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Fascinating article. I have volunteered at the national level with Harvard admissions and never realized before that Fitz came from a blue collar background. He must have been far more brilliant and hard working than the average Harvard student in order to have gotten accepted back in the early 60s when Harvard was far more a bastion of the rich and privilege than a place seeking economic diversity.
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<p>He was a hockey player, and I think he was captain of the Harvard hockey team as an undergrad. In addition to being (recently) low-income friendly and (always) athletics-compatible in setting Harvard admissions practices, he also had a role in Harvard's documented doubletalk during the Asian admissions discrimination controversy of the early 1990's.</p>
<p>Regarding the alleged "aggressiveness" of Harvard recruiting, it's rather cheap to send out some extra tens of thousands of admissions brochures, in comparison to what Princeton did with student loans, or the recruitment scholarships given by other schools, or the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by Yale on urban renewal of New Haven. HFAI may, over time, allow Harvard to catch up to the others in spending, but it may also be just another step in an arms race with the other schools.</p>
<p>I think it's a little ridiculous... Harvard gave me a phone call asking for me to apply. It doesn't mean that I would get in ... but it made my parents think that I was a guaranteed admit, and they basically told me I had to apply... even though I knew that there was no way in hell that I wanted to go to harvard.</p>
<p>All they want to do is boost their pool to guarantee that they don't overlook someone ... and at the same time they want to boost their stats so they look more selective</p>
<p>They just sent me the application and I find it cruel that they would do such a thing when my scores obviously aren't good enough. The second I was becoming realistic about my college choices, I get letters from Ivy League schools, thus confusing me even more.</p>
<p>"I think it's a little ridiculous... Harvard gave me a phone call asking for me to apply. It doesn't mean that I would get in ... but it made my parents think that I was a guaranteed admit, and they basically told me I had to apply... even though I knew that there was no way in hell that I wanted to go to harvard."</p>
<p>I have a similar problem--I got a phone call from them, and my parents are now talking about how great it is, etc. I'm trying to convince them that it's just based on test scores, and doesn't really mean that much. It's not a bad thing, but it's just not that important. Out of curiosity, does anyone know how many people Harvard calls? I need to convince my parents that it's not as important as they think before they begin to believe that I will definitely get in. </p>
<p>And another question-- how did Harvard get my phone number anyway? I don't remember using it for any collegeboard tests.</p>
<p>^ i received a phone call too...and yea...it's pretty cruel...my scores are just mid-range and sending me a viewbook/application is horrible thing to do. Especially since i'm one of those delusional navie idiots ....."look! there are students sitting under trees..this has to be my school!!!"...yea....definitely got reeled in to the land of disappointment..TT__TT</p>
<p>Are those of you who are receiving these communications high school students who live outside the northeastern United States, or are some of you receiving calls and letters even though you live in Massachusetts?</p>
<p>this happened to me last year. needless to say, my parents forced me to apply (when the only ivy i thought i had a chance at was Columbia). luckily though, i got in.</p>
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[admissions chief Fitzsimmons] was a hockey player, and I think he was captain of the Harvard hockey team as an undergrad.
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<p>I was reminded the other day that Fitzsimmons was the goalie of the hockey team, but may or may not have been the captain. </p>
<p>One can only hope that Fitzsimmons will get more in touch with his working-class background and less with the athletic side as he runs Harvard admissions.</p>
<p>I got the call yesterday. It was so awkward. It was some hispanic, socio-economically disadvantaged undergrad who sounded like he was reading from the Harvard viewbook...ths minority recruitment program borders on exploitation of race. At least they get paid.</p>