I applied to Harvard RD for the class of 2022. I was waitlisted and made it to the second wave of applicants but was just rejected. During this process I let them know if accepted, I would be taking a two-year deferment to serve a church service mission in another country and would be learning another langauge. I was wondering if I should reapply since I will not be going to school for the next two years anyway. I made it this far so I was wondering how my chances are. Also, how do you reapply? Do you use the same ECs and leadership experiences in high school? Thanks! @gibby
Harvard Admissions keeps an electronic file of every rejected student for three years just in case they reapply to the college. If you reapply, your old application, with the notes from Admissions Directors will be read again. So, while you should definitely list your old EC’s, you should focus your application on what you did during your GAP year(s).
FWIW: In my nine years on CC, I only know of one student who was rejected from Harvard, applied again, and was admitted. And that is @Hanna, so you should contact her for more information. That said, 1 student in 9 years are just terrible chances (sorry). Best of luck to you!
Thanks for the help! I just have one last question sorry. If I choose to reapply, can I re use all of the financial aid applications I filed or do I need to fill out a completely new FAFSA, CSS and IDOC form?
@CrimsonKid99
How were you notified that you were rejected from the waitlist, via email?
You must submit a new FAFSA, CSS Profile and tax forms via the IDOC system. FWIW: Even when admitted to Harvard (or another college), you must submit new financial forms every year and your FA may increase/decrease depending upon your family’s income and assets of the “prior-prior” year.
I have never heard of deferring for two years, either. Maybe someone else has. Was that a factor in the rejection?
You may have some interesting experiences in the coming year, that will help your application, but don’t count on anything.
I would contact admissions to make sure you know how to reapply. If they will indeed still have your file, then perhaps you can just submit a supplement or something. I have no idea but I would ask them.
I don’t know about re-applying after a Gap, however, I do know that Harvard looks very favorably on Gap Year, in fact, I understand they encourage all of their newly admitted students to consider a Gap. Personally, I don’t see the downside to re-applying; what’s the worst that can happen?!
@CrimsonKid99 To me your two year gap sounds like something that will make you a stronger student and a stronger applicant when you return to school. I would certainly mention what you did during the two year gap when you reapply.
Of course Harvard is a very long shot for every student, but if you are already strong enough to be waitlisted at Harvard then it sounds like you will do very well and will get in somewhere quite good when you get back. There are hundreds of very good universities in the US and as far as I know only one other school which is as hard as Harvard to get into.
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S13 (Harvard Class of '17) knew several kids in his House (dorm) who deferred for two years, @compmom. All of them were in the same situation as @CrimsonKid99 and went on a service or religious mission.
CK99, you should understand that it’s still a long shot, but reapply if you’re so inclined. Also, be sure to verify that if you have accepted deferred matriculation at a different school, you do not break their rules by applying somewhere else during the deferment.
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the advice. Do you think I should apply for this next year and if admitted just tell them I’m taking a gap year and I will be there next year? I am leaving to July to Cambodia so after this next application cycle I would only need a one year deferment or should I apply in two years, right before I return? I also assume reapplying means new recommendations?
Also, due to some circumstances last admission cycle the only Ivy League I applied to was Harvard. This next time I plan on applying to multiple Ivy’s. I was thinking it would not hurt to apply or reapply to H, Y or P Early Action. I was just wondering which one I should apply under this program?