Harvard OEB: Anyone Heard Anything?

[biol]

There are no results on the results search but has anyone heard anything informally? I went to their Open House thing and haven't heard a peep since. Waiting for decisions is slowly driving me crazy!

[jspresnell]

My girlfriend (who applied, not me) emailed OEBs' Academic Programs Coordinator, and he said to expect something late February/early March. She tells me that he also said the Open House thing had no "bearing" on your acceptance (ie. it didn't matter if you couldn't go, or if you didn't get invited). The guys' name was Christopher Preheim if you wanted to email him, apparently he was pretty prompt with responses unlike others in the department.

Good luck, and hang in there!

[biol]

Thanks! And yeah, that's what they said. It's odd that they brought us out without really having any intention of admitting us- most schools only invite the people they want, or are at least pretty interested in. I hope it wasn't a total waste of time!

[dhanson]

I emailed my POI and he told me that it was unlikely I will be accepted, but he said the admissions committee has not made any final decisions yet.

[ryanmor]

Yeah nothing here yet either.

[toc]

Heard from POI yesterday - official acceptances go out next week.

[Jimbo2]

my friend got accepted a few days ago

[jspresnell]

Received word that the letters were sent out snail-mail last Tuesday. I have yet to receive mine...hopefully today. Not sure why it would take 4 days for a letter to get from MA to NC, when I've gotten stuff from TX in less time.

[dhanson]

Letters of acceptance or all letters (even rejections)?

[jspresnell]

He said "decisions were mailed out on Tuesday of last week". So, I'm guessing both acceptances and rejections.

[toc]

I got my letter in the mail on Friday, postmarked on March 6th.

[dhanson]

I got my letter in the mail on Friday, postmarked on March 6th.

Was it a rejection or acceptance? I'm wondering if they only sent out acceptances because I still haven't received anything.........

[ryanmor]

Was it a rejection or acceptance? I'm wondering if they only sent out acceptances because I still haven't received anything.........

Same. I've already decided where I'm going at this point. Not going to wait on Harvard. Just would like to get my $105 worth in either a reject or an accept.

[toc]

Was it a rejection or acceptance? I'm wondering if they only sent out acceptances because I still haven't received anything.........

It was an acceptance, which I declined. I'm not sure if Harvard has a waitlist or if they expect a certain yield on their offers and take as many as respond. In the latter case you'd expect the rejections to go out at the same time, so maybe they're hanging on to some applications? Just my speculation...

[zero_percent_agarose]

I emailed the PI I'd been in contact with to ask about about admissions since I hadn't heard anything. He said that he didn't know either, but that it was likely I'd been "waitlisted or lower" if neither of us had heard anything by this point. I've since accepted elsewhere.

The Harvard OEB admissions process is probably among the blackest of black boxes I've come across in applying and hearing back from grad schools.

[biol]

Still nothing here, either.

Congrats on accepting an offer- that must be a relief

[ryanmor]

Got my letter today, a rejection. Wasn't really considering it anymore. Relieved that I finally heard back from everywhere now though.

[jspresnell]

I got my decision in the mail too, and it was also a rejection. No bother though, I had already decided to go elsewhere...a place that really seemed to want me and gave me more incentive (Fellowship).

[toc]

For those who may be waiting, I've heard that there is a wait list and they hope to admit a few more from it soon.