harvard acceptances?

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SBBunny said:
That's what I thought about my second Cornell interviewer (minus the hug). Turns out, that particular interviewer lavishes praises on everyone just to test how they respond. I was waitlisted. My Columbia interviewer also seemed quite impressed with me. Another waitlist.
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I totally agree with you that the student performance in the interview doesn't necessarily predict final outcome.

For example, my Stanford interviews went really really well. But then I got wait listed. When the Prof. who interviewed me (not part of the Adcom) found out that this had happened, he personally went to the Adcom to advocate for me. However, the decisions wasn't changed (at least so far).

On the other hand, I got accepted to Yale even though my interview there sucked big balls. It was probably my worst interview in the entire season. And that Prof. actually sits on the Adcom.

Basically, in my experience, interview performance is not the best predictor of final outcome.
 
SBBunny said:
That's what I thought about my second Cornell interviewer (minus the hug). Turns out, that particular interviewer lavishes praises on everyone just to test how they respond. I was waitlisted.
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I think we had the same interviewer. I wonder what kind of response he's looking for there. Also got a waitlist there.
 
spanamit said:
I totally agree with you that the student performance in the interview doesn't necessarily predict final outcome.

For example, my Stanford interviews went really really well. But then I got wait listed. When the Prof. who interviewed me (not part of the Adcom) found out that this had happened, he personally went to the Adcom to advocate for me. However, the decisions wasn't changed (at least so far).

On the other hand, I got accepted to Yale even though my interview there sucked big balls. It was probably my worst interview in the entire season. And that Prof. actually sits on the Adcom.

Basically, in my experience, interview performance is not the best predictor of final outcome.
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It's almost tempting to say that there's an inverse relationship between self-reported interview performance and acceptance... The worse you think you did, the greater your chances of getting in. My Harvard interviews felt quite good, so I'm guessing.... things don't look good. Whatever, it'll all be over soon.

Is anyone having second thoughts about checking the financial aid page on Monday? I'm starting to think that I'd rather wait to hear back from HMS via snail mail...
 
Yea, I second ya...I came out of my WashU committee interview ready to withdraw on the spot... 😵
 
I can't do this whole constant checking of the financial aid site thing, since it's bound to drive me insane. I think I'll do like you and just wait for snail mail like a good girl. Though, you know, I do live in Boston so it should get to me in a fairly timely manner.

SBBunny said:
It's almost tempting to say that there's an inverse relationship between self-reported interview performance and acceptance... The worse you think you did, the greater your chances of getting in. My Harvard interviews felt quite good, so I'm guessing.... things don't look good. Whatever, it'll all be over soon.

Is anyone having second thoughts about checking the financial aid page on Monday? I'm starting to think that I'd rather wait to hear back from HMS via snail mail...
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I think you all are overestimating how important the interview is. The reason you can have a kicka$$ interview and get waitlisted (or worse) is because the interview is only one part of the entire package...

so - even if my harvard interview was AMAZING I still probably won't get in

🙁
 
I've been lurking on this thread and reminiscing about being in your position two years ago, and my stomach still gets a little tied up in knots thinking about it! Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm rooting for you all to get big yellow envelopes next week...

And SBBunny, I had to tell you: I get WAY more use out of my Wii and Trauma Center than my opthalmoscope 🙂 So go crazy--I mean really, how many other video games can you play and semi-convince yourself that you're studying (because I'm sure the ability to suction cytoplasm out of tumors will come in useful during my surgery clerkship... yeah...)

(Oh also: was that effusive Cornell interviewer by any chance a thoracic surgeon? I had the very same experience!)
 
Yay! Thanks for popping in, Risa!

You never know, you might be in an O.R. when you suddenly realize that you have THE HEALING TOUCH.

My Cornell interviewer was actually an ER doctor. I feel mildly ticked off about the whole thing... All those nice things he said about me were all a game. I feel so used! I hope my Harvard interviewers weren't just being nice to test how I respond to compliments (they both seemed to really care about getting to know me).

Risa said:
I've been lurking on this thread and reminiscing about being in your position two years ago, and my stomach still gets a little tied up in knots thinking about it! Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm rooting for you all to get big yellow envelopes next week...

