@skieurope Thicker skin- yes. From the sounds of Harvard, I couldn’t agree more. You certainly can’t control the fact that- in life- some people will just be jerks. Still, I don’t think it is a sign of weakness to key you in on the fact that someone may have found that offensive. That’s like saying that the FBI needs to be a little tougher because they care too much about keeping crime rates down. While I’m certainly no FBI, I do think it is important to encourage kindness where and whenever possible. We’re not going to solve the world’s major problems by pitting students against each other, and while Harvard is most definitely a place with frank opinions and competition, it doesn’t mean students should give up trying when it comes to encouraging kindness and collaboration.
My mom is one of the least competitive but most hard-working people I know… and she went to Harvard. No tough skin necessary–just kindness 
Hey guys, its my first time on college confidential so pls don’t roast me too hard.
I was wondering whether international students who receive interviews are in anyways “advantaged”?
@NabeelCheung Generally, no. It’s basically luck of the draw. There are only so many international interviewers to go around. Regardless, I would not read anything into getting or not getting an interview request.
@MCurie As I said, it was not my intent, so we’re down to inferred vs. implied. Anyway, I’m moving on to the next topic.
Has any international applicant (including those who study in the US) received an interview request?
@lhw1998 I have the same thing (I’m on a gap year so everything is in my final transcript), I contacted them and they said that it was no problem, and that it wouldn’t matter that it still appears as ‘missing’
Is Harvard selective in who they send to interview you? Like do they try to send someone with similar interests to what you put down or something? My friend and I both applied from the same high school, but she got a different interviewer than me. I doubt that it’s because there are a lot of interviewers to go around - I’m from a small rural state in the mid-south.
@AWizardATrueStar it’s based entirely on alumni availability. While it seems possible that you were matched with a specific interviewer, I highly doubt it. Most of the time, if you have a different interviewer it is because the specific alumni had a conflict of interest (she knew you, he is a teacher at your school, etc.)
Do you guys think the review for RD applicants is almost over already? I hear that once they start sending out likely letters (usually mid Feb) it means that they have finished review for RD apps and then move back to deferred EA apps.
Hope not…my daughter’s mid years aren’t even out yet. Semester just ended.
Does anyone know what date RD decisions are posted/tend to be posted?
Sure it does, every “athlete” has a competitive advantage regardless of what others views as a sport. For those involved at the highest levels and can compete academically within one standard deviation of accepted class statistics absolutely has an advantage. Best of luck.
Ivy day is March 30th this year. This is when all Ivy decisions will be released, probably around 5 pm eastern. Hope that helps!
any one know the best way to upload an extra letter of recommendation?
@Georgia101 Got your recommender to send one by post or e-mail. If they don’t have an address to send it to, then I guess they simply do not want extra letters of rec. I guess you could upload it to your portal but that means you will have read it which means its legitimacy is severely compromised.
@Georgia101 Upload it through Common App and then ask them if you need to do anything else to make them aware that your recommender sent it through Common App.
@HalfPastThree I don’t think that’s possible for Extra letters after the deadline for the schools.
My daughter will receive confirmation this week that she is Valedictorian. She put it on her app, but indicated it was anticipated because they recalculate after midyears. She wants to let admissions know that she is first. How do you guys suggest she do that? They will get her midyears, but not sure it will be clear on there. I think her GC is willing to send them something, we just aren’t sure of the best way to handle that.
@collegemomjam, same thing for me. But it will be on the mid-year report, you shouldn’t need to send anything seperate.