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2013-2014 Harvard Application Thread
Started by JJMrK
I'm watching this thread out of sheer amusement. I feel for you all, hopefully I can pick up some tips about how to deal with my non-rolling school results in 2 weeks. Good luck!
This forum is much calmer than last year's 🙂
Less
and more 
One more day everybody!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Less
and more One more day everybody!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Figured I would post my thoughts before you all hear back today.
I came into this application cycle feeling as if I was a very strong applicant, and that a school like Harvard was well within my reach. What I have learned, however, both through my cycle results and from fellow applicants on the interview trail, is that I was quite mistaken. At first I was incredibly bitter about being passed over for other applicants because of clinical exposure, volunteer experience, etc. - things that at the time I considered all "part of the game" of medical school admissions. Looking back now, though, I am truly humbled as I consider the accomplishments and experiences of people like you, sitting here waiting to hear back from such a prestigious school.
I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt to not even get the chance to interview at Harvard, but truthfully I have now grown to think that I probably didn't deserve to. You all have done amazing things with your lives thus far, and will, without a doubt, grow to become amazing physicians - something you should remember regardless of the content of your decision today. In short, take a second today to think back to all that you have done up to this point in your lives, and all you have done to get to where you are now. I think sometimes we all get so caught up in the stress and insanity of this process that we don't ever stop to give ourselves credit for what we have already accomplished. You are all deserving of a great medical education, and should know that your experiences and success thus far inspire people like me to continue to push ourselves throughout our education and to strive to achieve even more. So good luck today - I hope to work with some of you down the line in our careers!
tl;dr: Congrats on your success so far - don't let today's outcome change your perception of what you have already accomplished!
I came into this application cycle feeling as if I was a very strong applicant, and that a school like Harvard was well within my reach. What I have learned, however, both through my cycle results and from fellow applicants on the interview trail, is that I was quite mistaken. At first I was incredibly bitter about being passed over for other applicants because of clinical exposure, volunteer experience, etc. - things that at the time I considered all "part of the game" of medical school admissions. Looking back now, though, I am truly humbled as I consider the accomplishments and experiences of people like you, sitting here waiting to hear back from such a prestigious school.
I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt to not even get the chance to interview at Harvard, but truthfully I have now grown to think that I probably didn't deserve to. You all have done amazing things with your lives thus far, and will, without a doubt, grow to become amazing physicians - something you should remember regardless of the content of your decision today. In short, take a second today to think back to all that you have done up to this point in your lives, and all you have done to get to where you are now. I think sometimes we all get so caught up in the stress and insanity of this process that we don't ever stop to give ourselves credit for what we have already accomplished. You are all deserving of a great medical education, and should know that your experiences and success thus far inspire people like me to continue to push ourselves throughout our education and to strive to achieve even more. So good luck today - I hope to work with some of you down the line in our careers!
tl;dr: Congrats on your success so far - don't let today's outcome change your perception of what you have already accomplished!
Anon, thank you for your extremely gracious post. You have a kind heart and I am just so grateful that you would go out of your way to post such a thoughtful message. But I think you're wrong on one very crucial matter...
A Harvard interview invite isn't necessarily the mark of a strong candidate, but it definitely is the mark of a lucky one. Please please please don't think of yourself as anything less than what you are: a stellar candidate who is going to rock medical school and become a truly formidable doctor one day. Don't sell yourself short, and don't let Harvard tell you what you can or cannot do.
There is no dichotomy ("people like you vs me") We all can and should learn and take our inspiration from each other, whether we admit it or not. And we should ALWAYS admit it, and give credit where credit is due. You have inspired me with your post today. Thank you so so much.
I'd like to leave you with a picture I found during the application process that I think is very apt. Harvard won't define the lucky ones who get an acceptance today. And for those who are not so lucky (but no less talented and deserving!!), please don't let it define you.
Cheers mate 🙂
A Harvard interview invite isn't necessarily the mark of a strong candidate, but it definitely is the mark of a lucky one. Please please please don't think of yourself as anything less than what you are: a stellar candidate who is going to rock medical school and become a truly formidable doctor one day. Don't sell yourself short, and don't let Harvard tell you what you can or cannot do.
There is no dichotomy ("people like you vs me") We all can and should learn and take our inspiration from each other, whether we admit it or not. And we should ALWAYS admit it, and give credit where credit is due. You have inspired me with your post today. Thank you so so much.
I'd like to leave you with a picture I found during the application process that I think is very apt. Harvard won't define the lucky ones who get an acceptance today. And for those who are not so lucky (but no less talented and deserving!!), please don't let it define you.
Cheers mate 🙂
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Responses like that are what keeps my faith in humanity (and premeds!) intact - thank you for your kind words!
I will be in your shoes, waiting for decisions, next week and can only hope to have this type of perspective on the whole process during those long days!
I will be in your shoes, waiting for decisions, next week and can only hope to have this type of perspective on the whole process during those long days!
