2009-2010 Harvard Application Thread

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Naijaba said:
So I was waitlisted at Stanford a couple of days ago and a question has been bugging me since then. At my Harvard interview I was very talkative because I was full of energy and excitement, but at Stanford I was rather mellow because I had a cold. I was really excited to be there (it was my first choice going into this process), but I just couldn't get energized enough to be my talkative self. By the end of my first interview my throat was parched which made me even less talkative during the second interview.

So, my question is really directed at students who have interviewed at either of these schools and been accepted. What did the admissions committee value the most about you: your energy/confidence, your passion for the school, your level of dedication to research, your life experiences, what exactly? I'm sure all these things play a role, I'm just trying to gauge my chances at Harvard compared to Stanford since I said basically the same things, just with a different level of energy and vigor.
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1) when you get accepted to a school, the acceptance packet does not come with a sheet that says "we liked you because of the following personality traits..."
2) harvard hasn't accepted anyone yet
3) these are the most competitive schools in the country. if you didn't get in, it doesn't necessarily mean you made a mistake at the interview like not being peppy enough. Some doctors, believe it or not, don't act like hyperactive teeny boppers at a jonas brothers concert. "I love the Jonas brothers beacuse they're amazing!" "I love Harvard/Stanford because it's amazing!"
If you didn't get in, it probably means that... these are the most competitive schools in the country.
 
Can you e-mail the Admissions office updates or do they prefer mail?
 
Had my interview @ HMS on thursday. Amazing is all i've got to say about it. Thought the unstructured day would be a bad thing; but it worked out because I got some recommendations on things to do / see and it ended up filling out the day pretty nicely!

It'd be pretty awesome if I get accepted... although I'm pretty sure I'll breakdown crying if I do get in. But hey it'll be worth it 😍.

Here's hoping they liked me too - guess we'll find out in ~ 4 weeks eh? :xf::xf::luck:. 4 weeks of daydreams alternating with nervous anticipation. Mmmmm this will be good 😀
 
Right now, I'm pretty much assuming I'm not going to get in. That way if I don't get in, I won't be that sad. But if I get in I'll be ecstatic. I just wish I didn't have to feel like this for another three weeks.
 
masturhu said:
Right now, I'm pretty much assuming I'm not going to get in. That way if I don't get in, I won't be that sad. But if I get in I'll be ecstatic. I just wish I didn't have to feel like this for another three weeks.
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hm, trying not to get your hopes up. what a fascinating new strategy. I don't think anyone in the history of the world has ever had that innovative new idea before, so it's a good thing you described it at length.
 
SwineSue said:
hm, trying not to get your hopes up. what a fascinating new strategy. I don't think anyone in the history of the world has ever had that innovative new idea before, so it's a good thing you described it at length.
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ugh. if people aren't posting anything that's vile or malicious or just plain incorrect, just let them be. this sarcasm is getting old and it's pretty down-errific.
 
It was email last year. I think the best guess is Monday, March 15 for this year.
 
SwineSue said:
hm, trying not to get your hopes up. what a fascinating new strategy. I don't think anyone in the history of the world has ever had that innovative new idea before, so it's a good thing you described it at length.
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hahahaha...:laugh:
 
ME! I have resisted posting on this thread, but I can deny that Harvard is my top choice. I will jump up for joy if I get in, but I will live if I don't.

I am sure everybody else is feeling the same way. March can't come soon enough.
 
