Harvard C/O 2019 Applicants Forum

[jetsfan1]

Congrats, JS1s! Could you update us with respect to your submission/completion date?

Now, to wait for JS2s...

My interviewer mentioned something about a short recess, and told me that I should hear back within 2 weeks after the fact. Does this hold for everyone, or is this a blanket statement Harvard asks them to make? I noticed that other users were told different things (such as rolling admissions, and the possibility of hearing back in January, February or March...).

I was a JS1 on Dec 3 and I was told that we would be hearing back between January-March. Not too specific.

See, I think it was your post that made me wonder about this. That and another user commenting on the black box that is the post-JS1 Harvard application (i.e. a faculty member needing to sign off on you before being admitted). I wonder what they are told to say, or if what they say is their own estimate.

Yeah that was me. Nobody seemed willing to speculate with me about it though

[mdnyc]

Congrats to the JS1s! Welcome to the club, and good luck with your interviews!

[earthabides]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

[sanibella]

.

[Oskosh]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

[Po$eidon]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

So in other words those of us without JS1s yet are bottom of the barrel. Cool.

[texasellewoods]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

That is a good question though - when does that "early" benefit stop? seems like everyone that was interviewed during november should definitely be in that pool, but what about people that interviewed in december/received requests in december?

[EnderWiggin]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

Did you receive your JS1 in early November or December? The ninth wave happened on Dec. 9th, according to the OP.

[cantorb]

.

[Oskosh]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

Did you receive your JS1 in early November or December? The ninth wave happened on Dec. 9th, according to the OP.

December. 9th wave.

[earthabides]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

So in other words those of us without JS1s yet are bottom of the barrel. Cool.

I strongly disagree with all of this. JS said in an interview (someone quoted it earlier ITT) that submitting your application before January is still early. While she was probably playing it safe with that, I still believe that a December interview invite is definitely classified as early.

Remember that they've accepted >900 applicants in each of the last two years. 10 waves of JS1s is not a lot.

Good point, I remember reading that actually. Any guesses on the size of a typical wave? I know we can get a good guess by looking at the available spots when js1s first go out but I havent been keeping track of that.

[EnderWiggin]

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

Did you receive your JS1 in early November or December? The ninth wave happened on Dec. 9th, according to the OP.

December. 9th wave.

Ok, I was about to say...in early November they were only on the 3rd/4th wave lol.

[cantorb]

.

[oliverotis]

are december js1s still considered "early js1s"?

I was optimistic when I received my JS1 in early November, but that optimism gave way to "tempered" optimism when I realized that my JS1 invitation came during the 9th wave...

So in other words those of us without JS1s yet are bottom of the barrel. Cool.

I strongly disagree with all of this. JS said in an interview (someone quoted it earlier ITT) that submitting your application before January is still early. While she was probably playing it safe with that, I still believe that a December interview invite is definitely classified as early.

Remember that they've accepted >900 applicants in each of the last two years. 10 waves of JS1s is not a lot.

Good point, I remember reading that actually. Any guesses on the size of a typical wave? I know we can get a good guess by looking at the available spots when js1s first go out but I havent been keeping track of that.

As I've mentioned before, JS1 slots aren't necessarily a great indicator as at least occasionally there are multiple interviewers per slot. My own slot reopened after I booked even though I never cancelled or switched, and many others on the same day as mine or a day earlier also reopened. In addition, I'm pretty sure they open more slots than they need - there are always some still open even a day or two before the interview would be (haven't checked day-of).

My point earlier also applies to those still fretting over not getting their JS2s in the first wave - they will likely accept >900, and they have probably only accepted ~60 so far. There is absolutely no reason to panic now, or assume that being left out of the first wave means anything at all. In all likelihood your app was sent for review to a professor who has more tests to grade or just procrastinates in general.

I like this answer also, I think it's pretty sensible

[WinterComing]

They will likely accept >900, and they have probably only accepted ~60 so far. There is absolutely no reason to panic now

This is smart. Also, it's interesting how much of this forum is just us finding different ways to tell each other not to freak out.

[4thand9]

Yeah I agree with the not freaking out. The second wave of JS2's came on January 20th last year. That kind of aligns with the idea that the finals and holiday break slows down the review process. Most of us who were told a time in the interviews for decision were told January, and one of the recent blog posts from this cycle talked about January being one of the earliest times to hear back.

Looking at last year, after the January 20 wave, JS2's came in more frequent batches.

[texasellewoods]

I desperately want a JS2 wave today but only if Im in it... Otherwise I will spend the entire holiday analyzing what I could have possibly done to not deserve the second wave *collapses dramatically*

[condensation]

While mid/late January seems most likely looking at the last two years, I'd like to think my JS1 was amazing enough to trigger an immediate JS2 wave.

[Li'l Sebastian]

I desperately want a JS2 wave today but only if Im in it... Otherwise I will spend the entire holiday analyzing what I could have possibly done to not deserve the second wave *collapses dramatically*

Same :c

[salander]

I desperately want a JS2 wave today but only if Im in it... Otherwise I will spend the entire holiday analyzing what I could have possibly done to not deserve the second wave *collapses dramatically*

*catches you*

[texasellewoods]

I desperately want a JS2 wave today but only if Im in it... Otherwise I will spend the entire holiday analyzing what I could have possibly done to not deserve the second wave *collapses dramatically*

*catches you*

Snaps for salander for being a supportive sister

[salander]

Snaps for salander for being a supportive sister

[LittleGiants16]

So, if I've been sitting at complete since 10/14 with no JS1, is it time to fear for the worst?

[coldmonkey13]

~

[Phyr]

So, if I've been sitting at complete since 10/14 with no JS1, is it time to fear for the worst?

You'll be fine! I've had friends who submitted in September and didn't get a JS1 until March.