And SBBunny, I had to tell you: I get WAY more use out of my Wii and Trauma Center than my opthalmoscope 🙂 So go crazy--I mean really, how many other video games can you play and semi-convince yourself that you're studying (because I'm sure the ability to suction cytoplasm out of tumors will come in useful during my surgery clerkship... yeah...)

(Oh also: was that effusive Cornell interviewer by any chance a thoracic surgeon? I had the very same experience!)
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SBBunny said:
I hope my Harvard interviewers weren't just being nice to test how I respond to compliments (they both seemed to really care about getting to know me).
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I had the same experience. One of my interviewers really heaped the praise on. He kept commenting on how "intelligent" I was, how "successful" I was going to be, how the new NP thesis/scholarly work requirement wasn't going to "trip up someone like me," etc. It was borderline ridiculous - my stats are right around Harvard's average, surely nothing out of the ordinary from his perspective. I was suspicious immediately and erred on the side of modesty throughout. It did make the interview seem very genial and non-confrontational, however, and for that I'm thankful.

My guess is that it is a technique designed to A) tease out any latent arrogance in the interviewee, or B) simply make the interviewee comfortable, relaxed, and generally have an enjoyable interview experience.
 
WellWornLad said:
I had the same experience. One of my interviewers really heaped the praise on. He kept commenting on how "intelligent" I was, how "successful" I was going to be, how the new NP thesis/scholarly work requirement wasn't going to "trip up someone like me," etc. It was borderline ridiculous - my stats are right around Harvard's average, surely nothing out of the ordinary from his perspective. I was suspicious immediately and erred on the side of modesty throughout. It did make the interview seem very genial and non-confrontational, however, and for that I'm thankful.

My guess is that it is a technique designed to A) tease out any latent arrogance in the interviewee, or B) simply make the interviewee comfortable, relaxed, and generally have an enjoyable interview experience.
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Was your interviewer's initials P.S.? Just wondering because I had a similar experience. I kept running into a 3rd or 4th year on his floor though and she said he's just that nice...so who knows
 
I have also found the interview-acceptance link to be quite odd and unpredictable. My two worst interviews (Northwestern and UVa) were really really bad. Like actually super terrible, not just a bit weird or awkward. But I got in to both places! Yet I thought my interviews at NYU, Sinai and Columbia all went very well and... I was waitlisted at two and rejected by the third. And of course, my interviews at Harvard seemed very promising at the time and yet on further examination this makes them seem very unpromising. So it goes.
On a side note... I am so freaked out about tomorrow! I wish I had the restraint not to check, but I am just too weak...
 
j-weezy said:
Was your interviewer's initials P.S.? Just wondering because I had a similar experience. I kept running into a 3rd or 4th year on his floor though and she said he's just that nice...so who knows
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No, it was someone else, actually. After my interview I had to check in with the director in the admissions office (also a superlatively nice guy), who asked about my interview and commented on how great a guy my interviewer was. I had to agree.

Basically, I was really impressed by everyone I met in the HMS admissions process. In reading about other's experiences I suppose that it was no accident, and that HMS has really worked on making the interview experience, well, enjoyable - as far as that's possible. Considering that acceptance is a long shot in my case, I'm pleased that I can at least walk away knowing that I didn't "screw up" my interview, and that I gave it my best shot.

I came across this article the night before my interview, which made me a bit nervous. Perhaps this incident was the impetus for reform:

http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/04/28/interview/print.html
 
WellWornLad said:
No, it was someone else, actually. After my interview I had to check in with the director in the admissions office (also a superlatively nice guy), who asked about my interview and commented on how great a guy my interviewer was. I had to agree.

Basically, I was really impressed by everyone I met in the HMS admissions process. In reading about other's experiences I suppose that it was no accident, and that HMS has really worked on making the interview experience, well, enjoyable - as far as that's possible. Considering that acceptance is a long shot in my case, I'm pleased that I can at least walk away knowing that I didn't "screw up" my interview, and that I gave it my best shot.

I came across this article the night before my interview, which made me a bit nervous. Perhaps this incident was the impetus for reform:

http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/04/28/interview/print.html
Click to expand...

whoa. Although I have to say, only my NP interview (and one MSTP) was enjoyable...a couple of others (MSTP, HST) were kinda intense...
 
