Harvard Waitlist 2013 Forum

[TripTrip]

George Clooney would make an excellent pirate.

Pirates of TLS: Curse of the Harvard WL

Starring George Clooney as TripTrip

[pic of me in a pirate outfit]

But really, I imagine George Clooney playing a super suave pirate. Think Ocean's 11 in the late 1600s.

I like everyone in this thread that contributes so I'll ask the question here: (this is not for HLS)

Blasphemy

How long should it be? I'm basically writing the loci to say 1) at this point i'm still interested and would accept off the WL and 2) I graduated with honors blah blah and am working developing x y z skills. Is 2-3 paragraphs acceptable?

Sure. I think brevity is important. My personal rule of thumb was keep it to one page including all the basic letter formatting (addresses and whatnot).

Do you send the LOCI in the body of an email or as an attachment? If the latter, do you have to print, sign, scan and attach the LOCI? (I saw someone say they sign it..)

I'd do an attachment. I wouldn't print it and scan it; that seems like too much. Personally I always keep a digitized image of my signature handy so I can attach it to letters I want to send via email, but to each his own.

How do you address it? " To whom it may come" " Dear Dean X " ?

I've always done "Dear Dean X." Definitely not "To whom it may concern."

How do you close? "sincerely" "warm wishes" "best" "hope to hear from you soon"

I think that depends on the tone of your writing in the body.

Any overall thoughts?

Know why you were waitlisted and seek to remedy that inadvertently in the LOCI. If you were WL'd for YP, show why you want to go to that school. If you were waitlisted because your UG sucks (yours truly, case in point), hopefully your update shows you exceeding academically.

[toothbrush]

Thanks Trip. I do like some of you. Not all.

Where did you go to UG btw? Mine sucks too. PM me ?

And thank you for the advice btw. I will definitely do most of that. Except the electronic signature. That is some try hard bullshit.

[TripTrip]

Except the electronic signature. That is some try hard bullshit.

Ha. I definitely didn't scan it in just for LOCIs. I use it all the time to submit forms. Company/organization X sends over a form they need signed, I photoshop in my signature and send it back. Too easy.

[digifly]

Except the electronic signature. That is some try hard bullshit.

Ha. I definitely didn't scan it in just for LOCIs. I use it all the time to submit forms. Company/organization X sends over a form they need signed, I photoshop in my signature and send it back. Too easy.

Yup, I do this too. It's just too convenient!


Sincerely,


X____________

[Lavitz]

TripTrip, why are you me?

[TripTrip]

TripTrip, why are you me?

What was that, Lavitz?

[txdude45]

TripTrip, why are you me?

What was that, Lavitz?

F you guys for changing avatars. I don't even read names anymore, so I was thrown off for a while...

[Lavitz]

TripTrip, why are you me?

What was that, Lavitz?

QFP

[mermaid9052]

Hey guys ~ quick question ...

So typically JS2s go out as phone calls
But does anyone know if this is the same for international students?
Or have international students in the past been informed by emails instead?

Thanks so much if anyone can help!!!

[Lavitz]

Hey guys ~ quick question ...

So typically JS2s go out as phone calls
But does anyone know if this is the same for international students?
Or have international students in the past been informed by emails instead?

Thanks so much if anyone can help!!!

E-mails instead.

[mermaid9052]

Hey guys ~ quick question ...

So typically JS2s go out as phone calls
But does anyone know if this is the same for international students?
Or have international students in the past been informed by emails instead?

Thanks so much if anyone can help!!!

E-mails instead.

Thank you so much!! Good luck to everyone waiting!

[eyfl]

Hey guys ~ quick question ...

So typically JS2s go out as phone calls
But does anyone know if this is the same for international students?
Or have international students in the past been informed by emails instead?

Thanks so much if anyone can help!!!

E-mails instead.

Wasn't it that some internationals reported calls and some emails? I was looking forward to the actual call

[Lavitz]

Wasn't it that some internationals reported calls and some emails? I was looking forward to the actual call

Possible. I don't remember all of it.

I know some Americans who happened to be abroad at the time received calls--but that may have just been last cycle. I remember the first wave of JS2s this cycle unfolded as expected, with internationals receiving them first, all by e-mail. I think there was someone this cycle who was doing something like Peace Corps in South America (so within the same timezones as the rest of the continental U.S.) and I think they still got an e-mail instead of a call. Maybe Canadians got calls.

I suppose it's more likely than in previous cycles because JS has shown that she's not very strict about calling during normal business hours. I think she called Worm at like 7PM EST iirc.

So you might get a call but traditionally internationals just get e-mails.

[jakeymay]

just had my js1. She said we probably won't hear back until mid-october at the earliest.

[mickeysevenn]

just had my js1. She said we probably won't hear back until mid-october at the earliest.

seems about right.

[Lavitz]

just had my js1. She said we probably won't hear back until mid-october at the earliest.

120

[toothbrush]

just had my js1. She said we probably won't hear back until mid-october at the earliest.

120

+1

121

[FlowBro]

Anybody submitted additional letters of recommendation since being placed on the waitlist?

[eyfl]

Anybody submitted additional letters of recommendation since being placed on the waitlist?

No, as they've specifically stated that additional LoRs are unnecessary (in the 'hold' blogpost but I don't see WL being any different).

[FlowBro]

Hmm... I guess it comes down to if the letter could add any new or additional information.

[TripTrip]

Hmm... I guess it comes down to if the letter could add any new or additional information.

Which you "wouldn't" know if you waived your right to view it. Your LORs won't add any additional information; the only additional material to send right now would be something like you just graduated with highest awesome honors and here's your updated transcript with an even stellerer GPA.

[toothbrush]

Meh. I had an additional LOR sent. I didn't have info for a LOCI and I knew it would be a strong LOR.

[feelingood]

Okay, what is everyone's LOCI opinions? I have never sent one before and had my post WL JS1 like 2 weeks ago.... I don't even really know what to say besides, "I really want to go to Harvard..."

I've written 2 LOCIs since WL (one 2 weeks after being WL'd and one after my JS1), both of which included relevant updates to my application. I'm of the view that more positive information couldn't hurt and could possibly help. If one is not willing to fight tooth and nail to get into Harvard, perhaps Harvard isn't the place for that person .

[FlowBro]

Hmm... I guess it comes down to if the letter could add any new or additional information.

Which you "wouldn't" know if you waived your right to view it. Your LORs won't add any additional information; the only additional material to send right now would be something like you just graduated with highest awesome honors and here's your updated transcript with an even stellerer GPA.

I Think you're right. I'm not sending anything else. LOCI will have to suffice

[TripTrip]

Okay, what is everyone's LOCI opinions? I have never sent one before and had my post WL JS1 like 2 weeks ago.... I don't even really know what to say besides, "I really want to go to Harvard..."

I've written 2 LOCIs since WL (one 2 weeks after being WL'd and one after my JS1), both of which included relevant updates to my application. I'm of the view that more positive information couldn't hurt and could possibly help. If one is not willing to fight tooth and nail to get into Harvard, perhaps Harvard isn't the place for that person .