<ol>
<li>I e-mail my interviewwe and asked him what I should do. HE said the best thing to do was to keep your grades up. A lot of times people get deferred because they are waiting to see semester grades. Keep that in mind. </li>
<li>They have know idea. Just to keep working for it. No one at my school has had a student go to Harvard.</li>
<li>I'm retaking the ACT and SAT II's. </li>
</ol>
<p>Do SAT II's "count" in the admission process because HArvard says they're used for placement?</p>
<p>Takoma, your post is so very sad...</p>
<p>I feel a part of something really special in my school community (not Harvard). How sad to think that you feel you have to go THERE to feel a part of something important! You can, and will, snap out of it. Go visit some other schools and get excited about the amazing diversity of experience there is out there. You have every reason to be successful and will be if you turn it around.</p>
<p>" I never really made a conscious effort to make friends in hs and I think that's b/c I was so driven to succeed and do well. I never really did anything else. And I tried SO hard!....
For that one moment I spent in the interview, as well as the summer school, I felt like I was really part of something important. I just generally feel mediocre and marginalized anywhere else. You feel part of something there. It's difficult to explain..."</p>
<p>I can not emphasize more how sad it made me feel to read the above. If Harvard is the only thing that makes one feel important, than it's time to take a close look at one's perspective on life.</p>
<p>A Harvard admission isn't the world's seal of approval. Getting into Harvard doesn't mean that one's life finally has value or one can finally dive into life and make friends and do activities for the pure enjoyment of these things.</p>
<p>Anyone who has centered their life around taking actions to get a Harvard admission has made a big mistake. If this applies to any student reading this, I hope that it inspires you to start using a new perspective as you make your life's choices. Fortunately, you still are very young, and you have time to learn and apply new lessons that can make your life more fulfilled.</p>
<p>Think about what kind of life you want to live. What's important to you? What kind of adult do you want to grow into? What exactly do you want a college education to help you do afterward?</p>
<p>You must think beyond what college degree you want. One doesn't go through adult life with one's college diplomas hanging around one's neck. One doesn't go to business meetings, volunteer activities, sports games, parties and announce, "I am a Harvard grad."</p>
<p>In general, in adult life, no one cares where you went to school. They care about your actions: whether you are good friend, have compassion, have good ideas, have good skills, are responsible, are ethical, have a track record of successful projects, etc.</p>
<p>Anyone who has put off making friends in high school in order to devote themselves to getting into Harvard has made a big mistake. Whether or not they get into Harvard, they have hurt themselves by living such an empty life. They have missed out on some of the major joys of being human.</p>
<p>Should they get accepted into Harvard, they would be socially far behind most of the students. It is very rare for Harvard students to be friendless drones who had only taken classes and participated in activities to impress Harvard. A person who has never bothered with friendships isn't likely to go to Harvard and then quickly find people to be friends with.</p>
<p>They will have missed out learning lots of basic things about friendships that most of the other students will already know. They also are likely to have a self-centered attitude that would turn off potential friends.</p>
<p>In addition, students who devote their high school years to doing only the activities that they think will impress Harvard are not likely to be accepted. Harvard is not interested in students who did things to impress Harvard. Harvard is interested in students who intensely pursued their own interests, and whose interests, grades, etc. also happen to fit into the Harvard environment (and when it comes to ECs, the Harvard environment is enormous).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, my advice to anyone who was deferred or who plans to apply to Harvard EA is to do your best application, and then fall in love with your best match school. The odds of getting into Harvard are 1:10. Thus, do not base your self worth on whether or not you get into Harvard. </p>
<p>Love your best match school. If, you end up with a Harvard admission, you can always give your heart to Harvard. If you don't end up with a Harvard admission, you can be very happy with the admission that you got.</p>
<p>Northstarmom, your comments are very insightful. really appreciate that. im a deferree, but i didn't go the the extent of using 4 years to construct the application. I felt upset, naturally, since the first university decision i got was not a good one. but after reading what you said, i felt much better. thanks.</p>
<p>"'It has been a goal, and let's face it, at least from my experience, when people ask where I've applied, and I say Harvard, Georgetown, GWU, NYU, and Marquette, I'll give you one guess as to which school people talk about. I'm the only kid in my class applying to an ivy league school (and pretty much an out-of-state school), so basically I'm "marked," and many people have been asking "when are you going to find out?" "are you in?" etc, so it will be hard tomorrow to say "no."'</p>
