Harvard c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013) Forum

[az21833]

I thought they'd send out some JS2s after the bloodbath. Guess I was wrong.

not on the day of boston massacre

eta: put some of these ppls numbers through mylsn and see what it spits out. its literally unreal. what is going on this cycle - the opposite of what everybody thought?

[carboncopyx]

I thought they'd send out some JS2s after the bloodbath. Guess I was wrong.

not on the day of boston massacre

eta: put some of these ppls numbers through mylsn and see what it spits out. its literally unreal. what is going on this cycle - the opposite of what everybody thought?

Maybe softs are mattering more than before?

[pedestrian]

I thought they'd send out some JS2s after the bloodbath. Guess I was wrong.

not on the day of boston massacre

eta: put some of these ppls numbers through mylsn and see what it spits out. its literally unreal. what is going on this cycle - the opposite of what everybody thought?

Maybe softs are mattering more than before?

That seems as implausible as that thing above about them not caring whether they are second or third in the rankings. And yet, nothing makes sense.

[hhockberger]

Dinged. Definitely expected that. Good luck to those of you holding out hope!

[Spritzpiggy]

Oh jeez! I'm sorry I thought (incorrectly I see) that dings would end at 5...

[wert3813]

That seems as implausible as that thing above about them not caring whether they are second or third in the rankings. And yet, nothing makes sense.

Explain to me why Harvard would rather be 2nd than 3rd other than general human competitiveness. Not being snide. My reasons why I thought they wouldn't care:

HYS is such a distinct category that unless you are first no one really makes a huge distinction.
Any difference in job outcomes (clerkships) due to rankings seem tied to Stanford's smaller class size. Or at the very least not likely to change dramatically if they were to switch spots.
Stanford will still be more selective than Harvard if they switched (class size).
This may be terribly naive but I can't see someone choosing between S and H based on ranking. They are just such different schools in terms of fit and so similar in terms of outcomes.
Tough for me to see donors putting the heat on HLS for being 3rd.

What am I missing? Regardless I stand by my point that today's actions in no way suggest that that is was is going on. It's Harvard, even in the worst years its gonna be absurdly hard to get into. I think the SUPER EPIC LEGENDARY(TM) rap this cycle is getting has mislead some folks.

[hhockberger]

Oh jeez! I'm sorry I thought (incorrectly I see) that dings would end at 5...

I actually got the email 2 hours ago, so I think it's safe for everyone to stop panicking at 5

[spicyyoda17]

That seems as implausible as that thing above about them not caring whether they are second or third in the rankings. And yet, nothing makes sense.

Explain to me why Harvard would rather be 2nd than 3rd other than general human competitiveness. Not being snide. My reasons why I thought they wouldn't care:

HYS is such a distinct category that unless you are first no one really makes a huge distinction.
Any difference in job outcomes (clerkships) due to rankings seem tied to Stanford's smaller class size. Or at the very least not likely to change dramatically if they were to switch spots.
Stanford will still be more selective than Harvard if they switched (class size).
This may be terribly naive but I can't see someone choosing between S and H based on ranking. They are just such different schools in terms of fit and so similar in terms of outcomes.
Tough for me to see donors putting the heat on HLS for being 3rd.

What am I missing? Regardless I stand by my point that today's actions in no way suggest that that is was is going on. It's Harvard, even in the worst years its gonna be absurdly hard to get into. I think the SUPER EPIC LEGENDARY(TM) rap this cycle is getting has mislead some folks.

I agree with a lot of this. However, I think there were a decent # of people who chose Stanford over Harvard last year due to the rankings swap (as irrational as that might seem). Harvard had a bigger-than-average waitlist admit wave, and this was partly attributed to the # of students that chose to enroll at other schools (e.g. Stanford) despite being accepted to HLS.

I'm not saying that is truth as a whole, but those were and are the rumblings from a year ago.

[wert3813]

That seems as implausible as that thing above about them not caring whether they are second or third in the rankings. And yet, nothing makes sense.

Explain to me why Harvard would rather be 2nd than 3rd other than general human competitiveness. Not being snide. My reasons why I thought they wouldn't care:

HYS is such a distinct category that unless you are first no one really makes a huge distinction.
Any difference in job outcomes (clerkships) due to rankings seem tied to Stanford's smaller class size. Or at the very least not likely to change dramatically if they were to switch spots.
Stanford will still be more selective than Harvard if they switched (class size).
This may be terribly naive but I can't see someone choosing between S and H based on ranking. They are just such different schools in terms of fit and so similar in terms of outcomes.
Tough for me to see donors putting the heat on HLS for being 3rd.