WellWornLad said:
No, it was someone else, actually. After my interview I had to check in with the director in the admissions office (also a superlatively nice guy), who asked about my interview and commented on how great a guy my interviewer was. I had to agree.

Basically, I was really impressed by everyone I met in the HMS admissions process. In reading about other's experiences I suppose that it was no accident, and that HMS has really worked on making the interview experience, well, enjoyable - as far as that's possible. Considering that acceptance is a long shot in my case, I'm pleased that I can at least walk away knowing that I didn't "screw up" my interview, and that I gave it my best shot.

I came across this article the night before my interview, which made me a bit nervous. Perhaps this incident was the impetus for reform:

http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/04/28/interview/print.html
Click to expand...

That article speaks the truth.
 
I have a spectacular green St. Patrick's Day hat,
I bought myself some fancy cheese and a chocolate flying pig (I'll get into Harvard when pigs fly- the pig is appropriate for the occasion),
I will try to find a replacement for my Playstation 2 AV cable,
I am bringing my autographed copy of "Better" to work tomorrow (because things are really slow in the lab and I'll need something to distract myself)...

I am ready!

wait. no I'm not. Eek! I actually still haven't decided whether I want to check the financial aid website or just wait for the mail. Good luck everyone :luck::luck::luck:
 
seraph524 said:
That article speaks the truth.
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I would take this article with a serious grain of salt. I know a large number of HMS students, and being a Harvard grad student myself, I know for a fact that we are not afraid of confronting the administration and expressing our concerns about the shortcomings of the university. If anything, the administration is extremely receptive to hearing us out and making real changes.

Of the 1000 or so applicants that HMS interviews, there are bound to be a few who have a particularly bad day. I do not doubt that the writer of the article may have had a difficult time with her interviewer as this can happen at any school (we've all heard the stories), but an article entitled "Horrible Harvard" is obviously going to present an extremely biased perspective.

Many of us have had excellent interview experiences at HMS and many HMS students leave the medical school with nothing but pride in and appreciation for their time there. Medical students everywhere get depressed, are overworked, and may be ultra-competitive. This is nothing specific to HMS. What the writer of the article won't tell you is exactly all that was in her file, and until all the facts are on the table, there is no reason why anyone should assume her experience speaks to the nature of the medical school, its students, or the university at large.
 
med007 said:
I would take this article with a serious grain of salt. I know a large number of HMS students, and being a Harvard grad student myself, I know for a fact that we are not afraid of confronting the administration and expressing our concerns about the shortcomings of the university. If anything, the administration is extremely receptive to hearing us out and making real changes.

Of the 1000 or so applicants that HMS interviews, there are bound to be a few who have a particularly bad day. I do not doubt that the writer of the article may have had a difficult time with her interviewer as this can happen at any school (we've all heard the stories), but an article entitled "Horrible Harvard" is obviously going to present an extremely biased perspective.

Many of us have had excellent interview experiences at HMS and many HMS students leave the medical school with nothing but pride in and appreciation for their time there. Medical students everywhere get depressed, are overworked, and may be ultra-competitive. This is nothing specific to HMS. What the writer of the article won't tell you is exactly all that was in her file, and until all the facts are on the table, there is no reason why anyone should assume her experience speaks to the nature of the medical school, its students, or the university at large.
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Completely agree, especially with the bold parts.
 
so when do you think the financial aid page will be available for accepted students? 12 am tonight?
 
You guys do know you all are banking on the fact that the financial aid system loophole is going to work again, right?

There has been quite some insanity going around here 😛. If anything, you should be waiting for another week for the letter to get to your house.
 
i want some gulabjamon!!!!

(and an acceptance letter)
 
GulabJamooMD said:
i want some gulabjamon!!!!

(and an acceptance letter)
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Me too...

(also, I agree with midn's concern about whether the status page is actually going to work. Just for the record, nobody's gotten anything other than "Login failed" so far, right?)
 
Everybody needs to take a big dose of relax in here.

Alea iacta est ==>"The die has been cast" 😎

There's really no rush to find out. The decision has been made. We'll know in good time. Best of luck to everyone, but seriously .... deep breaths.🙂
 
I think personally, I will opt to not look at the financial aid page. There's something about having that letter in hand that is irreplaceable. On that note, can anyone indeed confirm that everything is sent via snail-mail, and towards the end of this week?
 
