<p>Hi all --</p>
<p>If you were waitlisted --</p>
<p>1) Do not lose hope.
2) Get in contact with your admissions officer and send anything new and original (I emphasize new and original because beefing up things they already know about you won't do much for their argument when they fight for you if Harvard uses a waitlist).
3) While I hope that Harvard's yield is high, I suspect, as well as Harvard's admissions officers according to the Crimson article, that they will go to the waitlist this year.
4) Nothing will happen until Harvard knows how many people accept their offer.
5) Be patient. I know it's hard, and I was possibly as distraught if not more than you about this decision 3 years ago, especially because I was deferred EA, but be patient. Things that are meant to be will happen, period.
6) If you are admitted to the Class of 2014 following a gap year (this notification usually happens in June, I found out 2 days before my graduation, you can imagine how fun my senior year must have felt), take the offer. The gap year changed my life for so many reasons, and I know I get on here every year and say the same thing, but I will continue to do so because it meant a lot to me even though I was very averse to it when I was first presented with the offer after a year of just wanting to be going to college somewhere.
7) Keep grades up. They will matter. Don't worry if they drop. Just give it all your effort. In my senior year I got in one class, the lowest grade I had gotten for the year in my HS career, and a day after Harvard received my report I got a great call (when I was at an after-after-prom party).
8) If it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world, really. I was actually just thinking about this yesterday, but college is so much what you make of it, it's not even funny. Chances are, if you are waitlisted by Harvard, you have offers from other places that may not seem great but really are fantastic. Wherever you go, take advantage of the resources and find out what makes you passionate in this world, because that's what college is about now. No time in your life will you have such carte blanche to try whatever you want.</p>
<p>Number 8 also applies to those who were rejected. If you were rejected, don't worry about it. The fact that you applied to Harvard implies a level of self-confidence that cannot be broken by any decision. You should be proud of your accomplishments and use that motivation to go forth and do great things. Getting rejected feels like crap. I was rejected from two schools that I loved, not nearly as much as Harvard, but that I loved, and it felt like crap. But it honestly means nothing. So don't let it. Please. In 5 months, none of this stuff will matter.</p>
<p>And finally, if you were admitted (or if you will be admitted in the next two months or so and don't know it yet), congratulations! If you are deciding between other schools and Harvard, choose Harvard for the people, faculty, resources, opportunities, and once again, people. If you have the opportunity, if Bill Fitzsimmons wants you at this school, you come. I'm sorry, but he's a pretty smart (and funny) guy. Listen to what he says! Please!</p>
<p>If you have questions, feel free to PM me about my angst-filled 6+ month wait for good news from Harvard, the gap year, or how to keep in touch with the admissions office. I can't guarantee you I will get back to you immediately, but you have at least a week to do nothing and gather your bearings, because Harvard, like other schools, won't be thinking about the waitlist for another 6 weeks, probably. I'm sorry if I broke your heart by saying that. It doesn't mean that you can't send them stuff now or that they won't respond. It just means that the wait for closure has been extended if you choose to extend it.</p>
<p>By the way, if it makes you feel any better, I was on 5 waitlists, and heard from the final one (not Harvard) at the end of June.</p>
<p>Best wishes, stay strong, and good luck making decisions!</p>
I guess it all depends on financial aid now. haha.</p>