Harvard Moves to a Single Application Deadline of Jan. 1, 2009
What exactly has changed with regard to
admissions?
In the fall of 2007 Harvard College eliminated its early
admission program and moved to a single application deadline of
January 1. The change in policy builds on Harvard's efforts over
the past several years to expand financial aid and increase
openness in admissions.
When did these changes take place?
The elimination of early admission and move to a single
application deadline began in the fall of 2007 for the freshman
class entering in September 2008.
Why did Harvard move towards a single application
deadline?
The College has taken a proactive approach to reduce the
enormous pressure that has been put on high school students to
commit to institutions in the fall of their senior year.
"The college admissions process has become too pressured, too
complex, and too vulnerable to public cynicism," said Harvard
interim President Derek Bok. "We hope that doing away with early
admission will improve the process and make it simpler and fairer.
Early admission programs tend to advantage the advantaged. Students
from more sophisticated backgrounds and affluent high schools often
apply early to increase their chances of admission, while minority
students and students from rural areas, other countries, and high
schools with fewer resources miss out. Students needing financial
aid are disadvantaged by binding early decision programs that
prevent them from comparing aid packages. Others who apply early
and gain admission to the college of their choice have less reason
to work hard at their studies during their final year of high
school."
My interest in Harvard is very strong, but I am being
pressured to apply early decision by coaches at other schools. I'm
not sure where I stand with Harvard's admissions process. What can
I do?
Let the coach at Harvard who is recruiting you know of
your situation. In many cases the coach may ask the admissions
office to issue a "likely letter" to you. A likely letter has the
effect of a formal letter of admission, provided you continue to
have a satisfactory secondary school experience. Based on careful
review of a complete application, a likely letter may be issued as
early as October 1 and may be considered a reliable indication of a
positive admission. Candidates for likely letters should be
prepared to submit a completed application, which includes
transcripts, test scores, and teacher recommendations.
Why should I apply to Harvard under regular action when I
can just as well apply to another school under their early decision
program and have the whole process completed by
December?
By applying to another institution through a binding early
decision process, you limit your ability to carefully consider what
other schools have to offer and to discover the school where you
might feel most comfortable. Applying to Harvard under regular
action will not only free you of the pressure to commit to an early
decision school, but will also give you more time to assess
competing financial aid offers.
Why should I wait for an admissions decision from Harvard
when I already have acceptances and financial aid offers from other
schools?
Harvard provides the student-athlete with a unique
combination of success in intercollegiate athletics in the world's
finest institution of higher learning. The decision to move towards
a single application deadline at Harvard was designed to give you
enough time to carefully make your college choice.
Ivy League Admissions Statement - information regarding
"likely letters":
Admissions Offices at each Ivy school may offer some
athletic and other candidates a "likely" letter, which has the
effect of a formal letter of admission provided the candidate
continues to have a satisfactory secondary school experience.
Coaches may initiate the requests for these letters, but only the
office of admission can issue a "likely" letter.
Admissions decisions will be communicated only by official written
notification from Admissions Offices, by notification in Early
Action, Early Decision or "regular" processes, or by "likely
letters" after October 1, which are confirmed by one of those
notifications. No other indication of a possible positive
admissions result is or should be considered reliable.
A coach may both inquire about a candidate's level of commitment to
an Ivy institution, or interest in attending that Ivy institution,
and encourage that interest. However, a candidate may not be
required to withdraw, or not make, other applications, or to
refrain from visiting another institution, as a condition for
receiving a "likely" letter or for a coach's support in the
admissions process.
If you are interested in more information, you can read the
complete Ivy
League Admissions Statement
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