SwineSue said:
I remember being told snail mail sent by March 22nd
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I called them a couple of days ago and they said emails were going to go out mid-March for everything ( acceptances, rejections, waitlists). Snail mail will be sent later
 
Does anyone know how many interviewees they invited this year? Some people tell me 800-900 while others say over 1000. Anyone who interviewed on later days knows roughly how many?
 
labrat10 said:
Does anyone know how many interviewees they invited this year? Some people tell me 800-900 while others say over 1000. Anyone who interviewed on later days knows roughly how many?
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I believe they said over 1000 this year. I actually first thought it was under 1000, possibly because we both read the same thing. But if I remember correctly, they are interviewing more people this year than last year.
 
hi guys,

as far as i know the interview process at hms has been concluded. the committee is reviewing the whole applications and final decision will be made some time in the week of March 16. based on what happened last year, there will be emails sent out at least to people who got accepted or waitlisted. If you are accepted, a full pre-matriculation packet will arrive probably a week later, containing all information about the revisit weekend, financial aids, application to vanderbilt halls, etc.
I believe the revisit weekend is tentatively set on April 16 (the final date will be announced in the packet) The class of 2013 is currently preparing an annual talent show thing (FABRIC) and probably several other activities to entertain you guys that weekend, so it should be very fun. We'll try to arrange host as well.
Finally, i just wish to emphasize that the waitlist at HMS does move, so if you are placed on the waitlist there is still hope. (and if you were invited to interview at hms, most likely you have already got accepted at some other school and will become a doc in several years, so congratulations to all!)

Good luck guys!!!
 
ZebraDx said:
hi guys,

as far as i know the interview process at hms has been concluded. the committee is reviewing the whole applications and final decision will be made some time in the week of March 16. based on what happened last year, there will be emails sent out at least to people who got accepted or waitlisted. If you are accepted, a full pre-matriculation packet will arrive probably a week later, containing all information about the revisit weekend, financial aids, application to vanderbilt halls, etc.
I believe the revisit weekend is tentatively set on April 16 (the final date will be announced in the packet) The class of 2013 is currently preparing an annual talent show thing (FABRIC) and probably several other activities to entertain you guys that weekend, so it should be very fun. We'll try to arrange host as well.
Finally, i just wish to emphasize that the waitlist at HMS does move, so if you are placed on the waitlist there is still hope. (and if you were invited to interview at hms, most likely you have already got accepted at some other school and will become a doc in several years, so congratulations to all!)

Good luck guys!!!
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Thanks, ZebraDX.

So based on your post, you mean to suggest that the committee actually goes over all 1000 or so applications in a span of a few weeks? I was under the impression that they would have to make decisions every few weeks or so to avoid being inundated with applications of interviewees. I'm just curious; I interviewed in November and was interested in how the dynamic worked.
 
Sentinel said:
Had my interview @ HMS on thursday. Amazing is all i've got to say about it. Thought the unstructured day would be a bad thing; but it worked out because I got some recommendations on things to do / see and it ended up filling out the day pretty nicely!

It'd be pretty awesome if I get accepted... although I'm pretty sure I'll breakdown crying if I do get in. But hey it'll be worth it 😍.

Here's hoping they liked me too - guess we'll find out in ~ 4 weeks eh? :xf::xf::luck:. 4 weeks of daydreams alternating with nervous anticipation. Mmmmm this will be good 😀
Click to expand...

Hey Sentinel,

We interviewed on the same day. I'm the girl from Texas. Good luck :luck:, it won't be long before our HMS fate is decided, haha.

Best,
Aquariuscharm
 
masturhu said:
I believe they said over 1000 this year. I actually first thought it was under 1000, possibly because we both read the same thing. But if I remember correctly, they are interviewing more people this year than last year.
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At the Feb. 18th interview day, they said they invited 950ish applicants to interview.
 
The week of March 15-19 will be crazy for us, eh?

I am just going to cross my fingers, hope for the best, and try not to think of Harvard as the top choice for me even though it has all the qualities I am looking for in a med school.

Some ways I am going to kill time: schoolwork, yoga, olympics, news, blogs, gym, and unfortunately... studentdoctor.

Good luck everyone! The wait will be over before we know it.
 
I interviewed on Friday (the last day of the season) and someone quoted the interview number at 967 if I remember correctly. Don't recall who, it's all kind of a blur.

What an awesome school. Who wouldn't love to go there?
 
aquariuscharm said:
Hey Sentinel,

We interviewed on the same day. I'm the girl from Texas. Good luck :luck:, it won't be long before our HMS fate is decided, haha.

