I agree! Harvard definitely seems aid aware, especially given its battle with the federal government, which has frozen $2.2 billion in research grants. Because Harvard collects a 25 % overhead on those funds, the freeze eliminates roughly $550 million in revenue, so the university can’t afford to operate in the red. I hope I’m wrong, but for that reason it will likely continue admitting full pay applicants.
I suspect even before Trump’s war on Harvard, Harvard was need aware for the waitlist.
I believe the deadline for deferral is July 31, no? I doubt that it’ll be extended past then, as Harvard needs enough time to fill out the class based on that information.
I’ve already seen several students choose Yale’s generous summer internship grants and aid over Harvard and Stanford.
I really don’t have any other confirmed information on that.
If I was to guess yes they would have a certain day they’d have to defer by (which is probably the same day they give everyone else).
It was first mentioned in an NYTimes article (I forgot when). Then again on July 4 the crimson published an article on airport searches. In there it said “they have seen more students than normal ask about the possibility of taking a gap year or transferring schools.”
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They must have given a deadline to international students to allow them to defer. Does anyone know anyone know an admitted international student? If we know that date we probably can guess when the next wave will come (if it will come at all).
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“We have extended the deadline for deferral for first-year international students to July 31 to give you time to make this decision. If you choose to defer …”
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Strategy 25 - thank you! Where does that quote come from?
This was posted in Harvard College’s “Dean’s Messages” section, but the link is now “access denied”.
Harvard’s published FRQ says “Each year, between 90 and 130 students defer their matriculation to the College” and that the usual request deadline is end of June. Because the Dean extended the window for international first year to July 31, Admissions won’t know the real numbers until early August, and they still won’t have the exact class size until orientation week.
Strategy 25 - thank you again! Do we think the inactive link relates to 2025? Is it possible it is from one of the Covid years?
Thanks for weighing in everyone, it’s always nice to read your comments!! As someone whos family can only bareeeely pay full-tuition for my current school, I’m wondering how the waitlist will change after August 1st.
How many people do y’all think would be forced to self-withdraw from the waitlist due to being unable to double-dip tuition payments by August 1st??
I’m getting pretty nervous that Harvard will accept more students after August 1st and I will feel absolutely terrible for taking myself off. I know there’s no good solution between a rock and a hard place but any discussion would be appreciated.
I think the page was recently moved behind the login wall.
does your college not have a refund for cancellations after 8/1? usually its like 10% or so fee but that should be way more manageable than the full sticker price
I think we have a steeper % than 10% but it is definitely still money lost 
I saw that — it was from COVID-19 I believe?
My apologies—what a bummer. I think that line actually comes from Dean Rakesh Khurana’s July 21, 2020 letter to the incoming Class of 2024, sent at the height of the COVID 19 .
Thanks! So does anybody know the deadline this year for international students to decide whether to take a gap year?
I’m not sure tbh but according to Reddit, the suggested deadline was the end of June. However, I think students can still email to request deferrals if they encounter visa issues or have a good reason