. You’re next step is to move on.

Z listers are usually held until the end on waitlist.

I also did not receive any update on my portal. To those of you who received a phone call – has your portal changed to reflect your acceptance?

I’m replying for my D – yes – she got an admissions letter.

Sorry for all who got the bad news! But as of course I’m sure you all know, Harvard is not the be all and end all and there are plenty of great schools out there. Good luck in the next 4 years

I also haven’t received an update. Does anyone know if the majority of waitlisted students are released after the first round? If not, I honestly wish they’d reject me already if there isn’t hope – I was deferred at another school and then waitlisted at Harvard. The college process has gone on way too long :))

Thanks for all the kind words guys!!! I was sad for an hour or so, then I got over it. I still love Harvard but their is nothing I can do. I think my parents are more disappointed than me. Duke 2020 here I come!

BTW: I also have the may 20 reply date after being rejected so I dont think it means anything.