<p>is it a rare and special thing if the dean of harvard college gives his input to the adcom about your ability in a certain field?</p>
<p>Not this dean, particularly if the field is mathematics.</p>
<p>"There is very little difference this year from last in the geographical distribution or the academic interests of Harvard's applicants. Regarding the latter, members of the teaching faculty read applications in their particular areas of academic expertise as well as a large number of others. "Faculty members spend many hours on top of all their other duties evaluating applications, responding to countless e-mails and telephone calls, and meeting with prospective students throughout the year and during our April Visiting Program for admitted students," said Fitzsimmons."</p>
<p>Byerly--What?? If the Dean himself commented on a student's ability (and I'm not sure how he'd know about an individual applicant's ability or how that applicant would even know), the committee wouldn't care?</p>
<p>This dean, as a prominant mathemetician and former faculty chair of the admissions committee, would not be shy about expressing his view about applicants whose qualifications are strong in his area of expertise.</p>
<p>Mmm, but Harvard has to accept some mathematicians, no? Might as well pick the best :)</p>
<p>byerly, i was creating a situation that struck me as a "hook," but after reading that Gazette excerpt it may not be one. in reality though, how would one even get someone like the dean to write a letter for them?</p>
<p>^blackmail. And, since we're on that, find something on ALL the AdComs who will make your decision. ;)</p>
<p>Only kidding, of course.</p>
<p>"Creating a situation"? How did you create your hook, aoe2guy? What is it?</p>
<p>Faculty members review applications?! Faculty members belong to the admissions committee? Do they review your apps by the major you picked? What if I randomly selected a major because undecided would look bad?</p>
<p>huh? i didn't create my hook, haha what does that even mean? i meant create as in to create a situation that would seem like "wow that kids gonna get in" and ask to see how important such a letter would be</p>
<p>How did you create your situation?</p>
<p>Faculty members only review applications when an applicant has sent in supplements. For example, a piece of art would be evaluated by a professor in the Visual and Environmental Studies Department. A recording of music would be reviewed by a professor of the Music Department. A substantial research paper in science might be reviewed by a member of the Biology Department.</p>
<p>The admissions officer in charge of your area reads your file and the whole admissions committee decides by a simple majority whether to accept you or not.</p>
<p>I sent in my art slides(10), but not all of them. Can I send in two more slides? They're good and I really want them to review them. </p>
<p>If the adcom votes a "reject", but I send in an update letter, will they reconsider their decision? So if a lot of people send in update letters(on something important), will they have to reconsider all of these people's files?</p>
<p>Also, I didn't attach a resume or activity sheet to my application. However, I want to send an activity sheet along my update letter next week. Will they read my activity sheet? I feel it's important for them to know what exactly I did...</p>
<p>hideANDseek: No. If you were voted as a reject (let's say today), it's most likely not because of your accomplishments and an additional update letter is most likely not going to help you, since there are so many more applicants than admissions officers that read the applicant's files. However, if you are a deferred candidate, it's most likely that your admissions officer has not reevaluated your file yet.</p>
<p>Then what's the point of sending in update letter if it's not going to help?!</p>
<p>Do they evaluate files by last names? My last name in the M range.</p>
<p>Sorry I think I'm sounding too ridiculous...</p>
<p>hideANDseek: If you want to be negative about this whole process, go right ahead, you have the right to do so. No, they do not evaluate files by last names.</p>
<p>hideANDseek--The point is that even though a very small percentage of deferrees get in come RD, 100something still do, a fairly sizeable number, and there has to be some way of distinguishing between the 2700 or however many applicants. There's only so much you can do in those few between months so do something and you're in good shape!</p>