@wannagotoharvard if that’s true, i don’t mind those odds
Even given its recent expansion, Yale’s freshman class is smaller than Harvard, so I would guess that Harvard’s waitlist is proportionately larger than Yale’s. Harvard is guessing/wishing/hoping that they will accept “40 to 50 to maybe 100 people” off the waitlist. But the number that they take off the WL will totally depend on yield.
Clarification
Hypothetically, if 2000 were admitted, # waitlisted could potentially be as high as 5400-6000
Unlikely though. AFAIK, of the Ivy League schools that publicly release waitlist data, only Cornell waitlists significantly more than it admits.
Interesting point. Which Ivy League schools publicly release waitlist data? Let us start with hard data.
Even the ones who have may not consistently do it every year. But I know that Cornell, Dartmouth, Penn, Princeton, and Yale have in recent years. The data can be found in section C2 of each Common Data Set.
Harvard doesn’t report their waitlist information on Common Data, but Princeton, Yale, and Cornell do. It looks like of the students who accept a spot on the waitlist, about 2-3% get in. About as good of a chance as getting in under RD at Harvard this year.
@calbore ayyy, I’m going to Cal too! But also waitlisted at Harvard… (from Nevada)
@musicmeister22 Good luck to you!
Waitlisted applicant here 
I’ll be committing to Princeton in the meantime.
both my daughters have been waitlisted and have accepted.
Hey, fellow waitlisters. I’m an international applicant, and I kinda feel like I have no chance. Even getting on the waitlist was unexpected - I have no significant accomplishments and didn’t even take SAT subject tests - which leads me to believe that harvard waitlists a lot of people. There was nothing standout about my app, and it makes sense that harvard would choose only the most accomplished waitlisters to fill those final few places. I’m trying to convince myself that there is no chance of admittance to lessen the disappointment, but I am failing miserably. Can anyone relate?
I definitely do. I am not international, but I do not have significant accomplishments and did not send my horrible sat subject test scores. I did get into Brown and UPenn with these stats, but I do not know if my parents let me go there.
I wouldn’t doubt yourselves. One of my friends, who is fairly smart, got a straight out rejection. So, if you’re on the wait list, it is probably for a good reason. Good luck 
I am also an international but I really thought tbh that my app was amazing. I have been through so much, + I have a lot of accomplishments as International Olympiads and also different significant awards for my contribution to society. I have done work on eliminating sexism and nationalism in my country. I organized the biggest volunteer organization which donated 50,000 $ to #timesupnow , #marchforourlives and UNICEF. I also worked in Eritrea and Mali and built schools in Philippines and Nepal. So I was so upset when I found out that I was waitlisted.
^^As impressive as your ECs may be, Harvard chooses students who are most capable of succeeding academically in the challenging courses it requires, while contributing positively to the college community.
If I wanted to upload another reference letter, would I do so through the additional info section?
Is there any hope if I was deferred EA and then waitlisted RD??
I’m in the same boat as you. I applied EA and am waiting for the waitlist. In the meantime, I will be committing to the Wharton School of Business or Duke (not quite sure which one yet).
hey fellow maybes, wondering what “supplementary materials” and whatnot i should be sending in besides the letter confirming my commitment to the waitlist. i don’t know if i should be sending in another rec letter, sending in written work, or not sending in anything at all. g’luck everyone!