Harvard: there’s not much new we can say about this school. It’s maybe the most famous school in the world, and it’s also one of the most competitive. Last cycle, Harvard had a 3.6% acceptance rate, which is just so incredibly low. If you’ve been waitlisted by Harvard, we know you’re now worried about whatever the waitlist acceptance might be like. You also might feel a little rejected or sad, and that’s totally okay. Take a day or two to be sad, and then come right back here for some action items.
Harvard does not publish their full waitlist data, but we do know that they accepted 41 students off the waitlist last year. They also have this to say about their waitlist:
“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.”
So, in a word, it’s unpredictable – and no matter what, it’s competitive. That’s more than one word, but you get the picture. But that doesn’t mean you have no shot of getting off the waitlist! We’ve helped many students get off the waitlist and into Harvard, there are just a few things you have to do first.
Step One: Accept Your Spot
If you’ve been offered a spot on the Harvard waitlist, you need to accept it to even have a shot at getting off the waitlist. Know that if you made it onto the waitlist, that does mean Harvard likes you and thinks you’re a good option – they would have rejected you if they didn’t like you! In your decision letter, they should have outlined where to accept your spot, either in a portal or via email.
Step Two: Secure Other Plans
Once you’ve secured your spot on Harvard’s waitlist, the next step is to accept an offer from another school where you’ve been admitted and would be happy to attend and pay the deposit to lock in your place. Keep in mind that if Harvard takes you off the waitlist, you’ll lose this deposit – that’s just the game, baby. But that might be the price you pay for going to Harvard if you get in! We recommend doing this because we are pragmatic. We want you to get off the waitlist, but we also want you to go to college.
Step Three: Update Harvard
Harvard does not have any info on what updates they do or do not want, but we know from over a decade of experience that writing a letter of continued interest (LOCI) is your best shot at getting off the waitlist. If you have previously written a deferral letter, this will feel familiar – but this time your goal is a little different because you have something different at stake. This is your final chance to communicate with admissions, so striking the perfect tone is essential. You want to present yourself as professional and confident – avoid anything too desperate, sad, or beggy.
Opening
This is a formal letter, not an email to a friend. Are y’all even sending emails to friends these days? We digress. Because it’s a formal letter, you need a formal greeting like “Dear Office of Admission” or “Dear Mr./Ms. Name.” If you’re uploading it to the portal, the former is the best option, but if you have an already existing line of communication with an admissions officer, email them directly along with uploading to the portal.
Reinforce Interest
Now, you need to tell Harvard, in very direct language, that if you are admitted you will 100000% attend. They will only admit people from the waitlist who they are absolutely certain will attend. This is because they care deeply about their yield rate, and they want folks from the waitlist to boost their yield rate.
This paragraph is central to the whole letter. It is where you tell Harvard not just that you like their school (because, obvi, everyone on the waitlist likes the school) but why you like their school and why you’re a good fit. You are providing evidence for the claim that if accepted, you will absolutely attend. This section should only be a few sentences, which isn’t a lot! But make sure you use the space to connect to a specific reason why Harvard is the best place for you, because that’s going to be more convincing than just going off of vibes.
Update
This next part is where you’ll provide them with a short update on the things you’ve been up to since applying. If you have not been moving and shaking or linking and building since you applied in the fall, your chances of getting off the waitlist are lower than they already were – the Ivy League wants to see ambition and passion!
The key here is short. We know you probably have a bunch of things you could mention, but stick to 1-3 highlights. These might be awards, recognitions, leadership positions, new jobs or internships, or a completed research project.
Closing
Keep your closing concise with one final sentence reaffirming your interest and including a specific academic reason why Harvard is the perfect fit for you, like a unique program, a lab, a specific professor or a class. Wrap it up with a polite sign-off, like “Sincerely,” or “Respectfully.” Keep it professional!
Your letter is done! Make sure to edit it, have a trusted adult look at it, and then you’re good to go.
If you’re still wondering whether you should write a LOCI, here’s the reality: we’ve never heard of anyone getting off the waitlist without one. If the idea of writing this feels overwhelming, or you’d like guidance from seasoned experts, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. We’re really good at writing LOCI.
Step Four: Wait
You have about a month to get this done and sent in – not a ton of time, but not no time either. We suggest doing it immediately. Make sure your counselor sends in your updated grades, too.
Remember, even though Harvard has admitted students off the waitlist in the past, there’s no guarantee they’ll do so this year – or even that a single spot will open. Like they said, sometimes they let in 200 students, sometimes they let in 0 students. It’s not a reflection of your ability or qualifications, it’s just that they literally don’t have the space.
With that in mind, it’s time to be patient. Don’t pester the admissions department – that could backfire. You will likely only hear back if you’re accepted off the waitlist, which may be as early as May but could be as late as July or even August. Best of luck!
If you’re on a waitlist and feeling anxious, we can help! Please reach out to us today if you need help with your waitlist letter.