What am I missing? Regardless I stand by my point that today's actions in no way suggest that that is was is going on. It's Harvard, even in the worst years its gonna be absurdly hard to get into. I think the SUPER EPIC LEGENDARY(TM) rap this cycle is getting has mislead some folks.

I agree with a lot of this. However, I think there were a decent # of people who chose Stanford over Harvard last year due to the rankings swap (as irrational as that might seem). Harvard had a bigger-than-average waitlist admit wave, and this was partly attributed to the # of students that chose to enroll at other schools (e.g. Stanford) despite being accepted to HLS.

I'm not saying that is truth as a whole, but those were and are the rumblings from a year ago.

Lots of reasons to go to Stanford over Harvard. Just seems nuts that that number is one of them.

[vzapana]

That seems as implausible as that thing above about them not caring whether they are second or third in the rankings. And yet, nothing makes sense.

Explain to me why Harvard would rather be 2nd than 3rd other than general human competitiveness. Not being snide. My reasons why I thought they wouldn't care:

HYS is such a distinct category that unless you are first no one really makes a huge distinction.
Any difference in job outcomes (clerkships) due to rankings seem tied to Stanford's smaller class size. Or at the very least not likely to change dramatically if they were to switch spots.
Stanford will still be more selective than Harvard if they switched (class size).
This may be terribly naive but I can't see someone choosing between S and H based on ranking. They are just such different schools in terms of fit and so similar in terms of outcomes.
Tough for me to see donors putting the heat on HLS for being 3rd.

What am I missing? Regardless I stand by my point that today's actions in no way suggest that that is was is going on. It's Harvard, even in the worst years its gonna be absurdly hard to get into. I think the SUPER EPIC LEGENDARY(TM) rap this cycle is getting has mislead some folks.

I agree with a lot of this. However, I think there were a decent # of people who chose Stanford over Harvard last year due to the rankings swap (as irrational as that might seem). Harvard had a bigger-than-average waitlist admit wave, and this was partly attributed to the # of students that chose to enroll at other schools (e.g. Stanford) despite being accepted to HLS.

I'm not saying that is truth as a whole, but those were and are the rumblings from a year ago.

Lots of reasons to go to Stanford over Harvard. Just seems nuts that that number is one of them.

there is a significant number of smart people who are nuts.

[Jaqen]

Whoa. Sorry everyone.

Mid-Nov complete here, no JS1, no hold/ding (yet).

[wert3813]

Whoa. Sorry everyone.

Mid-Nov complete here, no JS1, no hold/ding (yet).

Uh check your spam folder? If not you are definitely an outlier for that time. I feel like most pre Thanksgiving have heard one way or another.

Side note--to me holding pre-JS1 an over 75th GPA and 172 LSAT (LSATPrepGuy) was the oddest thing that happened today. Those numbers get in at like a 90% clip. http://myLSN.info/173q5q

[Cicero76]

Whoa. Sorry everyone.

Mid-Nov complete here, no JS1, no hold/ding (yet).

Uh check your spam folder? If not you are definitely an outlier for that time. I feel like most pre Thanksgiving have heard one way or another.

Side note--to me holding pre-JS1 an over 75th GPA and 172 LSAT (LSATPrepGuy) was the oddest thing that happened today. Those numbers get in at like a 90% clip. http://myLSN.info/173q5q

He's not that much of an outlier. I was complete before Thanksgiving, and I also have heard nothing at all.

[LSATSCORES2012]

Just sent somewhat of a hail mary update to Harvard after the hold email. Would rather not say what it is, but I figure I'm not getting in if I leave my application as it is, so I might as well send something.

[wert3813]

Whoa. Sorry everyone.

Mid-Nov complete here, no JS1, no hold/ding (yet).

Uh check your spam folder? If not you are definitely an outlier for that time. I feel like most pre Thanksgiving have heard one way or another.

Side note--to me holding pre-JS1 an over 75th GPA and 172 LSAT (LSATPrepGuy) was the oddest thing that happened today. Those numbers get in at like a 90% clip. http://myLSN.info/173q5q

He's not that much of an outlier. I was complete before Thanksgiving, and I also have heard nothing at all.

