<p>For all of you here that got into Harvard this year (class of 2010) or last year (class of 2009), please post here. I would like to PM you personally and talk to you about what exactly you had and what Harvard is looking for.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>i doubt any one person could answer that, because decisions are made by a committee :)</p>
<p>Yeah, would have to agree, and plus every applicant is different from the other so there is nothing per se that applicant's have and don't have and so on.</p>
<p>Yes. There is really no "luck" at Harvard. Your regional rep might love you, but if a simple majority of the committee doesn't agree, then, well, sorry, you will not be accepted. There are plenty of students who fit this category.</p>
<p>Each committee member (professors, admissions officers, etc.) may have different reasons for accepting each student. One may be enthralled with your essay, the other might like something else. You never know what the minimum 16 (51%, for sake of argument) out of the 30 or so people who usually sit on the admissions committee might have thought of you in order to vote "admit" for your application.</p>
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You never know what the minimum 16 (51%, for sake of argument) out of the 30 or so people who usually sit on the admissions committee might have thought of you in order to vote "admit" for your application.
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<p>That right there sounds scary as hell.</p>
<p>A bunch of accepted people have already posted here. Check the accepted/denied thread:</p>
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You never know what the minimum 16 (51%, for sake of argument) out of the 30 or so people who usually sit on the admissions committee might have thought of you in order to vote "admit" for your application.
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That right there sounds scary as hell.
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<p>Agreed, it scary to see how a generally small pool of people have lasting effects on the lives of so many, though I would love to see what they thought about me in any admissions committee and see their reasoning, but oh well, hopefully one day I'll be on one of those committees and see how it all goes down.</p>
<p>Remember, as far as I know, it is really only Harvard who does a "full committee." That is, the applications that finally make the final round are evaluated against the applicants around the world. This makes me think, "hey - there is really no luck involved - if you are admitted, you truly deserve to be here."</p>
<p>Admissions officers and professors on the admissions committee KNOW that the decisions that they make are life-changing, to say the least. That is why they try to read in between the lines, and if they have any ounce of doubt about anything, they pass along applications to their colleagues, etc. The process is full of checks and balances in order to PREVENT any uninformed decision.</p>
<p>Other colleges have variations on this theme. As Michele Hernandez mentioned in her book, "A is for Admission," Dartmouth breaks down into different groups and is told that they can only accept a certain number of students. There, a little bit of luck might be possible - what if your group you were in overall had different credentials than you do? Then, you might stand out, etc. You guys know what I mean...</p>
<p>I think Yale works the same way Harvard does with the committee?</p>
<p>most colleges have committees--rarely do high level colleges have only one person make a decision</p>
<p>I think you're right, finale.</p>
<p>jimbob1225: Yes, most colleges do. But Harvard decides on applications based on a FULL committee, whereas other colleges decide on applications where there are pods of 3-4 admissions officers deciding on a set of cases.</p>
<p>Also, at many schools (but not Harvard) the Dean of Admissions has the authority to admit or deny someone solely on his/her decision, regardless of what the committee may have said. Harvard sticks with the committee.</p>