I realize that a Restrictive Early Action process may be more competitive than the Regular Decision process because the applicants tend to have amazing profiles. But what does Harvard consider a strong profile? Does this mean that if your academics aren’t relatively high but your activities and achievements are amazing, that you have no chance of getting early admission? Does that mean that the applicant admitted early typically has a higher GPA and test scores than the applicant admitted under Regular Decision? Or does that mean that the applicants typically have more outstanding accomplishments and extra curricular activities than regular decision applicants? Basically, does Harvard still use the same holistic review admissions process that they use for Regular Decision for Restrictive Early Action?
Good question, not sure
In a recent survey, more than half of Harvard’s incoming class had a 4.0 unweighted GPA in high school. So Harvard considers a student with a 4.0 unweighted GPA a strong applicant. Likewise as 25% of admitted students to Harvard have a 35-36 ACT, Admissions considers a perfect GPA, or almost perfect GPA, a strong profile – regardless of whether that student applied SCEA or RD.
Harvard is on record as saying “We don’t accept any student in the early round that we wouldn’t accept in the RD round” which is Admissions-speak for “We admit the best-of-the-best in the early round.”
Admissions uses a student’s essays, teacher recommendations, guidance counselor report (SSR) and interview report to select one high-performing student over another. And it’s very touchy-feely. What one AD likes, another may dislike. So . . . who’s to know?
@gibby can you speak to the importance of the interview? I imagine many applicants have very strong interviews
OP: you posted a “chance me for Harvard” thread back in November. With your stats, you’re simply not in the competitive range at all for Harvard. You have amazing ECs and I’m sure, you’re a king among your peers. But please look over this:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1714730-official-harvard-university-2019-scea-decisions-only.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1752941-harvard-university-class-of-2019-rd-results.html
Please look at those who were rejected. You have a UW GPA below a 3.0 and 1500/2400 SAT. You’ll be a valued asset at whatever school you choose. But Harvard’s pool is simply nuts. Best of luck to you.
^^ If student’s were admitted to Harvard based upon their interview report, Harvard would have a 90% admit rate instead of a 5% one. I’m not sure how much a positive interview report can help an applicant. However, a negative one can definitely put the applicant in the reject pile. Harvard doesn’t have a good example of this that I could find on the web, but Yale does. Pay special attention to the reports for JEROD, RICHARD, and THERESA: http://asc.yale.edu/samplereports
Very true, and all that needs to be said about HYP interviews.