Harvard LoE issue

[athomas]

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I have emailed and called Harvard but they have not gotten back to me yet (I'm sure they're swamped with applications), so I am hoping someone might have some insight into this issue.

My in-state school requires a letter from a science professor, a character reference, and a letter from a dentist. I asked, and they must come only through AADSAS.

I only had 1 of my 4 spots left, so I used that for a 2nd science professor letter since that's a common requirement.

The issue that I am having is that Harvard require 3 letters from professors, 2 science and 1 non-science. Since my character reference is from the director of a center at my school but is not a professor, I am not sure what to do.

These are the options as I see them:
a) Harvard is fine with the character reference as the 3rd letter even though it isn't from a professor
b) Harvard will only accept the 3rd letter from a professor, and will let me send it through Interfolio
c) Harvard will only accept the 3rd letter from a professor, and it must come through AADSAS (in this case, I guess I applied for nothing)

I think I am going to ask a non-science professor to write a letter for me and send it through Interfolio directly to Harvard, but I don't want to ask them to rush to write a letter if Harvard won't even accept it.

Has anyone else encountered this situation? As I mentioned, I have already tried contacting them but I don't want the days to tick away as I wait for their response.

 

[Glimmer1991]

From what I've seen, schools that have LOR requirements that are somewhat "outside the norm" will accept recommendations that aren't through AADSAS. Surely, they'll understand your situation and let you submit it directly to them. They want good applicants, after all, and aren't looking for a reason to reject people like you!

Give it a day and call again. I agree that this is something you need to know about soon.

 

[athomas]

From what I've seen, schools that have LOR requirements that are somewhat "outside the norm" will accept recommendations that aren't through AADSAS. Surely, they'll understand your situation and let you submit it directly to them.

You would think so but the move to all paperless is apparently a pretty big hindrance to that. My in state school is the only one that required a non-academic non-dentist character reference, but they would only accept it through AADSAS.

I will try calling Harvard again tomorrow. I guess I should probably just go ahead and ask my professor in case they say they want it :/

 

[shenqing]

r u talking about U of Washington

 

[athomas]

r u talking about U of Washington

Yes, I'm a WA resident