Best,
Aquariuscharm
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Hey aquarius :hello: bet you can't guess which of the interviewees I am/was! 🙂 Actually; that's not true. I had a pretty memorable moment (not in a good way) at the interview that everyone else noticed too :laugh:

Btw; I'm slightly envious you got to head back to texas while we north easters got stuck w/ a nice big blizzard.

Here's to the 2 week wait. And ironicially, it coincides with the ides of march. So poetic.
 
btw - anyone else who interviewed at the tail end notice that the admissions office had largeish rectangular boxes stuffed into light manila covered envelopes? There were a lot of them sitting around the admissions office, and it seemed like they were to be mailed out (and they already had destination stickers on them).

Now, I realize we are a bunch of hyper alpha pre-meds so let's not jump to any conclusions here 🙂 but I wonder if it gives credence to the theory that they have been evaluating (i.e. accepting) students all this time but have been holding off mailing the final notice? I didn't want to be weird and gawk at the packages so I don't have a better idea of what they actually are... but I can't think of another reason they'd have the packets lying around the admissions office.

Anyone got theories? I'm the curious type... thank god I'm not a cat.

And before you ask - I'll say this again - NO I did not gawk at them so I don't know if any of your names were on them 😛
 
Sentinel said:
btw - anyone else who interviewed at the tail end notice that the admissions office had largeish rectangular boxes stuffed into light manila covered envelopes? There were a lot of them sitting around the admissions office, and it seemed like they were to be mailed out (and they already had destination stickers on them).

Now, I realize we are a bunch of hyper alpha pre-meds so let's not jump to any conclusions here 🙂 but I wonder if it gives credence to the theory that they have been evaluating (i.e. accepting) students all this time but have been holding off mailing the final notice? I didn't want to be weird and gawk at the packages so I don't have a better idea of what they actually are... but I can't think of another reason they'd have the packets lying around the admissions office.

Anyone got theories? I'm the curious type... thank god I'm not a cat.

And before you ask - I'll say this again - NO I did not gawk at them so I don't know if any of your names were on them 😛
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they send out harvard viewbooks to people who requested them on their secondaries....they accidently sent me the same 2 viewbooks in 2 separate large envelopes..those envelopes you saw might have been those

but since you said you interviewed near the end that wouldnt make sense...so who knows
 
Sentinel said:
Hey aquarius :hello: bet you can't guess which of the interviewees I am/was! 🙂 Actually; that's not true. I had a pretty memorable moment (not in a good way) at the interview that everyone else noticed too :laugh:

Btw; I'm slightly envious you got to head back to texas while we north easters got stuck w/ a nice big blizzard.

Here's to the 2 week wait. And ironicially, it coincides with the ides of march. So poetic.
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I deduced who you are from your mdapps, haha. I also remember you for being the pharmaceutical guy with the phonetic pronunciation guide on his name tag :laugh:.

It was mid-60s in Austin yesterday 🙂. Gotta love TX winters.
 
Oh boy, 13 days left! Wait, that's an unlucky number. I take it back. There are not 13 days left to decision time.
 
Anyone have any idea at all when the second look day is? I know this is way way premature (about two weeks or so...), just may be planning a trip back to Boston and and kind of an advance planner so was just curious before I think about buying plane tickets. Here's to thinking good thoughts.
 
PedsDoc14 said:
Anyone have any idea at all when the second look day is? I know this is way way premature (about two weeks or so...), just may be planning a trip back to Boston and and kind of an advance planner so was just curious before I think about buying plane tickets. Here's to thinking good thoughts.
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It is on the weekend of April 16. There will be a set of activities on that Friday afternoon for sure, but I don't know if there is anything earlier. We're planning for activities on Saturday and early Sunday as well. I'll post some more info once I know exactly the plan.
 
