<p>My daughter was admitted for the class of 2013 and had a really unpleasant experience when she visited in April. She decided to attend a liberal arts college instead. Now, six weeks later, she is regretting her decision. Does anyone know whether the admissions office at Harvard would let her change her mind at this point and enroll?</p>
<p>Don’t know the answer to your question but almost EVERYBODY has second thoughts…</p>
<p>taw317 - I don’t think anyone here will be able to answer that question for you definitively. The only way to find out is to call the admissions office and ask. My guess would be that if your daughter is serious about her second thoughts, she would want to make that call sooner rather than later, since the Harvard 2013 waitlist has slowed down and it seems that the class is solidifying. Good luck!</p>
<p>If your D has changed her mind, she - not you – would need to call admissions and find out if they will still accept her.</p>
<p>Second thoughts, however, are typical for virtually all students who have had to turn down a college, so her having second thoughts doesn’t mean that she made a mistake in turning down Harvard. In fact, her voicing such second thoughts may be her simply wanting reassurance from you that you support her original decision.</p>
<p>my parents would send me to an insane asylum if i turned down harvard.</p>
<p>I’ve had second thoughts here and there, but then I remember where I’m going and any feelings of “what if” instantly vanish. </p>
<p>Harvard isn’t right for everyone and it feels kind of counter-intuitive turning down such a great offer, but once your daughter steps on the campus of her college, she won’t look back.</p>
<p>If she had a choice between the LAC and Harvard, I sure it’s one heck of an LAC. There’s no wrong answer there. Attending one of the top LACs in the country is among the greatest college experiences anyone could have.</p>
<p>Just go forward with whatever you have. I am certain that your daughter will have an excellent college experience. Did you know that Harvard students are the least satisfied with their college experience in comparison with other students at many other major universities?</p>
<p>I would be interested in seeing statistics for that. That isn’t the case with anyone I know.</p>
<p>That’s interesting. I would definitely have not turned Harvard down! Congrats to your daughter though for being accepted. Have you tried calling the Admissions office at Harvard? Even if it doesn’t work out this year, she always has the option of transferring, right? In that case, she could just take credits that would be able to transfer.</p>
<p>If it’s any reassurance, I think it’s just the natural thing that happens when you turn down Harvard. </p>
<p>I was accepted to the class of 2013 as well but I didn’t really like the vibe of Harvard either, and ultimately chose not to attend. It actually wasn’t even in my top 5 in the end!</p>
<p>But now, I find the school I “have second-thoughts” (It’s really just a ‘what if?’ thing) about the most is Harvard. It’s one hell of a thing to have the opportunity to attend Harvard. And it’s one HELL of a thing to turn it down, especially when you’re not attending an equally cached HYPS. But I know that I made my decision to the best of my abilities, and in both your daughter’s case and mine, there were no WRONG decisions. I’m confident that both of us will go further than we ever could if we made a decision based on regret or fear. </p>
<p>But just let her know that she’s not alone in that feeling, and that she should probably let it pass. If anything, it should reassure her that she’s not insane!</p>
<p>xx55xx</p>
<p>I’ve seen that claim posted a lot …</p>
<p>… and yet, Harvard’s 6 year graduation rate (a metric which would seem to be somewhat indicative of student satisfaction) of 98% is the highest in the country :)</p>
<p>“Even if it doesn’t work out this year, she always has the option of transferring, right?”</p>
<p>Nope. Harvard isn’t taking transfers in the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>xx55xx’ claim comes from a survey from a few years ago (you can search theharvardcrimson.com) which indeed showed Harvard College students to have the highest level of dissatisafaction at least in the Ivies. After that, H hired a “fun czar”, and instituted other changes to enhance the undergrad experience. </p>
<p>The academic and social pressures, as well as the intensity of extracurriculars do tax the spirits of many students. But most love the stimulation, unending resources, and amazing opportunities. </p>
<p>To the OP- what experience at pre-frosh turned your D away from Harvard? Other pre-frosh, enrolled students, or the college itself?</p>
<p>OP-Did your daughter call, and if so is she being offered a second chance?</p>
<p>LACs are great. im sure its a top school like williams or amherst. fantastic places and she will undoubtedly love them.</p>
<p>She contacted her admissions officer and was told that she would take my daughter’s request to the admissions committee. So we’ll see. I think my daughter is in a win/win situation…she has a great option for next year, no matter what. And she will have second thoughts, no matter what.</p>
<p>I’m at Davidson. #7(?) top LAC. It’s AMAZING. Glad Harvard didn’t accept me :)</p>
<p>One of my friends turned down harvard…5 weeks later he realized he made a big mistake. Luckily he got an “are you sure you don’t want to join us?” e-mail. Not sure if your daughter will get it though, he was an academic superstar and IDK if harvard only sends those kind of “reconsider” deals to those types.</p>
<p>I know a girl who turned down Harvard this year to go to Boston College instead.</p>
<p>Apparently, she didn’t really like Harvard in the first place, but applied just for the heck it. Amazingly, she got in, but she still turned it down in the end, despite pressure from her parents.</p>