Good to know. Anyone complete in October still floating in space?

[Jaqen]

Whoa. Sorry everyone.

Mid-Nov complete here, no JS1, no hold/ding (yet).

Uh check your spam folder? If not you are definitely an outlier for that time. I feel like most pre Thanksgiving have heard one way or another.

Side note--to me holding pre-JS1 an over 75th GPA and 172 LSAT (LSATPrepGuy) was the oddest thing that happened today. Those numbers get in at like a 90% clip. http://myLSN.info/173q5q

My spam folder is empty.

He's not that much of an outlier. I was complete before Thanksgiving, and I also have heard nothing at all.

Glad I'm not alone. I saw a few others (and an awesome Jurassic pic) a few pages back.

[porch]

So maybe some JS1's coming out on monday tuesday for those of us who survived this hold/ding assault?

edit: monday is MLK day.

[broadstreet11]

So maybe some JS1's coming out on monday tuesday for those of us who survived this hold/ding assault?

edit: monday is MLK day.

I wish, but I doubt it. I don't think they would have JS1's until the end of next week at least since they just did them yesterday. JS2s on Tuesday are more likely.

[NoodleyOne]

Alright, I've had some time so here is my attempt at rationalizing this...

Maybe H meant what they said in the hold e-mail. This is a weird cycle, and things aren't going to clear up until they've been through all the applications and see where everything lies. The numbers indicate that H needs to admit fewer people, admit more splitters, or let their medians slip, but maybe they're taking their time determining to what extent these three options will be weighed. I don't know how previous cycles went, but a lot of the people held were "borderline" candidates. Were splitters getting hold e-mails last year, or were they getting waitlisted?

[threonine]

I'm still sitting at complete from the first batch on 10/10... anyone else? I have no idea what's going on (and yes, I've double-checked through all my email folders... multiple times haha)

Not complaining, since I got into my absolute dream school earlier this week -- just confused/curious!

[LSATSCORES2012]

Alright, I've had some time so here is my attempt at rationalizing this...

Maybe H meant what they said in the hold e-mail. This is a weird cycle, and things aren't going to clear up until they've been through all the applications and see where everything lies. The numbers indicate that H needs to admit fewer people, admit more splitters, or let their medians slip, but maybe they're taking their time determining to what extent these three options will be weighed. I don't know how previous cycles went, but a lot of the people held were "borderline" candidates. Were splitters getting hold e-mails last year, or were they getting waitlisted?

Other options (which schools, including H, may or may not employ): accept more transfers, and accept more (high GPA) applicants who tested with accommodations.

ETA: Although, I think you have a good chance with the amazing LSAT (179, right?)

Also, they can't just accept as many of these kinds of applicants as they want, I suppose. They'd still try to be inconspicuous, I would think, which means they might do it if they were only one or two students away from meeting a goal median.

[WhatOurBodiesAreFor]

Rejected today. I did not see this coming at all.

[shntn]

Alright, I've had some time so here is my attempt at rationalizing this...

Maybe H meant what they said in the hold e-mail. This is a weird cycle, and things aren't going to clear up until they've been through all the applications and see where everything lies. The numbers indicate that H needs to admit fewer people, admit more splitters, or let their medians slip, but maybe they're taking their time determining to what extent these three options will be weighed. I don't know how previous cycles went, but a lot of the people held were "borderline" candidates. Were splitters getting hold e-mails last year, or were they getting waitlisted?

Did you JS1 or no? I feel like they're going to be using the hold pile fairly heavily this cycle.

[Nala7892]

Good luck to everyone! FYI, I am a 1L and I got in last year with a 168 and 173. Crazy, I know, but I think they definitely took the highest for me. Shows that not everything is 100% numbers based (in my opinion at least)!

if you don't mind sharing, what was your GPA?

If they did average my scores, that means they let me in with a 3.76/168, and I'm non-URM K-JD. I feel like they probably took my highest, which is still only a 170

[twinkletoes16]

Good luck to everyone! FYI, I am a 1L and I got in last year with a 168 and 173. Crazy, I know, but I think they definitely took the highest for me. Shows that not everything is 100% numbers based (in my opinion at least)!

if you don't mind sharing, what was your GPA?

If they did average my scores, that means they let me in with a 3.76/168, and I'm non-URM K-JD. I feel like they probably took my highest, which is still only a 170

Wait, you're under both medians? You are one lucky SOB olympian