Harvard University Class of 2022 RD Thread

I ended up not signing up for some ap exams that I listed on the common app as future exams. Are there consequences to this?

From an admissions perspective? No.

Thanks for the info! @skieurope

Any reading/writing tips on the SAT?

@rampions What do parents usually do at Visitas? Are there any separate programs for them? Thanks

Yes, there were separate events for parents: a morning coffee social hour, a general welcome and intro by the Dean, student health care meeting, sports facility tour, library tour (great- see the Gutenburg bible), art museum hours and tour, etc. You can check on the Freshman Dean’s Office website for specific details for 2018. Don’t plan on seeing your student s/he will be busy all day and evening.

@brbound As @fauve describes. I’m probably conflating Visitas and the freshman year family visit weekend, but yes, a general welcome, for parents and students, in Sanders Theater, then you split up. The prospective student stays with students, I went to a hotel. There was the Library tour, free admission to all the museums, campus tours, tours of the art facilities, and - my favorite was a presentation by around five of Harvard’s top professors - each presenting individually for a half hour or so, different fields - I think this was on the second day and was open to both parents and students. Plenty to do, for each, and lots of separation, so the student doesn’t get aggravated at the parent hanging around. And Fauve is right - you won’t see your student much. Just the way it should be. There’ll be a tentative schedule online, and then you are given the full one when you sign in.

How do I reach my admissions officer?

@TotallyChilled Your admissions officer typically sends a note, with their contact info, about a week out from your acceptance.

Anybody on this thread considering Harvard math/physics and MIT math/physics? Our son is faced with this decision, and, while awesome problem to have, it is a tough one to say the least. He will be attending Visitas and CPW. Just wondering if anyone else is faced with this choice and could offer advice. Thanks!

Do you have to stay all 3 days if you show up for Visitas?

No, and many don’t since there is often overlap with other college’s admitted students days.

Thanks! We may skip Monday then. But it is still up in the air.

@tiredIBstudent I hadn’t realized you were going on the basis of your FAFSA EFC. Harvard uses CSS for institutional aid, which explains why this happens. CSS takes into account many things that FAFSA doesn’t. However, the fact remains that Harvard doesn’t offer Merit aid and bases financial aid purely on financial need as they calculate it.

@brazos21 Is there no longer cross registration between Harvard and MIT?

@Questar There is and that is an awesome feature of going to either school. However, it doesn’t really sway the decision one way or the other. This is really a question that probably comes down to personal fit. Based on everything I’ve read and been told, the physics (theoretical) and math programs are comparable. Therefore, it’s really what my son likes the most for non-academic reasons.

There is.

That said, the concept of cross-registration is one of those things that sound very cool to incoming students, but then the reality sets in - the academic calendars don’t line up and the travel time to/from MIT can impact one’s options for classes at Harvard.

@FreePariahDid you get into both Harvard and Yale? I had wanted to go to Yale and was deferred; I sent a letter in January to update Yale and I made it quite clear Yale was still my first choice. I applied to Harvard for Regular Decision (with a number of other schools but I didn’t push for Harvard as I had discounted it and I assumed I wouldn’t get in. But surprisingly I was made an offer by both schools. For some reason Harvard has made a number of targeted efforts to entice me into choosing Harvard which surprised me. I didn’t think I would get personal letters from some of the sciences faculty members or present students. In short, Harvard seems to care. In contrast, Yale has been completely indifferent. It’s the only school (out of four Ivies and six other highly regarded schools) that has made no effort to personalize this process. I’m sure these letters from faculty and students are formulaic and don’t mean anything but Harvard is much more welcoming than .I ever would have imagined.

Son accepted the spot yesterday. Still coming to Visitas (driving from Chicago).

Does anyone know how long it would take for the Class of 2022 t-shirts to be delivered. I ordered it April 3rd and I live in NJ. Would I receive it before visitas on April 21-23?