<p>etondad: You didn’t read my post in whole. I turned down Harvard and politely requested that my spot be given to a student on the waitlist. I also mentioned earlier that I would love to go to the Kennedy School, and my uncle’s an alumni.</p>
<p>Are the waitlist decisions made at the regional level or by the entire admissions committee? And why would you send your letter of intent to the regional director rather than the admissions office?</p>
<p>My guess is that it’s both regional and Committee. The admissions officers, like in the regular round, will have their faves whom they will fight for at Committee. But obviously the ultimate decisions will be made by the Committee…</p>
<p>Like etondad said before, it’s doubtful that the Dean will actually get to reading anything sent to him. There is a reason for the Committee being comprised of more than just the Dean… and good luck finding contact information.</p>
<p>I wonder if they keep the wait list long in order to pick the next candidate available that fits the profile of a person that declined in order to rebalance the class.</p>
<p>I sent my email to my regional representative (who is part of the Admissions Office) so that my letter of intent/updates would reach the Committee. She thanked me for the update and let me know my email would be added to my file for consideration.</p>
<p>hi guys, i’m a bit of a yucky spot. my regional officer recently died. What should I do?</p>
<p>Waitlisted. Took myself off the waitlist to go to Stanford. Wrote a letter to the Dean explaining this and to talk about what a huge influence Harvard was on my life (brother and sister are Harvard alums). Got the nicest letter in reply.
Best of luck to you all!!
Kennedy School Class of 2018!! (Hopefully!)</p>
<p>haha ag2011 thanks for giving us all a .1% increase in chances. :)</p>
<p>hey guys, im in the cambridge area. i wanted to set up an appointment with an admissions rep but since im from the west coast; the times just didnt work out for me to call. would it be bad if i just dropped by the admissions office impromptu and just introduced myself? any suggestions would be helpful!!</p>
<p>EnoughAlready - I AM open to all types of learning. I love reading Scientific American and watching Carl Sagan and whatnot. I’m just not capable of doing mental math quickly. I don’t think that should disqualify me automatically, but you’re entitled to your opinion. I would love to major in physics - honestly - but I just don’t have the talent. Prove to me that everyone who got an 800 on the math section of the SAT can also demonstrate passion and aptitude for literature, languages, and history, and maybe I’ll take the whole “well-rounded” critique more seriously.</p>
<p>Sorry, quick question, but should I mention the other schools I have been accepted to in my letter of ‘intent’? Or would that seem like I was bragging or favoring them?</p>
<p>^I think that would be bragging.</p>
<p>^ ^ And they would think-- well, that person is all set so we don’t have to think about him/her. Very bad idea.</p>
<p>Francisvdahlmann wrote: “Prove to me that everyone who got an 800 on the math section of the SAT can also demonstrate passion and aptitude for literature, languages, and history, and maybe I’ll take the whole “well-rounded” critique more seriously.”</p>
<p>Well, I never said that the SAT in math was the measure of anything. I am saying that Harvard has to turn down lots of people with perfect SAT scores every year. They seem to be looking for really smart people with minds open to everything who usually have some special something. That’s all. I also think it isn’t totally a fair process. Sorry if I offended.</p>
<p>@EnoughAlready: Life, ipse, is not fair. People are living a delusion if they think it is. Where college admissions are most difficult is that for most students it is the first time in their lives that they come up against this cruel reality. </p>
<p>Gump was wrong–life is not a box of chocolates. </p>
<p>Sometimes you will profit because life isn’t fair, sometimes you will be hurt–but you should not be surprised.</p>
<p>EnoughAlready - You’re fine. My post was mainly just for the purpose of correcting my earlier one, which made it seem like I have no interest in the sciences at all. Also, I tend to get defensive because I feel like ability in math/sciences is often valued over talent in the humanities/arts, but that’s my problem, not yours.</p>
<p>My math score on the SAT I was an 800 and I’m very interested in the humanities. And I play an instrument. Maybe you could write them a letter telling them to take me off the waitlist? I’m pretty psyched to go to the University of Virginia next year, but of course Harvard is number one. Rejected outright from Yale, as expected, but Cornell? Really? Here’s to hoping. Best of luck to everyone.</p>
<p>Subtleusername - Ha. Just out of curiosity, what did you get on CR/W? Also, if your stats are strong, why did you expect to be rejected from Yale? What’s your class rank/GPA? Have you demonstrated interest in the humanities throughout high school?</p>
<p>I had a 2260, with 750 on CR and 710 on W. 4.0UW/4.62W GPA and first in my class of 400, with 3 varsity sports and a bunch of other stuff. I don’t have any special humanities stuff, but 5’s on AP Euro, US, and HuGe, and taking comp Gov, US Gov, Psych, and World this year. I was just making a joke, and I really intend to concentrate in mathematics. I just don’t think you understood how many extremely qualified people were on the waitlist with us - presumably most of them more talented than myself. I guess I just never got my hopes up too much for Yale because I know how random admissions often seem to be.</p>
<p>^That’s a silly discussion…let’s go back to topic. :)</p>
<p>In about a week we will know just how much hope we should have, anyone feeling nervous…? </p>
<p>Oh and happy easter! I’m watching a doctor who marathon on TV haha what are you all doing?</p>