Any word?
Does anyone know if Harvard ever checks 4th quarter grades when making waitlist decisions?
@e4e6d4d5: The academic year at most US high schools does not end until sometime in June. Therefore, at most US high schools fourth quarter are NOT available in May as the quarter has not ended. If you attend a handful of US high schools who’s academic year ends in May, Harvard might request 4th quarter grades, but it’s highly unlikely.
Does this apply even for the Z list? And thanks for the excellent reply!
^^ Harvard makes their Z-List decisions AFTER all waitlist decisions have been made (sometime in mid-to-late June). So, there is a greater likelihood that if Harvard wanted a 4th quarter report, or an end of year report on a potential applicant for the Z-list, those reports would be available from a high school.
One thing to keep in mind,: Harvard (and all colleges really) need a final high school transcript from every admitted student before they set foot on campus. And, as most high schools close for the summer months of July and August, and entering college freshman arrive on campus at the end of August, the only window for Harvard to receive that final report from a high school is during the month of June. So, all waitlist decisions are usually completed before the end of June. Ditto with Z-listed students.
Okay guys––here’s what I think represents the best estimate of the number of students coming off the waitlist this year. This year, after the record matriculation rate of 82.8% for the class of 2021, the number of students offered admission dropped quite significantly: from 2037 to 1962. Assuming the very high yield rate persists (~80%), that means that about 1597 of the 1962 will actually take their spot. The target class size for Harvard this year (according to Fitzsimmons) is around 1665. That leaves about a 68 student deficit. This makes sense as Fitzsimmons said he expected the university to admit “40 to 50 to maybe 100 people” off the waitlist this year. Hope this helps.
When will harvard be looking at the updates that were sent? And when will final decisions be made?
@gibby what about 3rd quarter grades?
Harvard does not ask for 3rd quarter grades. Sending them unsolicited will not be beneficial.
@skieurope great, thanks
@skieurope I sent an update containing a link, and I have seen that no one near boston has opened it. Should I send it again? will they view it in the next week? Or have decisions been made?
Anyone receive a response to their updates?
@wamo221: In my experience, the folks at Harvard Admissions do NOT go to websites, look at links, or open email attachments – they prefer everything be uploaded as a printable document through the portal, snail mailed to them, or FAXed. While you could certainly send the link again, I doubt it would be opened, that’s just the way they roll.
@ventri: Admissions does not acknowledge, confirm receipt of, or respond to updates.
@gibby I uploaded a pdf document to the portal asking them to view the link I created. If they were to view it do you know what time their review of waitlist applicants occurs, and when it ends (they finalize decisions)?
Hi @gibby and everyone else on this thread! Thanks so much for all the info, it’s been great having a community to listen to ask I anxiously await the final decision! I have 2 questions (that you may or may not know the answers to)
- Does the aforementioned comment about links apply to YouTube videos as well? (If I uploaded a petition to YouTube and uploaded the link on pdf with a description are they likely to open it?)
- What influence might a coach have in the waitlist process? I was told by the head coach of one of the athletics that my name was given to the Admissions office to try and bolster my spot on the waitlist, but does that actually signify anything?
No. They’re not doing anything until the final acceptances were all sent, which was 5/1. They want a few days to process and regroup, and there are days off in between. Additionally, they may not need to see you link to know what there final decision is. They can well take a person off the waitlist without looking at the link, so read nothing into it.
No
Is it too late in the process to submit a letter with updates? I also already sent a LOCI and I’m worried it’d be too much to send an additional letter.
@2022jx It’s too soon to send another letter if you already send in a LOCI
I can answer your second question. The answer is is that it depends. Each athletics team is allowed to submit a list of preferred applicants to the admissions committee. The length of that list, the number of preferred applicants, depends on the strength of the team, influence of the coach etc. Traditionally, hockey has been one of the most influential. At this point it depends on the number of students they’ve already gotten through on their list, the influence of the coach, and how badly they want you. But it most definitely doesn’t hurt. Good luck!
Any estimates on when decisions will start to be released? The wait is killing me 