@collapp77
Is it true that you can call the admissions office and ask why you were deferred? And they will give you a legitimate response? I think I heard that elsewhere on this thread. Also, would it be a good idea to submit/upload another supplemental essay onto the portal even though you’re really allowed one??
I’m curious about that as well, can anyone help us out?
Don’t call the admissions officer about why you were deferred. Just take it as a rejection and move on!
@YoungErrd you right
@bsdsj22 ALSO A 2021 HOPEFUL hiiiiiii
guys please post on the decisions thread thank you (:
Hey guys, I’m applying RD, but I wanted to know about the optional supplemental essay. Did you guys submit or not? It would also be helpful if you could let me know what your decision was as you reply. I appreciate it. Thanks!
I decided to post my stats in the results page if anyone wants to see.
@humanperson Accepted, I submitted an optional essay. I was told that basically any “optional” component for any uni app (not just Harvard) you should basically complete - it can only help your case!
@humanperson, the optional essay is a wonderful opportunity to show a different aspect or dimension of yourself that helps to paint a more complete picture of yourself as a person. I would strongly recommend taking advantage of it.
@humanperson hey, accepted early action and wrote an optional essay. Think about it like this - do you truly believe that your application WITHOUT an extra essay is enough to get you into Harvard? There are only two essays…you need to find more ways to set yourself from the other candidates. 80% of current Harvard students wrote an optional essay. If you get rejected from H, you’ll always kick yourself for not taking the time to write a short essay.
Was accepted SCEA. Posted my profile in the results thread.
I wish all of you the best of luck and am confident things will work out for you–it seems that they always do.
At least we reached the 300 pages mark 
@humanperson, D (not on CC) was accepted and wrote optional essay.
My optional essay was just a list of books I read in the past 12 months, and I got accepted.
@schroscat are you still doing this group chat?
I have stellar stats, killer ECs, and state AND national level leadership positions. I am truly and honestly sincere about going to Harvard, and I feel like I expressed this eloquently in my essay(s). I live in a REALLY rural area with not too many applicants. HOWEVER, this year applications spiked in my area a little bit. Another girl in my county applied. She has two siblings, one graduated from Harvard, and one will graduate soon from Harvard. She is super rich and her parents give money to Harvard. I was deferred and she was accepted. Her leadership positions and achievements are limited to the school level.
Did I not have a chance because she had sibs at Harvard and her parents gave money? Did I not get in because it’s unlikely that they will pick two kids from the same county in one EA round?
@QueenN22 @Soheils @tuty143 @schroscat and of course everyone else, can you guys help me with this:
I have stellar stats, killer ECs, and state AND national level leadership positions. I am truly and honestly sincere about going to Harvard, and I feel like I expressed this eloquently in my essay(s). I live in a REALLY rural area with not too many applicants. HOWEVER, this year applications spiked in my area a little bit. Another girl in my county applied. She has two siblings, one graduated from Harvard, and one will graduate soon from Harvard. She is super rich and her parents give money to Harvard. I was deferred and she was accepted. Her leadership positions and achievements are limited to the school level.
Did I not have a chance because she had sibs at Harvard and her parents gave money? Did I not get in because it’s unlikely that they will pick two kids from the same county in one EA round?
@collapp77 I can’t be completely certain but this could have possibly be the case. But think about it this way, with your killer stats, ECs and leadership, you are probably entering at the top of the RD pile. They are just trying to see if there will be another applicant similar to you who applies in the RD round. So don’t lose confidence and be proud of your achievements! Hopefully Harvard will see this and think we have to have this guy/girl!
About the county thing, it may be just how rural it is. They probably assumed that if they were only to take one person from this county or state, why not take the one who can give us more money. Also you never know what the other girl has done or what her stats were
@QueenN22 I have known this girl since 6th grade; I know pretty much everything she’s done. It was a big shock int the community when people heard she got in and I didn’t. Then people starting putting one and one together, and they arrived at that conclusion. I don’t know why this happened. Truly heartbroken right now. I just want it to be March so I know whether or not I should just sit in the corner and wither away.
@collapp77 don’t wither away! Use this an opportunity to fall in love with some other schools. Let Harvard consider you as the one that got away