PaperChaserPop

My son received two emails from Harvard urging him to apply now. His plate is quite full now (things piled up during EA apps), but I wonder if he should re-prioritize his tasks and make time to completing the Harvard app in November. Is there an appreciable advantage to sending in the app now as opposed to late December?

kwu

There are only so many seats, and there are too many applicants. It's advantageous to get an application in as soon as possible, so it can be read as soon as possible. In case there are applicants with personal and demographic traits similar to those of your son.

13mom

I think there is an advantage to sending apps in early before the stacks pile up...but I think it is even far more important to send in a good application. In other words, don't rush to get it in at the expense of quality.

187

I doubt there's an advantage. And if there was, it would be so miniscule that they would only use it to distinguish between two different people that must have the exact same stats, ECs, honors, essays, etc.

gibby

Generally, applications are read in the order of submission, or when all of the components of an application have been submitted -- common app, supplement, test scores, etc. (This is true at most colleges, not just Harvard.) If you submit your application in November, chances are the admissions staff will have more time to spend with your file, as there won't be stacks of files waiting for a first look. How this affects the outcome of a particular application is pure speculation, but I would guess that "more time" is always better than "less time".

Northstarmom

I don't think there's any advantage. Now that EA has ended, I think that the admissions staff may still be visiting schools in Nov. They also want to amass the best possible freshman class, which means they aren't likely to give brownie points if one gets one's app in early. The content of the app is what's important.

nick04

The only 'advantage', if you can even call it that, is that your interview might get scheduled early (I interviewed someone last week). Applications just get put in a filing cabinet until mid way through January - they won't be looked at by an admissions officer until then. As long as the app is in on time, nobody really cares.

PaperChaserPop

Are all decisions rendered only after all apps have been read at least once? If not, I'd think there may be an advantage to submitting the app early if decisions are rendered on a somewhat "rolling" basis.

JHS

Harvard only "renders" its decisions at one time. On the other hand, human being are only capable of so much simultaneous processing, so it's safe to assume that decisions get MADE on a somewhat rolling basis, even if they are subject to revision up to a couple days before the announcement.

Since Harvard doesn't have an EA round, and trips are probably over after next week, it's time for them to sit down and start disposing of the piles of applications. Of course it's better for them to have more complete applications to review in December before the real tsunami hits. But I doubt there's any real advantage to the applicants. Probably it's a little bit easier to get into the second-look pile, but if an application is weak enough to be rejected without discussion in February, it's unlikely to emerge from further discussion as an admit in March.

PaperChaserPop

Apologize for my careless use of words. Yes, I meant MADE, not RENDERED.

I still don't think my question is answered. Will any decisions will be made prior to completing the initial reading of all apps completed before the deadline? Let's keep this to unhooked applicants.

R124687

I personally think there is a POSSIBILITY it might be better to wait. What if one is borderline? And they're put in a waitlist pile. But, turns out, after much reading, that this years' applicant pool just doesn't sparkle like it typically does (who KNOWS what this economy will do? Even with their great need based aid...will upper income families be saying "can't afford it" this year and say their kids can't apply?). At that point, if you've already been waitlisted I'd guess they won't re-read and move you. They'll just be looking for slightly lower quality stats from the REMAINING (late applicant) pool.

Of course, this is all just a dream and requires a perfect storm and I'm doubting application numbers and stats would ever change that quickly and largely enough that application readers would notice it. But...once CAN dream.

However, you get on their good side by sending it..I'm HOPING...because that's what I insisted my daughter hurry and do anyway. When they nudged her with an "ummm, can you hurry up and finish that application you started!?" e-mail. One wants to follow directions and show interest. But most of you, like my D are/were waiting for additional awards and/or to perfect essays.

gibby

"Will any decisions will be made prior to completing the initial reading of all apps completed before the deadline?"

Leaving unhooked applicants aside, probably not. And if the admissions staff were to make a decision, I don't think they would ever publicly admit to doing so. For a peek into Harvard Admissions, see: YouTube - Harvard Admissions Dean Fitzsimmons Interview (On Harvard Time)

nick04

"I still don't think my question is answered. Will any decisions will be made prior to completing the initial reading of all apps completed before the deadline? Let's keep this to unhooked applicants."

...I think I answered this pretty clearly:

"Applications just get put in a filing cabinet until mid way through January - they won't be looked at by an admissions officer until then."

Many of my classmates used to work in the admissions office mail-room. If you send your app in early, it will simply get filed away and entered into the system so you can be contacted for an interview. The person who replied saying "it's advantageous to get an application in as soon as possible, so it can be read as soon as possible" is completely wrong in Harvard's case. Other colleges may read applications before the deadline, but Harvard does not. They don't have the staff or the time to do so - all the admissions officers are out recruiting in November and December.

PaperChaserPop

Thanks for your post, nick04. That really didn't answer my question, but it did reveal something interesting about waiting until mid January to read any apps.

I have another question based on this insight. When they start reading the apps in January, do they read the apps in the order in which they were received? If not, I agree there is no advantage to sending in the app early, except for getting your interview done early, which by itself may not provide any meaningful advantage, if at all.

silverturtle

Send the application in as early as it's as good as it's going to get. It can't hurt to send it in early; it could potentially (but not likely) hurt to send it in very near the deadline.

Quality is most important, nonetheless.


("as" appears four times in a stretch of seven words there. )