How did you react when you were accepted to Harvard’s Class of 2020?
‘I started hyperventilating on the floor’
On December 10th, 2015, high school seniors across the world were notified of their early action acceptances into Harvard’s Class of 2020.
Some had been dreaming of this day since they were little, while some only seriously considered Harvard when they visited the campus this spring.
Their reaction stories varied across time and location, but the emotions were the same: pure joy. We asked a few about how they found out.
Elizabeth Herington, 18, from Kinnelon, New Jersey
I was at my school when I found out, in the auditorium for musical auditions. When it hit 5pm, my little brother came down off the stage and we read the decision together. We both freaked out, hugging and jumping up and down. When someone asked, “What’s going on?” my brother announced, “Elizabeth Herington just got into Harvard!” and everyone cheered and gave me hugs and congratulations.
I then ran across the school to tell my favorite teacher (who is the basketball coach, so he was at practice). Then the swim team arrived, having just gotten back from a meet. A bunch of my best friends are on the swim team, so they all ambushed me and we bear-hugged and jumped up and down, and made all of the janitors think that we were crazy.
It was an incredible night.
How long have you worked towards this?
Well, I’ve sort of always thought about where I wanted to go to college, for as long as I knew what it was. Where I wanted to go changed constantly though, I wasn’t even settled on Harvard until I got the acceptance letter and realized I didn’t want to go anywhere else.
Madeleine Lapuerta, 17, from Princeton, New Jersey
I was at a volleyball game that ended at 6pm (letters were released at 5pm), so after the game I went on my phone to see if my friend had gotten into Brown. Suddenly, a notification popped up that I had received an email from Harvard admissions. I started hyperventilating on the floor of the gym, and I started crying of nervousness, but I had to compose myself because I was surrounded by people. I waited the forty minutes it took to get back to my school, then went to this dark isolated hallway and forced myself to check it.
I read the first word, “Congratulations”, and let out the loudest, most high-pitched scream of my life. I immediately ran to where my friends were, and fell to the floor crying. After I stopped shaking, I had to go home, but I stopped at Burger King on the way for a celebratory Dr. Pepper.
How long have you worked toward this acceptance?
One of the reasons why I was so emotional is because I come from a Hispanic family of immigrants who put so much emphasis on education, so to me, getting into Harvard was like proving everything my family had gone through to be worth it.
Additionally, I’ve spent the past four years doing absolutely everything I could to get into schools like Harvard, so it is incredible to know that I finally made it. I still can’t believe it, to be honest, but am beyond honored and excited to have been given this opportunity.
Meredith Pong, 17, from New York City![]()
I wrote myself a letter at 4:55pm saying that things happen for a reason and everything was going to work out. When I finally clicked on my application status, I read “Congrats” and skimmed the rest, but it didn’t really click until I saw the jumping gif. That’s what made it clear. I was shocked, but once that wore off I was ecstatic! My family stormed into my room around then and it was time to celebrate!
How long have you worked toward this acceptance?
I’ve been working toward going to Harvard for a while now. At school, it feels so strange to be relaxed and not stressed out so much. I’m excited to enjoy the rest of senior year!
Russell Reed, 17, from San Diego, California
My teacher actually hazed me into opening it during class, telling me to keep a straight face either way so no one would know. When I saw that I got in, I covered my smile, gave him a thumbs-up, and left the room. When I came back after a lot of jumping up and down with my counselor, my whole class was clapping and taking pictures of me (“why aren’t you crying?”)… it was honestly pretty awesome!
How long have you worked toward this acceptance?
I don’t know if there’s a set amount of time I’ve been working toward this…Harvard was never really the goal because I never thought it would be an option, but the activities and subjects represented on my application date back to my early childhood. I was never working toward a specific college, but I think Harvard will be the best possible place for me to have an experiential and eye-opening undergraduate experience.
Madison Trice, 16, from Houston, Texas
When I got in, my best friend from South Carolina also got in and texted me first (I hadn’t seen mine yet) saying I GOT IN. I was sitting with my other best friend waiting for my mom to come because she asked for me to wait until she came to open it. So when she did come, she ran out of the car, and she, my best friend, and I read it in the parking lot while she was on the phone with my dad. I was just screaming and crying, and she, my friend, and I were all hugging and jumping up and down.
How long have you worked toward this acceptance?
I didn’t realize that I wanted to go to Harvard until I visited this past year in April. And I’m not certain that I’ll go, but I think I’ve kind of always been working towards it – my dad went there for graduate school, so growing up, I remember going to visit and watching him play chess in Cambridge and it’s just always kind of felt like home.
Bushra Hamid, 17, Houston, Texas
I had no idea I would actually make it into Harvard so I was not going to check my admissions portal for my results until later that day, so I was in my kitchen making a taco to eat. However my mom, who got my older sister to check my portal for me, turned on her camera, and as I looked up to see her recording, she told me I got in. I couldn’t believe it. I got on my kitchen floor and cried. More like screamed non-stop, actually.
How long have you worked toward this acceptance?
I’ve always worked the hardest I could in everything I did, no matter the outcome. I knew that eventually all the pieces would fall into place, and that everything would work out the way it was meant to happen. Thus I just worked hard for my own sake and sanity, and surprisingly, it landed me into Harvard, my dream school!