ZebraDx said:
It is on the weekend of April 16. There will be a set of activities on that Friday afternoon for sure, but I don't know if there is anything earlier. We're planning for activities on Saturday and early Sunday as well. I'll post some more info once I know exactly the plan.
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Thanks for the info. Now just waiting for March 17th...
 
Jebel said:
Are post interview files still open for updates etc?

Good luck guys.
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I sent them an short snippet of information yesterday and they responded today with a thank-you email.
 
What email address did you send the information to?

I sent an email to [email protected] over a week ago but haven't hear anything back. Is it worth calling to check they received it?

Naijaba said:
I sent them an short snippet of information yesterday and they responded today with a thank-you email.
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user832 said:
What email address did you send the information to?

I sent an email to [email protected] over a week ago but haven't hear anything back. Is it worth calling to check they received it?
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Same here. I called them after sending it and they said if I do not ask them in the email to confirm the receipt, they don't reply. But they would receive it and include it in the application.
 
PrayingPremed said:
Same here. I called them after sending it and they said if I do not ask them in the email to confirm the receipt, they don't reply. But they would receive it and include it in the application.
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Thanks for the tip, I appreciate it.
 
Do you guys think it is worth it to update Harvard that I am working on a paper? (I did all the work but probably will be a second or third author since I am the technician, and all the politics stuff). It is 2 weeks till they make their decision and I interviewed in like last October.....so should I still do it? Do I need to write the title, the authors list and the journal we are submitting it to? (I don't know the details yet, still in the process of writing.....)
 
eyepop said:
Do you guys think it is worth it to update Harvard that I am working on a paper? (I did all the work but probably will be a second or third author since I am the technician, and all the politics stuff). It is 2 weeks till they make their decision and I interviewed in like last October.....so should I still do it? Do I need to write the title, the authors list and the journal we are submitting it to? (I don't know the details yet, still in the process of writing.....)
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I have a similar question. I recently had a paper submitted to J. Phys. Chem. A but I've heard that there's no point in updating them until you actually get it accepted for publication. Is that true? If it is, I guess it might help me if I'm waitlisted but otherwise not really.
 
allen5055 said:
I have a similar question. I recently had a paper submitted to J. Phys. Chem. A but I've heard that there's no point in updating them until you actually get it accepted for publication. Is that true? If it is, I guess it might help me if I'm waitlisted but otherwise not really.
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That's what I gather.
 
I have done four years of research, but I've never landed a paper. Maybe I should update all the schools to remind them of what a loser I am.
 
Interesting tidbit. Myself and another guy were unable to interview on the last Friday in Feb, so they graciously decided to allow us to interview on March 1st. As far as I know, we were actually the last two people to interview at HMS for the interview season! Weird....don't know if that will turn out to be a good or bad thing.
 
Nerday Shortay said:
I have done four years of research, but I've never landed a paper. Maybe I should update all the schools to remind them of what a loser I am.
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you must not be very good at it then, heh heh. maybe try another field more suited to your mediocre talents. weaving perhaps?
 
Nerday Shortay said:
I have done four years of research, but I've never landed a paper. Maybe I should update all the schools to remind them of what a loser I am.
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uhh, i just read ur mdapps. you are amazing, amazingly hot i bet. too bad you're a woman and im a gay guy...
 
ihatewaiting said:
you must not be very good at it then, heh heh. maybe try another field more suited to your mediocre talents. weaving perhaps?
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Thank God that we aren't all focused on wimpy low input, high output research projects for the sole purpose of getting into medical school, rather than advancing science.

Tell them what's up, Nerday. I'm in the same boat (although much less awesome).
 
Nerday Shortay said:
I have done four years of research, but I've never landed a paper. Maybe I should update all the schools to remind them of what a loser I am.
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You must be a special kind of loser; one incredibly intelligent and with a unique sense of humor. I like your mdapps. If only there were more losers like you🙂. I second Question99 in his assessment of you.
 
What news for HST? When can we expect to hear? Same time/method of notification as NP people? The waiting is annoying.
 
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