So, youve been deferred from Harvard. Were sorry youre dealing with this right now -- and definitely take some time to process. But if youre here, youre probably a person of action, and you want to know what you should do next. Don worry, we have some action items that can help you give yourself a fighting chance to get in, and some strategies for applying to other schools too.
According to reporting from The Crimson, Harvard early admissions candidates have around a , and about 80% of early action applications are deferred. Harvard does not publish the number of students whove been deferred that eventually get accepted, and they .
Before you get too down on yourself, let develop a strategy. Because no matter what, youre going to go to a great school.
Schools
If you put all your eggs in the Harvard basket, now is the time to diversify. You need to apply to at least 10 other schools. You need to develop a college list that is balanced and realistic. Think three reaches, four targets, and three safeties. We have a guide on how to determine what would make different schools reaches/targets/safeties here.
Think about what drew you to Harvard in the first place. If culture is important to you, think of schools like (xyz). If Boston was a huge draw for you, then youre in luck! You can look at schools like Tufts, Northeastern, Emerson, MIT, Boston College, and Boston University. If certain academic programs are what piqued your interest, start researching other colleges with similar offerings.
Supplements
Once youve compiled your list, youll want to start looking at all the supplements for each school. Some of these will be repetitive -- a lot of colleges re-use themes in their essays, like community or Why THIS college type essays. This will allow you to work smarter, not harder while tackling these supplements. If youre stuck with brainstorming, check here. We think it best to just jump in and get your ideas on paper, then you can start whittling it down to the perfect essay. We recommend leaning on friends and family and teachers to help you edit these essays -- fresh eyes can help you spot things youve missed. Once youve edited all your supplements for both clarity and correctness, youre ready to submit.
It important to note here that you also need to request additional recommendation letters from your teachers, coaches, and guidance counselor. Make sure theyre okay with supplying these, and discuss your next steps with your counselor office. With recommendation letters, sent test scores, and edited supplements, it time to submit your additional applications.
Deferral Letter
Ok let be real, this is the section youre here for. You want to draft a letter to Harvard that updates them on your wonderful achievements and makes it clear that you want to attend their school no matter what. Top universities care a lot about their yield rate, so you want to express your loyalty to their school. Start by updating them on what youve been working on since applying to their school. You don want the tone to be braggy, but don play it overly humble either. If you made captain of a team, or finished a big research project, or helped organize an event at school, these are all things you could mention. Don do a huge list of your accomplishments, but pick about two things that are the most interesting.
Youll finish the letter by making it clear that you will attend Harvard if you get in. Have friends, family, or a guidance counselor (or all three) look over your letter for grammar and clarity. Now, send it off to the Harvard Admissions office.
Now, the worst part. The waiting. But feel confident that youve done your best.
If youre struggling with rounding out your college list, or need help with your essays, reach out to us here.