<p>Here's an important tip for Harvard applicants. The tip also applies to applicants at other well known, very competitive colleges: Start downplaying the fact that you're applying to Harvard. </p>
<p>Since you're reading this site, more than likely you know that Harvard accepts 1 in10 applicants. If you're smart enough to be applying to Harvard, presumably, you're smart enough to realize that 1:10 are long odds for all applicants.</p>
<p>Most people have no idea about how hard it is to get into a competitive college. This includes even middle age and older Harvard alums (who were accepted when 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 applicants were accepted, IB programs were nonexistant, and even top public high schools offered only perhaps 3 APs).</p>
<p>So, when asked, "Where are you applying?" frame your answer in a way that doesn't cause the listener to assume that you'll get in. And put lots of emphasis on loving your best match school.</p>
<p>Thus, Hunter could have replied something like, "I'm applying to GWU, Georgetown, Market, Harvard and NYU. Harvard is my longshot. Only 1 in 10 applicants get in, they reject more than half of those scoring 1600 on the SAT, and they reject enough valedictorians to fill their freshmen class. I doubt that I'll be accepted, but I wanted to try. Where I hope to go is (match school, perhaps GWU, Marquette)." Wax eloquent about the wonders of your match school.</p>
<p>Incidentally, in what probably will seem like the worst case scenerio, I engaged in such a conversation with a student at my s's school last year.</p>
<p>This was in late Feb., and I happened to be sitting near the student at a lunch. I asked the student where they were applying, and the student waxed eloquent about U Va., and how much he wanted to go there. Later, someone came up and wished the student good luck on their upcoming college interview.</p>
<p>I idly asked, "What college?" It was Harvard, and I am an alumni interviewer.</p>
<p>I think the student was really embarassed, but I did not think less of the student for speaking highly about U Va. It's a wonderful university. I thought the student was wise to hedge his bets by calling U Va his first choice. </p>
<p>The student eventually was rejected at Harvard, but accepted at U Va. and Yale. The student now is at Yale.</p>
<p>Note to the paranoid: I had nothing to do with the student's rejection at Harvard! I also wish the student well at Yale.</p>
<p>takoma 22 i do understand...</p>
<p>Son deferred. But I think he/we have the right attitude. It's now "screw Harvard" around here and onto other apps. Of course, if he were actually accepted rd, then we would be back to loving Harvard.
When I see these posts, I think it's too bad the school isn't bigger. Because they are really missing out letting some of you kids slip away...</p>
<p>Can someone please advise us on "What to do if Deferred"-- the topic of this discussion? I was deferred, and, although I know that my chances are now slim to none, I really want to do everything I can to possibly salvage a dying dream. Thanks!</p>
<p>Northstarmom--
Thank you very much for providing perspective to a very confusing process. I feel a lot better now, in part due to your post. I think that I speak for everyone here when I say we're gonna show Harvard how wrong they were about us!
signing off,
takoma.</p>
<p>Two notes: Thanks to our mod for the thread splice and to get to my admissions rep, I called the main admissions office in Cambridge. The receptionist patched me through. </p>
<p>Northstarmom: Your perspective is wise, and I think that's about where I am now save a bit of disappointment that I know is silly because deferral doesn't mean "not good enough for Harvard." :) Life goes on!</p>
<p>i got deferred as well
sure I might have not cared about getting into harvard
and maybe i did forget to ask my councelor for that rec
and maybe i did turn the upenn essay into some random essay for harvard at the last minute
and maybe i haven't done homework for the last 4 years
but i feel the same as you all do
why the **** did i get deferred?</p>
<p>anyway a few things in reply
1. im glad some of you got deferred, you should have been rejected straight out
2. it may have saved you from suicides if you had been accepted to harvard and failed the suicide year because many of you are WEAK with absolutely no balance between ups and downs and disrespect life and the people around you .
3. I'm scared that those who have been accepted and are happy now maybe the same as some of you. We all know that IVYs are stressful, many of my friends who went to princeton with perfect scores wish now that they had went to rutgers or drexel because they feel as though they have no chance at md school and are not top of their class and get depressed at sight of a C. Some of them have turned anorexic and attempted suicide. Those in here that have been thru constant success may suffer in the university level.</p>
<p>so think it over its not that bad
and as for the dude from iran
chill.
I came from much poorer nation and condition than you have about 5 years ago, maybe it will take some time to sink it, but living in the United States is a blessing by it self. Maybe I'm just arrogant but I feel as though I can come out at the top at any level if I want to, and you should all feel the same even if the efforts you have to invest maybe different.</p>
<p>Much respect to all, ivy or not.
