<p>An extra essay?
Explanations for low scores?
Attaching research abstracts/presentations?
Attaching info on extracurriculars?</p>
<p>Despite slim chances, I’m sending some package in late January.</p>
<p>They don’t look for anything in particular. I would tell you more, but I was deferred too and don’t want to hurt my chances by helping you out. Mwahahaha!</p>
<p>Just kidding 
If you were deferred, you were either someone who was borderline, and they really wanted to wait to see how you fit in the whole applicant pool before making a decision on you, or they’re using the defer as a polite reject. If you’re in the latter pool, your chances are pretty slim, barring anything major, like publishing a book or winning Intel. If you’re in the former, then your chances are more realistic. The problem is that very few people can know to any degree of certainly which they’re in. So it’s best to assume you’re on the borderline and proceed from there. What you need to do is ensure that you stand out in the RD pool. If you’re borderline, it’s quite possible that you could do absolutely nothing and still get in, because they just wanted to see how you stacked up against the full RD pool, and you stacked up well. The safest way is to send/do anything you can to boost up your application and get it to the next level. Another essay or recommendation could work to your advantage (but if it’s overkill then it can hurt). Might be nice to give the adcom a nudge and remind them that you’re still interested in Harvard and it’s your top choice, etc. Since you did research, making semis or even finals in STS is a huge boost (assuming you entered STS?). Just think of stuff to make your application stronger ;)</p>
<p>I’m sending a letter saying that I would defer a year for special projects and community service. I wonder if they would think I’m asking for a “Z-list”.</p>
<p>As a former deferred applicant now at Harvard, GuitarManARS is definitely correct in his analysis. I don’t know if I was a borderline, polite, or anything, for that matter. All you can do at this point is to just bolster your app with something whether it be essays, recs, etc. and just hope for the best.</p>
<p>what is STS? and what is Siemens and RSI and all that stuff?</p>
<p>In the past, deferred candiates rarely got admitted in the RD round. It wasn’t because Harvard was being disingenious but because the applicant had the credentials to continue to be considered, yet remained hard to distiguish further in the RD round. Over the last couple of years, things have changed. I have seen more highly qualified applicants from our pool of interviewees deferred but then admitted in the RD round. This is because there are many more applicants each year in both rounds. Harvard has become more hesitant to close off options before having a chance to evaluate all candidates, except in rare circumstances that are unlikely to be reproduced in the RD round. It still remains very difficult to get into Harvard, whether or not deferred. I advise deferred candidates to send in something extra but only if it is VERY meaningful: for example, an extremely helpful (as in specific) or powerful letter of recommendation; a new and significant award or accomplishment; or an essay that truly adds something meaningful about yourself. As GuitarManARS suggested, overkill of “more of the same” materials will not help you in the least, but new and significant information can. The additional information should add something that was not readily apparent in the original application. It should also be something that represents you in a genuine way, not a contrived, last-minute attempt to create an advantage that is clearly not who you’ve been all along. </p>
<p>Beyond that, I would advise anyone applying to Harvard, whether deferred or not, to get excited about excellent back ups where such outstanding students as those posting here would be equally happy. I say this because Harvard acceptance rates have dipped so low. Go for Harvard, but as they say, love your other wonderful alternatives equally.</p>
<p>
This is probably the best advice given on this forum since Dec. 14. It worries me when I see deferred kids spending tons of time on this board, discussing the ins and outs of Harvard. Unfortunately, no matter what you may have accomplished or think will happen between now and April in terms of more accomplishments, it is extremely risky in terms of your own well being to get your identity too connected to this one school. Please don’t get me wrong…this is a concern, not a criticism. So many of you are amazing, and will doubtless have many wonderful acceptances to choose from.
But if you are deep down maintaining the mentality that Harvard’s going to come through, you may be making yourself very vulnerable to a
really bad time in April, despite what I’m certain will be a bunch of fantastic options. Again, I wish you only the very best of luck.</p>
<p>Snowgirl–STS and Siemens are science research awards, and RSI is a very prestigious science research program. If you want to go to Harvard as the first step on your way to winning a Nobel Prize in Physics, then these are things you should definitely strive for. Otherwise, don’t worry about it ;)</p>