<p>Okay,
I am getting mixed opinions on this. What is the truth? Is it okay to have someone call or not?
I think it would be . . ..</p>
<p>Unless you have a valid reason to call (i.e., a question not answered elsewhere or a problem), it's probably a terrible idea. But if you do... why not?</p>
<p>what do you need to find out? a generic question, or about your application</p>
<p>or is the call to help you</p>
<p>In general, when it comes to Harvard, it's a bad idea. The only time to call is if you have a question that's not answered by common sense or on the Harvard web site. Harvard doesn't care about demonstrated interest, so calling to kiss up won't help you, and may simply irritate the admissions officers, who are very busy. Many times I see on this board students who are considering calling for trivial reasons. No need to call if you have a typo on your application or if you're concerned that if you mail your application Mon., it won't be postmarked by the right date.</p>
<p>If you were deferred, Harvard isn't likely to tell you what you can do to boost your chances of acceptance. That's because most applicants are very well qualified, but still won't get in because there's not enough space for everyone who's qualified.</p>
<p>WHY would calling admissions be a bad idea? They exist to answer your questions and help you. If you're calling for an individual check-up on your application they might be annoyed, but for anything else, go for it!</p>
<p>"WHY would calling admissions be a bad idea? They exist to answer your questions and help you."</p>
<p>Admissions doesn't exist to help the applicants, but to choose the students who'd create the best freshman class possible.</p>
<p>Calling admissions is a bad idea if one is calling only to try to have the admissions officers remember you. They are busy people, and don't have time to chat. Calling admissions also is a bad idea if one is calling for a trivial reason (E.G. calling to ask if you should send a new essay because the one with your application had a typo in it) or to get the answer to a question that's answered on the web site. Doing such things could cause the admissions officer to view you in a bad light because they want to accept students who are independent thinkers and are able to use the Internet to do research.</p>
<p>^^
Cinnamon862:</p>
<p>No they don't, thats what students assume. The admissions department does not like speaking to students about issues that can be answered from marketing materials, web site content, etc. It probably won't work against you calling them, but there is a chance.</p>
<p>I actually sent an e-mail to one of the student representative boards (more specifically the UMRP) and since I was deferred and wanted to check with them about what I could do, one of them told me (a) try and get in touch with your admissions counselor to find out about any weaknesses (without overwhelming them of course) (b) consider sending in a third letter of recommendation and (c) update the office about any new awards or accomplishments. The Admissions office does exist to both craft an ideal incoming freshman class and to help handle student inquiries. But of course do not ask about anything that cannot be answered in the FAQs or through checking with subordinate representatives (e.g. The Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program, etc.) first.</p>
<p>I would not be actually calling them, it would be someone like a gc from my high school. she would be asking if there is anything else that they need (any materials), would reiterate my interest . . .</p>
<p>harvard doesnt need to know that you are interested. of course you are.</p>
<p>it has the highest yeild rate anyways.</p>
<p>OMG....way toooooo over analyzing here :P Firstly, who are you calling? The Admissions office? By all means, if you have ANY questions, call! Firstly, no admissions officer actually answers the phone. The only people who answer are students who are working there. The students can answer most of the general basic questions. The admissions officers are way too busy to even answer the phone calls, so don't imagine you can talk with them. I called them 3 times to ask to check on the status of my supplemental recs and it was fine. So, go ahead and call or email. You aren't going to get put on their "black-list" by doing so.</p>
<p>Admissions officers do sometimes answer the phone and return phone calls. Two years ago, when I had dinner with the regional officer for my area, that person said they have returned calls from students only to have the parents try to talk instead of the student (who was the one who called). The admission officer said that some parents are very aggressive about trying to do this, even referring to "our application."</p>
<p>If you have a real reason to call, then certainly do so, just don't bother calling to kiss up or because you're too lazy to read the web site.</p>
<p>What about emailing the regional admissions officer? I read on cc that some applicants made about 4 contacts with the regional admission officers over the course of the application process. Should we be contacting them to introduce ourselves ect. I did not think so, but with so many applicants in the regular pool I wonder if this makes the regional admission officer remember the applicant more.</p>
<p>Only contact them if you have a real reason to. Do not contact them to kiss up. They are busy people who are flooded with work. What applicants need to put their time into is having the best applications and interviews that they can, not worrying about making extraneous calls to admissions officers.</p>
<p>If your application shines in the pile of applications, the ad officers will remember you.</p>
<p>Thanks northstarmom</p>
<p>If you have a QUESTION, call. It does not hurt your application in any way, as calling my regional admissions officer for Harvard was actually very nice in answering my question. In fact, I think she remembered me better because I showed concern about my application. However, do not call to try to impress the admissions office.</p>
<p>Yeah... of course people are all different (e.g. adcoms) but they are there to help you too. The FAQ does not answer or clarify every single thing in the world and the secretaries don't have as much background knowledge about you to satisfy an answer for any sort of specific question you would have that the FAQ could not answer. So call if you have a question. My admissions officer called me back after I left a message and even gave me some specific feedback on my application. I knew she was a generally more friendly and receptive adcom anyway since she encouraged us to use her as a resource at one of the various local meetings she held encouraging students to apply. Anyway best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Hello everyone. I didn't want to make a new thread for my trivial question.</p>
<p>I sent in my package (Teacher recs, etc..) on the 28th, and my status on-line indicates that Harvard hasn't received them. I know my package got there because I checked the online tracker said so, but is anyone else a little worried like me?</p>
<p>wait a few days, jhkorea, before making any moves</p>
<p>Harvard gets thousands of applications around the time of its deadline. It doesn't have thousands of admissions officers and helpers to open the mail and input the data immediately. In addition, probably much of the staff was on vacation when your things arrived. It's normal that it will take a while --probably at least a couple of weeks -- for the application components to be logged in.</p>