bring on community college baby!</p>
<p>I agree with some of things 1212 said. I have always put way to much stress on myself and suffer from depression, anorexia, and VERY low self esteem. But even though I got deferred, I still have a ray of hope. The Ivy Leagues aren't for all of us. I still want to get accepted at Harvard, and also Yale or Princeton, but I'm not going to let it effect my whole life. I am still who I am and to even get a letter from them inviting me to apply was an honor. Don't let this decide your whole life.</p>
<p>As to what to do about getting deferred, keep your grades up, retake some tests if you think it would help. No one really knows what they're looking for this year. If you have presented yourself the best way you can, you have NOTHING to regret later. It's their loss, not yours.</p>
<p>Hello, everyone. Im currently a student at Harvard and would like to share some thoughts with you.</p>
<p>Hearing about friends from back home getting deferred and reading the comments of those of you who were also deferred compelled me to try to give you some words of comfort/advice.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Cry. Or scream. Or do both. You are human, and your disappointment is not only understandable, but expected. However, dont forget to let yourself be comforted by your loved ones.</p></li>
<li><p>DONT CALL YOUR ADMISSIONS REP WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH!!! He/she is most likely going to be receiving a flood of phone calls from angry/anxious students/parents/counselors.</p></li>
<li><p>Your first round application has already been sent. Depending on how much material youve already sent, you might want to consider sending in additional material. Hopefully, you all were sparing in what you sent first round (all of the required materials, perhaps one extra recommendation, a BRIEF, CONDENSED resume/activity list). In addition to these materials, you might want to consider sending in a tape/cd that highlights your musical ability, but ONLY if it is something you are very passionate about, has already been emphasized in your application and you think that this might shed some more light onto this aspect of yourself. Other ideas might be sending in an additional essay that highlights or clarifies something in your application. Always try to be personal, honest and insightful in your essays; humanity is something often overlooked by college applicants, but by appealing to the emotions of the reader (your admissions rep), you become memorable, and by becoming memorable, your chances of acceptance are increased. I cannot emphasize enough to be a REAL PERSON!</p></li>
<li><p>Keep working hard on any extended projects/activities with which you are involved; perhaps your debate team will win state championship or you will win a major scholastic award. My point is that you should keep working and look for things that may strengthen your application. Remember, your application is like (or should be like) a well-crafted argument for your acceptance; the thesis has already been stated, so look for additional ways in which to support it.</p></li>
<li><p>Invest your time and emotion into other schools, so that if you eventually do get wait-listed/rejected, you will have other options that you can be enthusiastic about. </p></li>
<li><p>Remember that YOU ARE THE SAME PERSON AS BEFORE. I know that, for many of you, these next four months will be extremely challenging. In addition to your feelings of uncertainty and insecurity, others will most likely not know how to react. Most of you are top students whose peers and teachers believed had a very good chance of being accepted; they probably wont know how you feel (but believe that they do), and will expect you to act as if nothing had happened far before you are willing to do that. BE PREPARED. </p></li>
<li><p>I know that many of you possess this incredible drive to succeed, which has, at least in part, been fueled by the goal of being accepted and attending Harvard. There is nothing wrong with this! However, at this point of emotional fragility, perhaps it would be useful to find out more about the undergraduate experience and how unglamorous and normal it can be. For this reason, Id be willing to converse with you on a more personal level (email or AIM) if you send me a personal message.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Whew! That was a lot to get out. I feel especially compelled to do this because I was deferred myself. I eventually got in RD, but those months in between were especially rocky. If I can spare you from that (or at least give you some perspective), I feel I should at least provide the option.</p>
<p>good advice</p>
<p>question- if one is deferred, is their application read with the RA pool, or within the deferred EA pool. Also, is the RA pool more "stronger" in terms of test scores & extra-cirr?</p>
<p>The RA pool is weaker. The reason that Harvard usually takes a higher percentage of EA applicants is that the EA pool is much stronger. I also have noticed that from what I see as an alum interviewer.</p>
<p>My understanding is that deferred candidates are reviewed in the pool with RA candidates.</p>
<p>In my area recently, the only candidates who have gotten accepted to Harvard have been those who applied EA. This includes students who were deferred EA. There was no evidence that Harvard selected them because they had applied EA. From what I could tell (and I interviewed the students who were deferred and later accepted), the students were simply exceptionally strong including having strong demonstrated EC and academic passions.</p>
<p>if the RA pool is weaker, why only 4% from the deferred EA pool gets accepted, as opposed to 11% from the RA one? confused...</p>
<p>I have a guesstimated answer for that. Lemme see if I can explain it simply...</p>
<p>The reason the EA admits in RD are lower than RD admits in RD is that -- hello -- a quarter of EA admits have already been accepted EA. </p>
<p>Anyone get that/think it's part of the reason?</p>
<p>oh okay. i think i get it. if they were to increase the admit rate for deferred EAs, they might as well accept all EA and toss away all RD applications. is that correct?</p>
<p>Northstarmom, ditto. With the usual exceptions of special cases, these applicants get in at a higher rate because they are very focused and have their stuff together. Their score and academic profiles give them the confidence to apply early.</p>
<p>Harvardportal, from here on in, there really is no good time to call adcoms; but better to call now while their minds are still on the early stuff. They'll be even busier after the start of the year.</p>