What to Do if You’re Waitlisted from Harvard

If you just received disappointing news from Harvard, you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of Regular Decision applicants receive news that they have been waitlisted. Luckily for you, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of admission.

1. Remind Yourself: There is More Than One Pathway to Success

We know this is not the news you were hoping for – but it’s still an accomplishment to be waitlisted. (Think how many other applicants were denied admission to Harvard altogether!) Moreover, there is no one school, internship, or job that is going to lead you to success. That’s the great thing about life: we’re in the driver’s seat, and there are more roads available to us with every turn.

2. Call Harvard’s Admissions Office to Ask if They Accept Waitlist Letters

The last thing you want to do is perturb the admissions office at Harvard by sending them an unsolicited waitlist letter if they do not wish to receive them. So, double check! Some schools will tell you when you receive your waitlist notification if/how they prefer to be contacted, even providing a form to submit with additional information. Otherwise, call the admissions office (we promise they will be nice) and ask if they:

1. accept waitlist letters
2. would like yours by any specific date (usually the sooner, the better)
3. have any preferences you should take into account (word counts, who to address it to, etc.)

3. Sign Up for a Waitlist Letter Consultation with College Essay Advisors

If the admissions department at Harvard answered with a resounding “Yes!” then it’s time to write a waitlist letter that will have admissions officers kicking themselves, wondering why they didn’t admit you in the first place. Your personal CEA Advisor can help you to draft a letter that succinctly updates admissions on your recent accomplishments and reconfirms your interest in the institution (if you accept me, I will attend!). This letter needs to be concise and compelling in order to give you a leg up on your competition. Luckily for you, we have been helping applicants draft powerful waitlist letters for 20+ years. So, what are you waiting for?! Get in touch to sign up for your Harvard Waitlist Letter Consultation, and the team at College Essay Advisors will help you increase your chances of admission.