It does happen, but its very very rare. Close to 0% of apps get this clause, since US dec. offers are unconditional, unlike UK dec. offers.
Idk why exactly, maybe they see the app a better fit in next years class based on the goals they have for the future batch, or the academic record is a bit dodgy up to the point that this decision has to be given. It’s a very weird clause to arrive to by the adcom for an app. Almost all (close to 100%) fo the times the adcom can make an admit/deny/WL (or defer for earlies) decision based off the academic record
Note: THe academic component of an app consists of only the grades and test scores and exam scores of any sort
The exact number, AFAIK, is not published, and may vary by year, IIRC the number is about 50 on average.
My understanding is yes, it is used. Don;t hold me to it, but I believe it’s primary use is to compare standard deviations between the AI of recruited athletes (either as a whole or different subsets like team) and the AI of non-recruited athletes. I would not spend time overthinking this.
I recently found out that Harvard called my school guidance counselor to talk about me. Do you know what this could possibly mean? My counselor did not tell me what they said because she said she did not want to get my hopes up, but I have been stressing over what this could mean.
@R2emma It’s not an unfavorable sign; it shows that Harvard has an interest in you, enough to specifically call your counselor to talk about you! But your counselor is right, you shouldn’t get your hopes up. You don’t know how Harvard will use the information they got from your counselor. So assume nothing from it just to be safe. But good luck!
It means they havent rejected you as of late, and need more data about you in perspective of others (in this case the GC; maybe the letter sent didnt give them the full picture they needed)
So just to get additional info to present you better to the full adcom. Thats all. Read nothing into it.
lol to answer yalls questions about likely letters, my letter came by email but i also received a phone call from the admissions office informing me of my likely status. no, i did not cure cancer. I also only have 32 on the ACT and im not a legacy student. Anything is possible, keep your hopes up kiddos
@unidreamer23 I also got a likely letter (by an email telling me of a status update in my portal)! I’m a domestic applicant & I, too, did not cure cancer.
What you said applies, and anyone who has a stark athletic record, since these records can be easily compared are chosen.
Since theres a rough set of LL"s to be sent, the athletic part is sorted out. FOr the non athletic, they look at diversity (some LL’s this way) and fulfilling an aspect that they come across in the pool for an app that they feel is really needed on campus (other LL’s this way)
Then, the rest ‘shortlists’ (idk how exactly they do this, but theyre very few) are brought up in front of the committee for a decision.
Generally its a great athletic record for athletes, and a much needed app component for non’s. The committee is trained to fish these out even if one member of the adcom sees something like this.
In now, hence, does not getting an LL mean that the app is worse than the one who got an LL.
