<p>Do you really think Harvard Waitlists 2000? My guess is that they waitlist about 1500, because that’s what similar schools claim they waitlist as well. In addition, you’d have to think only about 2/3 of the people respond. I don’t think your odds are great–especially if you don’t have an important connection writing you a recommendation, like a famous legacy or powerful person–but I think the odds are OK, maybe somewhere around 10-15%.</p>
<p>If the chances of getting accepted are 1 in 10, that’s not very good odds…</p>
<p>Should I send updates directly to admissions or to a particular admissions officer? Also, should I title the update letter (sending it by snail mail)?</p>
<p>Send it directly to admissions unless you happen know whom your regional admissions officer is. The admissions office will give the info to your regional admissions officer.</p>
<p>Alright. Should I provide a title to the letter on the envelope so they know what the contents are, or will they be able to figure that out themselves?</p>
<p>cicero, will you be sending your update letter (snail mail) to… </p>
<p>Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Harvard College
86 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138</p>
<p>Yes I will. I just don’t know if I should title the envelope so they know what is in it.</p>
<p>Whatever it is you choose, good luck, cicero!</p>
<p>Thanks Morgan. I really hope I get off. I have a rec from the superintendent, and I have quite a few updates since I last submitted my application. I know a lot of people are trying to get in contact directly with their regional admissions officer, but I’m not sure that would really do much. I’ll just send my updates through the admissions office; the regional officer will read the stuff anyway. And besides, I’ve already met her through a second interview, so it’s not like she doesn’t know who I am.</p>
<p>I am so nervous and anxious right now. The only person that got into Harvard from our school is turning it down for a significantly lower ranked school. She got a full scholarship + stipend there and knew of this before she applied to other schools, but applied anyways just to say that she got in. It really frustrated me to know this, but hopefully that opens up a spot for me. We’ll see in May/June. Ugh, this is so stressful; I just want a final decision so it can all be over with.</p>
<p>Yes, I CAN definitely relate to you 100%. Well I have no idea what your persuasion is, but in my disenchanted times, I pray. Have faith ;-). I’ll keep you in my prayers =).</p>
<p>Haha thanks again. We’ll both be praying then :).</p>
<p>@cicero,</p>
<p>I have a full ride + 3K + iPhone on the table right now, but I’d give it all away for the Yard … I’m being aggressive with recs, contacts and updates. It will be interesting if waitlist “style” can be correlated with results …</p>
<p>@cicero: No problem, anytime!</p>
<p>@plumazul: Full ride, stipend, AND iPhone?! Whoa man, IDK. Whatever your heart is set on, pursue it to the greatest extent =).</p>
<p>@plumazul: what do you mean by waitlist style? I am planning on sending 3 updates total to each of my waitlist colleges (Harvard, MIT, CalTech). I think I’ll just send everything directly to the admissions office. I don’t really see how contacting the regional admissions officer could make that much a difference. An update is an update. I am hoping for a low yield overall and in my region. I’m going to be very stressed until I receive a final decision.</p>
<p>Well first, let me congratulate you on getting waitlisted into some of the best schools in the country =). My only advice to you is to just calm down. Occupy your time by taking up a hobby, reading encouraging quotes, anything that soothes the mind.</p>
<p>I’m scared to send in things. What if it isn’t important enough? And what if my rec isn’t good enough? So scared they will reject me for being superfluent. Bleh…</p>
<p>what exactly does it mean when you are on the wait list?
thank you!
xoxo
dee1000</p>
<p>Well this is what I gained from several websites and if it is wrong, I will stand corrected : The wait list means that the college or colleges have a serious and genuine interest in you and that you still remain on their radar(s). You are qualified for admission and would have gotten in but there was not enough room. The good news is, if you really want that particular school badly, then I suggest to stay on because it is possible to be taken off even though it is not like a HUGE chance. But guess what? Over 20,000 people got rejected and you weren’t one of them! So you beat the odds there, right?</p>
<p>There are many reasons for being on the waitlist. I know people say that some schools accept a ton of people from certain schools so the number of people accepted from your school shouldn’t affect if you get in or not; however, it seems that if your school does not historically send many people to Harvard that they do seem to cap the number of people that they will take from your school. I really think that is what happened in my case.</p>
<p>I know of students on wait list sending letter of recommendations from their school principal in support of their application. So may be students on wait list can try that.</p>