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I'm actually feeling pretty Zen about this whole thing, but I can't resist posting this:
Feeling surprisingly okay as well. We got 6 inches of snow yesterday (in Virginia) and I've been whining about it like a little girl--what can I say, I'm a true Southerner--so I told my friends to remind me that Boston's weather is like this quite often if I don't get good news today. It'll probably work 
Early congrats to those accepted and to everyone else, you're all awesome no matter what the decision today is!
Early congrats to those accepted and to everyone else, you're all awesome no matter what the decision today is!
Feeling surprisingly okay as well. We got 6 inches of snow yesterday (in Virginia) and I've been whining about it like a little girl--what can I say, I'm a true Southerner--so I told my friends to remind me that Boston's weather is like this quite often if I don't get good news today. It'll probably work
Early congrats to those accepted and to everyone else, you're all awesome no matter what the decision today is!
I know this isn't exactly productive, but that is the best user name I have ever seen. Ever.
Feeling surprisingly okay as well. We got 6 inches of snow yesterday (in Virginia) and I've been whining about it like a little girl--what can I say, I'm a true Southerner--so I told my friends to remind me that Boston's weather is like this quite often if I don't get good news today. It'll probably work
Early congrats to those accepted and to everyone else, you're all awesome no matter what the decision today is!
I'm sorry I stole your TV Guide...
**hear back today
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depends on my mood. 🤣
Check out the waitlist kitteh. Priceless.
Incredible
Forgot to bring my headphones to work today, so I'm just hear for the entertainment value.
Good luck guys and girls!
Forgot to bring my headphones to work today, so I'm just hear for the entertainment value.
Good luck guys and girls!
I feel like I'm an animal in a zoo...a really average animal in a really badass zoo. How did I get here??
Help me please.
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Based on the last few years, it looks that way
Stanford?
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i really hope we find out today... another day of this would be the worsttt
Did that happen to you too?
Hi Guys,
A few words from someone who lived this process last year:
First and foremost, congratulations. The fact that you are still waiting for acceptances in March means one thing and one thing only: you have interviewed at the some of the greatest institutions of medical education in the world. You are among the finest applicants in the entire 2013-2014 application pool. For that, you deserve to be proud.
As you may have already experienced, the medical school application process is extremely unpredictable. There are so many subjective variables that go into whether or not you are accepted at a given school. Far too often, we make the mistake of interpreting the list of schools we are accepted/rejected from as a reflection of our intrinsic worth. However, that’s the wrong way to think about things. The fact that you’ve been selected for interviews means that you’ve been identified as folks who have demonstrated excellence to this point and who are projected to continue demonstrating excellence for the rest of your careers. THAT is what you should take away from this process. The dreams that you have of impacting this world are no longer just far-fetched ideals – they should now be realistic expectations.
When the news of your admissions decisions comes forward, remember to be gracious in all things. You may be unbelievably excited by your results, and that’s okay. Just always remember that there are others who worked every bit as hard as you but haven’t enjoyed the success you’re enjoying. You may be heartbroken by your results, and that’s okay too. Just always remember that you have still already been tremendously blessed.
No matter what happens this month, always remember that you are the pride and joy of your family. You are the fulfillment of the dreams your parents have dreamt since the days they prepared to bring you into this world. You have completed a grueling process and have been accepted to medical school. You have represented your loved ones proudly and carried your family's legacy one step forward. You should be proud of yourselves. I, for one, am proud of you.
With love,
Luckystr1ke
A few words from someone who lived this process last year:
First and foremost, congratulations. The fact that you are still waiting for acceptances in March means one thing and one thing only: you have interviewed at the some of the greatest institutions of medical education in the world. You are among the finest applicants in the entire 2013-2014 application pool. For that, you deserve to be proud.
As you may have already experienced, the medical school application process is extremely unpredictable. There are so many subjective variables that go into whether or not you are accepted at a given school. Far too often, we make the mistake of interpreting the list of schools we are accepted/rejected from as a reflection of our intrinsic worth. However, that’s the wrong way to think about things. The fact that you’ve been selected for interviews means that you’ve been identified as folks who have demonstrated excellence to this point and who are projected to continue demonstrating excellence for the rest of your careers. THAT is what you should take away from this process. The dreams that you have of impacting this world are no longer just far-fetched ideals – they should now be realistic expectations.
When the news of your admissions decisions comes forward, remember to be gracious in all things. You may be unbelievably excited by your results, and that’s okay. Just always remember that there are others who worked every bit as hard as you but haven’t enjoyed the success you’re enjoying. You may be heartbroken by your results, and that’s okay too. Just always remember that you have still already been tremendously blessed.
No matter what happens this month, always remember that you are the pride and joy of your family. You are the fulfillment of the dreams your parents have dreamt since the days they prepared to bring you into this world. You have completed a grueling process and have been accepted to medical school. You have represented your loved ones proudly and carried your family's legacy one step forward. You should be proud of yourselves. I, for one, am proud of you.
With love,
Luckystr1ke
yeah but not today
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