Harvard Spring Admit?

svlab112 · October 28

Anyone know if Harvard has spring admits for first time freshman? Just ran into an old friend whose D started at state university in September. Friend was excited to share that a few weeks ago, D received notification from Harvard that she had been accepted as a spring admit. D has been originally rejected from Harvard during the fall application cycle. They have a trip planned to Harvard to tour and visit before making a decision.

I am curious if anyone else has heard of this?

Groundwork2022 · October 28

Spring admits happen at a lot of colleges. What's odd is that they'd make that offer to a rejected applicant over a waitlisted one.

apparently22 · October 28

Harvard's website says no. I'm afraid to post a link as I'm not sure it's allowed. No one gets admitted in spring including transfers (according to the Harvard website).

lookingforward · October 28

"No. All students begin study in September to benefit from special programs designed for freshmen." And especially not if she was previously rejected.

Every once in a while, a story like this surfaces. A friend in Tx told me one of her students claimed to get her admission letter to another Ivy- in February. She wasn't even a strong student. But my friend let it slide, not to wound the kid.

skieurope · October 28

Groundwork2022 wrote: »

Spring admits happen at a lot of colleges.

But not at Harvard.
https://college.harvard.edu/resources/faq/does-harvard-admit-students-enter-spring-semester

svlab112 · October 28

@lookingforward I also just let it slide.
@apparently22 I also saw the website, but had read a while back about the Harvard "Z-list" which doesn't show up on the website, but seems to be a real thing..?

I didn't want to pepper her with a bunch of questions. I'm not familiar with Ivy admissions, but her claim did not make much sense. I was thinking maybe something with Harvard Extension.

The one detail that made me pause is the visit and tour versus just claiming to get an email.

skieurope · October 28

The Z list is a different thing. Some waitlisted applicants a given a place on the Z list, which means they are guaranteed a spot for the following Fall, but need to take a gap year. Again, no Spring admits

The one detail that made me pause is the visit and tour versus just claiming to get an email.

Even when waitlisted applicants get an offer off the waitlist, they only have a few days to confirm; there is no dog-and-point show and tour. If they want to visit, it's on their dime,and the visit would basically need to be the next day.

apparently22 · October 28

From rejection to spring admission at Harvard? It would be well worth knowing that whole story. Unfortunately that's what it sounds like. A story.

twoinanddone · October 28

Maybe it's Harvard Extension school?

tdy123 · October 29

svlab112 wrote: »

They have a trip planned to Harvard to tour and visit before making a decision.

Sounds reminiscent of the Harvard/Stanford dual admissions hoax back in 2015.

Anyone want to take a bet that they "decide" that D will stay at State U after all?

BKSquared · October 29

^I am thinking Harvard Extension School. It is similar to parents saying their kid got a "full ride" merit/athletic scholarship vs financial aid. Sounds better and who is going to check?

apparently22 · October 29

@svlab112 Also with the Z-list a person can not enroll or take academic courses during that gap year. If they're enrolled in a college or university during that gap year time their eligibility on the Z-list is rescinded and they must re-apply as a transfer student in the future with obviously no guarantees. So as others are saying it's more likely it's through Harvard extension. Honestly, there is no wonder kids going through the admission process have such anxiety. The process is anxiety provoking enough but then add on that other kids and their families are not always forthright in their information just adds to the stress and confusion and potential disappointment.

TomSrOfBoston · October 29

Anyone can enrol in Harvard Extension courses but to be admitted to a Harvard Extension degree program requires completing I believe 8 courses at extension.

There used to be a popular thread here on CC called "Time to smile and nod." This likely would belong in there.

Happytimes2001 · October 29

Never heard of a Spring admit. Also, Z list is usually the following year. Hmm, sounds a bit off.

compmom · October 30

I think it's 3 classes at Harvard Extension, required for admission, but not certain. In any case, even the Extension School would not have done a "spring admit."

me29034 · October 30

Is she an athlete? Maybe Harvard had an unexpected need on one of their spring sports teams.

Mwfan1921 · October 30

Per a number of independent college counselor listservs/communiques, Harvard has evidently offered a number (no one knows how many) of waitlisted students (current freshman elsewhere) admission for spring 2020. This info comes from highly reputable industry participants, some of whom directly advise students who received these offers. I have not heard of this offer going to previously rejected students.

This would be another change in the landscape post-NACAC ethics rule changes which previously disallowed 'cold-call' recruiting of transfer students.

apparently22 · October 30

@Mwfan1921 Interesting.

svlab112 · October 30

I don’t think student is an athlete. Maybe parent’s “rejected” comment was after a waitlist offer that did not result in fall admissions. My experience with waitlists is that students eventually get "rejected" if not offered admissions. Speculation on my part. Perhaps, student is one of the spring acceptances.

TomSrOfBoston · October 30

If you are waitlisted and not called from the waitlist...that is a rejection.

JHS · October 31

Lots of colleges do spring admissions because they have a structural imbalance between fall and spring registrations due to study abroad programs and early graduations. But even if that's true at Harvard, it's unlikely to affect Harvard's first year students, and they are all housed separately from the rest of the undergraduates.

So, assuming this is true, does it mean (a) more students than usual failed to show up in September, or (b) Harvard predictably loses enough first year students during the fall semester to make spring admissions worthwhile?

Harvard Spring Admit?

Replies to: Harvard Spring Admit?

Recent Activity