1956Goldtop said:
I think personally, I will opt to not look at the financial aid page. There's something about having that letter in hand that is irreplaceable. On that note, can anyone indeed confirm that everything is sent via snail-mail, and towards the end of this week?
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RPedigo and I both got that answer when we called last week. I'm more than happy to call again, but I think that I'll wait until Tuesday or Wednesday... because I called last Thursday and doubt that two business days would change anything.
 
lets assume that things are sent on monday (which i doubt), most people wont know until tues in the boston area, and by wed in new england and by friday on the west coast

its more likely theyll mail out stuff on wed or so which means most wont hear until the weekend or even monday...the mail is not a reliable thing, just ask the kids who heard back from P&S!

:luck: everyone!
 
True but P&S admissions office also lied about when they sent materials (several times I might add).
 
1956Goldtop said:
True but P&S admissions office also lied about when they sent materials (several times I might add).
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But there's no guarantee that Harvard will get all of their decisions out on the dates they anticipate either. I'm planning to just wait it out... I'm not stressed about it. I've got plenty of tv shows, books and movies to keep me occupied. (gotta love netflix <3)
 
Haha sorry I didn't mean to sound bitter. But I longed to get home everyday in between classes to check my mail for about a week and a half after others started getting stuff, and it wasn't postmarked on any of the days the admissions office people claimed that "everything was sent out"


BTW I love netflix also. I recently got an account (in december) and have been straight up movie-ing it up every week!
 
netflix is such a savior of the bored/anxious.
 
Anyone check the fin aid page yet...is 12AM jumping the gun?
 
antamago said:
Anyone check the fin aid page yet...is 12AM jumping the gun?
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My interpretation of things based on the previous posts was that the FinAid office might receive the info for accepted students on 3/17, and then proceed to input it into their system at some point. I can't really imagine the finaid page suddenly working at 12:00 AM...but I'm sure people will check nonetheless
 
Don't worry if you can't get onto the website. I'm a student at HMS and I can't get onto the website. They changed it majorly this year. Good luck everyone.
 
med21 said:
Don't worry if you can't get onto the website. I'm a student at HMS and I can't get onto the website. They changed it majorly this year. Good luck everyone.
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ooo...and the plot thickens. Now the poor HMS students will be badgered by people in this thread to constantly check the finaid site...I apologize in advance 😳
 
It will be 03/17/08 12:00AM in just 5 minutes. I feel I am gonna faint😱
 
wow! was i the only one having trouble getting on SDN today?
 
finallygavein said:
wow! was i the only one having trouble getting on SDN today?
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No, it seems that the forums have been pretty laggy.


Did anyone try the finaid page and get the good message (if such a loophole exists this year)? What about the current HMS students? Are you able to log in?
 
Monkey House said:
Yeah, SDN went down for a couple of hours. Actually, I found it rather calming in an odd way.
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agreed. i propose a completely voluntary 3 hour moment of silence (until about 6pm) in honor of those of us who will be receiving less than happy news in the next few days. any takers?

obviously, said moment of silence would begin at 3pm and end at 6pm. just checking the overall response at this point.

1) it would help FASCA regroup
2) it would honor those of us who worked really hard and just weren't at the right place at the right time
3) it would give us a chance to be normal human beings for three hours.

again, any takers?

i won't be offended if you break the silence. but wouldn't it be cool if we pulled it off?
 
finallygavein said:
agreed. i propose a completely voluntary 3 hour moment of silence (until about 6pm) in honor of those of us who will be receiving less than happy news in the next few days. any takers?

obviously, said moment of silence would begin at 3pm and end at 6pm. just checking the overall response at this point.

1) it would help FASCA regroup
2) it would honor those of us who worked really hard and just weren't at the right place at the right time
3) it would give us a chance to be normal human beings for three hours.

again, any takers?

i won't be offended if you break the silence. but wouldn't it be cool if we pulled it off?
Click to expand...

That would be cool. But I think we are all in different time zones.
 
"your login failed. We could not validate either your Student ID or your PIN."

Did anyone get good news?
I'm sorry, finallygavein, I respect you for your proposal, but I just don't have the willpower.
 PIN no more than 8 characte
 
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