Hey guys ! I got deferred !
But I had a question -
If I sent in an important update on 24th November 2016 through the applicant status portal, would they have read it ? I mean in one of the posts on CC I read - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1221532-harvard-scea-deadline-for-supplemental-materials-research-paper.html
Do they read that or not ?
Or do they only read it after deferring a student ?
in the regular decision round ?
Due to the timing, no one here can guess whether or not your file was re-opened with the new info or deferred with the new infor appended. If it wasn’t read, it will be seen as an update to your file when it’s considered for the RD round.
@T26E4
Can the counselor recommendation being submitted around 20th of November be the reason for my deferral? It is notable that I received an interview request shortly thereafter, though.
@ahmedsheta – c’mon now. How can I know? Are you wondering that letter on the 20th was negative? I doubt it. or otherwise you’d been rejected.
@T26E4
No, I am merely wondering if it being submitted late may result in them not having enough time and thus deferring to the RD to have more time.
From your contributions, you are a very helpful and knowledgeable source, so I speculated that you may have any idea.
I see. No, I’m a long time Yale interviewer so I’m familiar with general policies and milestones for schools such as Harvard. And I know how bureaucracies and organizations operate and the general outlook of professional admissions officers. I can offer some broad guesses based on these – but sometimes CC people’s questions are too specific. Good luck w/your deferment and your RD apps, though!
@T26E4
Thanks alot!
this guy at my school got accepted because he has a great personality. sure, his activities were probably typical with the other applicants but he is so sweet and likeable to all the teachers and students and that probably showed in his recs and interview. I think harvard looks for those ppl whose recs and interview say that person has the best personality and character they have ever meet even though they might not have a perfect score or GPA or be in ap calc bc.
Need some advice. Got deferred with perfect 4.0 UW GPA/ 4.57 W GPA/ ACT/ 11 AP’s with 5’s / 7 sat 2’s with 800/NMSF. Some research/ state band/ lot of volunteering. What should be done to improve the chances in RD.
^dang
I’m absolutely shocked. Perfect GPA, near-perfect test scores, 11 APs, class valedictorian, state director of a 501©(4) / political action committee, founder of a progressive political organization in my hometown, competitive debater, former intern for a us senator, executive board member of state chapter of HS Dems, math team captain, trivia team captain, Yale Young Global Scholar, published political journalist, multi-instrumentalist, student body treasurer, district director for CPYC, and co-president of the drama club… and stuck with a deferral, despite solid essays and a kick-ass interview. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
I’m, coincidentally enough, meeting with Harvard’s former athletics director on Saturday, who is still something of an influential figure on campus. From what it sounds like, he’s willing to do what he can to help me out. Furthermore, I’m having a family friend (graduate of and former lecturer at Harvard) and a former state rep from whom I’ve worked send letters of recommendation to the admissions office. I’ve had my eyes set on Harvard since the first grade, and I’m utterly crushed right now. This doesn’t feel real.
Welcome to the club, bro. 
When you’re the type of kid who takes AP Calc BC at age 14, you just become used to folks telling you that you’ll end up at whichever school you want to attend. It stings to find out that that’s not always true.
@TheCrimsonBulldog I feel you. It’s been a very similar situation for me and it still doesn’t feel real. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was 7 and am decimated right now. It just makes it so much worse that this has been a goal of mine for so many years because it feels like it’s ended so abruptly.
Judging from the gazette post, if you’re Asian it IS a lot harder statistic wise… They took 21.4% Asian students this year (compared to 24.1 last year).
I understand that people who are rejected/deferred are crushed, that is a natural and understandable reaction. But I am always shocked when I see people saying that they did not expect to get rejected/deferred from top schools and especially from Harvard out of all places. The expectation when applying to Harvard should be non-acceptance for anyone, no matter how insanely qualified they are. That is the only way to approach it given the hard facts of how many people they turn down each year and the sheer caliber of many people they turn down. If you do not approach it like that and hype it so much in your mind that you think it is Harvard or bust, you risk crushing yourself emotionally when that deferral/rejection comes. This is the only way to approach applying to the most selective school in the country.
I know that over-achieving and hyper-competitive people are not very good at settling for their second or third choice but that is life. I sincerely hope that Harvard ends up working out for you and you should do anything in your power to make your dream happen, but if does not work then look at it as a life lesson. Many times you will not get your first choice in life no matter how hard you have worked for and wanted it. You still have to make do with what comes your way and move on, which i m sure in your case will be another terrific college if Harvard does not work out.
I was interested in the percent of deferred applicants that eventually get accepted. Anybody got a clue?