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Harvard Acceptances
Started by Mateodaspy
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Do you know when the decisions are actually made? Or what the decision making process is like? I interviewed in late October, and I'm just wondering if the decision on my file has essentially been made by now and I'm just waiting to hear. Do they meet all along to rank applicants and then just make their final list at the end?
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Mateodaspy said:
Thank you, Mateodaspy! It's quite evident that you know all too well how anxious we are to hear from HMS. Thank you again. Now to keep calm until March 9th . . .
Wahina said:
This is what I always wondered. Do they make tentative decisions all year long (e.g. ranking students), or does the main committee wait until all interviews are complete before looking through the applicants that were past on from the subcommittee? By the way, I know they gave out their last invites, but have they had the last interview yet?
Mateodaspy, can you answer these? And thanks for letting me know when I should start watching the mail.
Yes, there is relatively little movement off of Harvard's waitlist. For this reason, the number of waitlists they give out is quite small (since even the few people that do get on the waitlist have little chance off getting off it). I think there was only 50 on the waitlist last year, compared to 160-200 accepted outright. This info is for NP, and came from my host that I stayed with.KevinZ said:
No clue about item #2.
edit: for what it's worth though, my host was one of the few to get in off the waitlist, so it is possible.
So, uh... What about Harvard rejections? All on the same day, I hope?
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dopaminesurge said:
they say everything is mailed at the same time.
Wahina said:
Well, interviews are still going on, so not all decisions have been made... it is my understanding that all applications are presented during a couple meetings in late Feb./early March and all applicants are given an up/down vote on their application... about a week after decisions are made, all decision letters are printed and mailed off...
kasha said:
It's really hard to say if I have any regrets this early on in medical school... For me, the decision to go to school in Boston was primarily a personal one (my boyfriend was going to grad school in Boston as well and it was important for me to be nearby), though I must say that HMS really has grown on me since I started here... the incredibly supportive faculty, the p/mp/f (mp=p on the transcript) grading system, the interactive curriculum -- i would die having to sit through 7-8 hrs of lecture each day (the max 2.5 hrs/day that we have here is plenty)... though, that's not to say that the school is perfect -- there are definitely some issues that need to be worked out -- some lectures tend to be too research-oriented, Boston leaves a bit to be desired (weather, social scene, transportation system), some classmates tend to be a little intense (but i suppose that's not entirely unexpected)...
However, the $$$ factor can play a pretty significant role in the final decision -- generally the well-to-do don't mind because they can either pay the tuition outright or the package at HMS is comparable to what was offered to them by other schools; the middle-income students usually end up with packages around 5-10k projected need per year less than other schools; whereas the poorest students with maximal need usually end up with some pretty serious debt relative to offers from other institutions ($100k vs. ~$50k)... In the end, it's all a very personal and difficult decision....
Good luck to everyone in the coming weeks!
Bluntman said:
All decisions are sent out at the same time...
1) Does Harvard have waitlist movement? I understand it wouldn't be significant even if they did.
Minimal movement -- maybe 50-60 people come off the waitlist each year...
2) Will we be told our spot on the waitlist if we asked?
Nope, but if you're on the waitlist, you have a decent shot of getting in since so few are waitlisted.
Minimal movement -- maybe 50-60 people come off the waitlist each year...
2) Will we be told our spot on the waitlist if we asked?
Nope, but if you're on the waitlist, you have a decent shot of getting in since so few are waitlisted.
humuhumu said:
No online status updates....
Last year, there was a glitch on the financial aid website that allowed people to find out their acceptance status about a week or two early... however, I think that site is shut down this year until after decisions are mailed out...
dopaminesurge said:
Hey dopamine:
Just curious: Why did you apply to so few schools?
macadamianut said:
I'm out of the country (Israel) until the summer and I can't afford to fly across the Atlantic for interviews more than once, so this year is a bit of a shot in the dark, and if I don't get in then I'll apply in earnest to a longer list next year. There's a run-on for you.
dopaminesurge said:
I just thought you were ballsy. Good luck.
Thanks =). And I assure you, ballsy or not, my metaphorical ballsack is shaking with fear right now. Maybe I'll feel differently in a month when decisions are in, but right now it feels like I should have waited to do it all at once and save myself the limbo.macadamianut said:
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Mateodaspy said:
What size envelope did your acceptance come in?
06applicant said:
large manila envelope
