thecup

Harvard, Applied Physics (thanks Othello)

I am in the same situation. I asked for more information the department and they said that it was just a matter of GSAS filling out paperwork. If you're unsure, just write a quick email to the department and you can confirm that you will be accepted. I certainly know the feeling of uncertainty after several weeks of being on a waitlist, once you're in it feels REALLY hard to believe it. Congrats!

I'm in a similar situation. I've been waitlisted at my top choice, yet I have a strong offer elsewhere. From what I understand, they are probably not going to get around to the waitlist until after the 15th. One of my professors suggests that I wait until the last minute to accept the other offer, then if I get into my top choice, I may decline the previous acceptance. Personally, I really don't like that way that sounds... One hypothetical: Some big name school puts you on a waitlist however you have another school that has given you a good offer. The "ethical" thing to do (if you really want to go to the big name school) is to decline the other offer and wait around to get called. Unfortunately, this makes no sense because there is a decent chance that you won't go to school at all. Therefore, the ONLY choice is to accept the other school's offer and then decline it if the big name school comes through. Unfortunately, this may burn a bridge, but keep this in mind: the big name school is forcing you into this position. It's the name of the game. Thus, we have several options: 1) Accept UCSD and forget about Stanford. 2) Accept UCSD and if Stanford calls, revoke your acceptance to UCSD. 3) Decline UCSD and possibly get into Stanford (although you could loose out on an entire year). 4) Take the year off, get some more experience and reapply next year. 5) Forget school for now and start a new life as a dairy farmer. The choice is yours. Personally, I'd at least wait until the 14th. Honestly, I hate the whole waitlist process and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. However, the process is almost over and you'll probably get a decision in the next couple weeks. Until then, contemplate option 5 and hopefully you'll realize that its not about the school, but its about your educational and professional development. Best of luck, hang in there!

I got rejected via e-mail.

I wish I new more about how waitlists work. The question I have is this: if a single person declines an offer, does the first person on the waitlist get accepted (one to one correspondence) or do x number of people have to decline before they dip into the waitlist? Right now, I've been rejected from all of my top choice schools yet I'm high on a waitlist for my absolute top choice school. I know someone who has (or will) decline their offer, so I'm really hoping that its a one to one process. Anyways, I understand the frustration; let me know if you get in. Good luck!

Othello, thanks for the info. I wish you the best of luck. For everyone else who is waitng for a DEAS response (actually, its SEAS now, buy anyways), I got notified on the March 10th (the letter was dated the 8th). They sent a form I had to respond to. I had to indicate if I accepted the place on the waitlist and if my financial status had changed. If you haven't heard from them by now, try contacting them. Best of luck!

Othello, I was wondering how the open house went? I'm on the waitlist for their Applied Physics program, so I was wondering if it looked like most of the people there were planning to accept Harvard's offer. (Actually, I'm curious if anyone looked like they were going to decline the offer). Congrats on the acceptance by the way.