Haha I was just going to ask this exact same question. I didn’t know we had a regional admissions officer and that we were allowed to contact them.
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yeah i knew we had regional ones but not how to contact them lol
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Unless your GC knows who it is, or someone from your area was accepted this year, you don’t know who your regional AO is. You can’t just call admissions and say, “Hey. Who’s my regional ÀO?” They won’t tell you.
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Yes true I was implying for people to figure it out like I did. My AO definetly didnt mind that I was emailing them and was happy to hear from me. Then again I was doing this back in April doing all of that work now is a little overkill. Anyways its food for thought. If you can figure it out go for it.
Also skieurope if you dont mind me asking what your relationship to Harvard is— you dont seem to share from the perspective of an applicant like the rest of us.
NYT today - State Dept. Opens Investigation Into Harvard’s Use of International Visas
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Here is the official statement from the State Department
he U.S. Department of State is opening an investigation into Harvard University’s continued eligibility as a sponsor for the Exchange Visitor Program.
All sponsors participating in this program are required to fully comply with exchange visitor regulations, transparency in reporting, and a demonstrated commitment to fostering the principles of cultural exchange and mutual understanding upon which the program was founded.
To maintain their privilege to sponsor exchange visitors, sponsors must comply with all regulations, including conducting their programs in a manner that does not undermine the foreign policy objectives or compromise the national security interests of the United States. The American people have the right to expect their universities to uphold national security, comply with the law, and provide safe environments for all students. The investigation will ensure that State Department programs do not run contrary to our nation’s interests.
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If any spots open up after August, they’ll likely go to domestic students on the waitlist, since there wouldn’t be enough time for international students to begin the visa process and arrive on campus by orientation.
DJT’s evident displeasure after the hearing suggests Harvard could soon face renewed pressure from multiple directions.
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In all fairness the DOJ sent only one lawyer…and funnily enough he got his JD from Harvard Law too. This entire situation is absurd.
in general any spots will go to domestic bc not enough international are able to confidently come here anymore
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My understanding is that the investigation making headlines right now is the State Department’s review of Harvard’s Exchange Visitor Program (EVP), which affects only J‑1 exchange visitors. Regular degree‑seeking students are on F‑1 visas under SEVP, a DHS‑run program. DHS did try to revoke Harvard’s SEVP certification in May, but a court injunction has paused that move, so consulates can still issue F‑1 visas for Harvard students at this time.
Question is whether DHS has slowed down the F-1 visa process such that there are students who want to come but are held up because DHS is putting the brakes on approvals especially when they see Harvard
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Does anyone know whether there are currently delays in the F1 visa process at any consulates?
No big alarm bells on Harvard F‑1 visas so far. It’s still slow and heavily vetted, but it looks like things are inching forward rather than stalling.
In the next two weeks, Harvard has to choose: either accept having a smaller class or start taking people off the wait list. Back in 2020–21, they went with the smaller class because of COVID, but this year the legal and financial situation is different.
Looks like Harvard’s wait‑list calls (last week) set off a chain reaction—Bulldog pulled someone from its list after saying it was closed, and Tiger lost a student to Bulldog. Reddit was buzzing about it yesterday.
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I agree that after July 31st (I think that’s when International students have to make their final decisions). Harvard is going to hopefully make its final decision about taking more waitlisted students or letting us know that we are done and the waitlist is officially closed.
I don’t see the benefit of making the class size smaller though. What is the point, if they have room in the anticipated class size of not filling those open spots with waitlisted students.
I’m trying to come up with a list of pros and cons for Harvard of taking waitlisted students (assuming there’s open spots) versus having a smaller class size. Am I missing anything?
Pros
- More money to the University so they can keep the school going, pay faculty and staff, keep programs running, keep housing costs low, etc.,
- Allowing qualified students to attend a university and become educated world leaders who ultimately go on to do amazing things in the world and enhance the reputation of Harvard
Cons
- Harvard prefers filling its ranks with International students at a higher percentage than American students.
- Harvard may feel that taking additional exceptionally qualified American students will somehow look like it lost politically?
Anything else?
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if it is true that the deadline for int students is July 31st, would waitlist decisions come out August 1st? that’s my tuition payment deadline so unless it came out immediately, it would be too late
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i unfortunately don’t think so because they would take a moment to meet and decide. however, there is a slim chance they do as maybe, they’ve already decided a certain pool of ppl to admit with the current deferment numbers, and so when it is confirmed, they will admit that pool + some others instantly (since they also need those students but also know that the tuition payment deadline for a lot of places is around that time.
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Harvard has a $53 billion endowment. Taking a handful of kids off a waitlist will not be necessary to “keep the school going”.
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I hope they’ll at least release those definite no’s as soon as possible.
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Agree. And taking a smaller class adds to the selectivity aura. The extra tuition $ is immaterial.
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