Has anyone gotten off the Harvard waitlist?

Asked by: Vella Abernathy  |  Last update: August 28, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (18 votes)

Some years, Harvard accepts zero people off of their waitlist. They say that in other years they've accepted hundreds, but we think that is pretty misleading. Most years, only a few people are chosen from the hundreds asking to be reconsidered for a spot. For the class of 2026, it was a mere 36.

How likely is it to get off the Harvard waitlist?

Conclusion. From the statistics provided, it is clear that Harvard University has a highly competitive admissions process and waitlist. The acceptance rate from the waitlist varies year to year but generally hovers around 4-5%.

Do waitlisted students get accepted at Harvard?

Yes. Our wait list includes the applicants whom the Committee might still wish to consider for admission if spots in the entering class open later. The wait list is not ranked. In some years, we have admitted no one from the wait list; in others, we have admitted more than 200 candidates.

How do I get off Harvard waitlist?

How to Improve Your Chances of Admissions Off the Harvard Waitlist
  1. Write and submit a powerful Letter of Continued Interest. This letter should contain no brags and no updates. ...
  2. Ask your school counselor to make an advocacy call to the Harvard admissions committee. ...
  3. Keep up your grades.

How many people get off the waitlist at Ivies?

Over the last 30 years, slightly less than 40% of applicants who first come to Ivy Coach after being waitlisted by the Ivy League institution have earned admission. Many students believe that being waitlisted is akin to being rejected.

How to Get Off the Waitlist in 2023. Historical Odds, College Admissions Tips

15 related questions found

Is getting waitlisted impressive?

Getting waitlisted at a college certainly isn't a bad thing—your application was good enough to not get rejected! —but it's definitely an uncomfortable place to be. After all, when you're on the college waitlist, you don't know whether you'll be admitted or not, and that alone is anxiety-inducing.

What are the odds of getting accepted after waitlist?

While many colleges will waitlist hundreds or even thousands of students, not all of those students will accept a spot on the waitlist, making the pool and the chances of getting in slightly better in some cases. According to NACAC, 20% of all students who chose to remain on waitlists were ultimately admitted.

What is the Z list at Harvard?

The Z-list earned its name because it's the last group of students to gain admissions—behind both regular and waitlisted candidates. Not only is the Harvard Z-list real, the practice of “Z-listing” candidates has become more common in recent years.

Why did I get waitlisted instead of accepted?

The admissions office might have been concerned about your commitment to enrolling at their college and placed you on a waiting list to determine how keen you are to be accepted. Your application may have flaws that make you a borderline candidate. Maybe your grades weren't strong enough.

Can a professor get you off the waitlist?

If the professor can see that you're particularly interested in the class, then they are more likely to take that into consideration when admitting students off of an instructor-managed waitlist.

What does Harvard look at for admission?

Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character.

How many first year students does Harvard accept?

Harvard University admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 4%. Half the applicants admitted to Harvard University have an SAT score between 1480 and 1580 or an ACT score of 33 and 36.

Is waitlist worse than rejection?

Getting on a waitlist is not a rejection — waitlisted students still have a shot at earning admission to the school. College waitlist statistics from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) show that 43% of postsecondary institutions used a waitlist during the 2018-19 school year.

Is there a downside to accepting waitlist?

There are three primary drawbacks to being waitlisted: Your chances of being admitted off the waitlist are typically low. Although numbers in recent years have increased for waitlist admissions, they're still markedly lower than if your student were to have been accepted in the initial wave of applicants.

Is getting waitlisted at an Ivy good?

While being placed on an Ivy League waitlist can feel disappointing, it's important to keep in mind that being placed on a waitlist means you are a competitive applicant. Furthermore, it means that college admissions officers believe you would succeed on campus — they just might not have enough room!

Is a waitlist a soft rejection?

If a student is waitlisted, it usually means that a school feels the student is a good fit, but the school is constrained by class sizes. Keep in mind, however, that some schools use waitlist offers as “soft rejections.” The waitlist offer is more of a “courtesy” and they have no intention of admitting you.

What happens if you are waitlisted at Harvard?

Harvard's waitlist isn't ranked, so each waitlisted student has an equal chance of getting accepted. Generally, students are admitted off of the waitlist to fill institutional needs and ensure that the upcoming class year has a diverse array of interests, ambitions, and backgrounds.

Is waitlist better than deferred?

A deferred applicant will be considered again before any reconsideration is provided to a waitlisted applicant. As such, being waitlisted at a school is worse than a deferral because the institution has decided not to admit you unless other applicants decline their admission offer and seats become available.

Does Harvard accept F students?

Most admitted full-time international students to Harvard University are eligible for the F-1 visa. Only some students are eligible for the J-1 student visa. Below you will find a list of the major differences between the two visas.

What is the most popular class at Harvard?

CS50 is Harvard's most popular class, and you can take it for free online. This introductory computer science course covers algorithms, data structures, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development.

Do grades matter for waitlist?

Deferred and Waitlisted Students

Colleges and universities look for consistency or improvement when you're in this position, so don't slack. If you had a significantly lighter course load or let your grades slip, it's unlikely that will impact a school's decision to admit you.

Should I appeal a waitlist?

If you've been waitlisted at a college, and you'd definitely attend if you got in off the waitlist, then you need to write a waitlist letter. And if you've been denied at your dream college, and you're desperate to be reconsidered, then you should write an appeal letter.

How many applicants are waitlisted?

The truth is, the number of students who are waitlisted changes from year to year, so it's impossible to say how many people will get waitlisted at a certain school. The number can range anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred.