What are you looking forward to in Harvard’s Class of 2020?

Today Harvard announced they received 39,044 applicants for places in the Class of 2020, breaking last year’s record by 2000 people.

We interviewed some of the lucky few about why they applied – and how they felt when they were accepted.

Elizabeth, 17, from Miami

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

I went to church! I knew it would come out at 5pm on Thursday. My whole family came with me and we justi waited until 5pm for an email. When none came out, I checked my phone and logged into the status portal – it took me a solid 30 seconds to realize that I had gotten in, so I just started hyperventilating and eventually screaming that I had gotten into Harvard inside the church! The lady praying behind us was so worried.

Why Harvard?

I’ve always wanted to go to Harvard – so this is a dream come true for me. Harvard offers me everything I could ask for in a college: an intellectually stimulating environment, countless opportunities to learn, a flexible course curriculum, a great location, and a debate team!

Do you have any fears, hesitations, or anxiety about anything for next year?

The cold!

What are you excited about?

I’m so excited to be surrounded by so many amazing people, and to learn from my peers. I’m thrilled to take classes that interest me and stimulate my intellectual curiosity, surrounded by students who also truly love what they’re doing. I hope to take advantage of the expert staff, and specialize in interdisciplinary fields. I’m also excited to join one of the most elite collegiate debate programs in the nation, the Harvard Debate team!

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

I didn’t remember the name of the John F. Kennedy School of Government was, so I just called it the “school of diplomacy.”

What do you think got you into Harvard?

My essays.

Bushra Hamid, 17, from Houston

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

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 nonstop, actually.

Do you have any fears, hesitations, or anxiety about anything for next year?

I lived in the North as a child, but I’ve been living in Texas for the past nine years so I’ve gotten used to the heat. Therefore I’m quite nervous for the infamous Massachusetts winters and need to invest in some nice winter clothes. Still excited nonetheless!

What are you excited about?

I’m so excited to see Boston! I fell in love with the city just from the stories my eighth grade teacher would tell my class about her travels around the historic sites there, so I’m excited to see and LIVE in the city myself! Beyond the history behind the city, I’m thrilled to experience the food! However, I’ll truly miss my mother’s cooking.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

The first five minutes of the interview consisted of my interviewer telling me how he had just gotten out of a verbal fight with the toll booth worker on his way to our meeting location because he did not want to pay the toll (long story), so I was nervous that he would be in a bad mood for the rest of the interview. On the contrary, I could not have asked for a better time as the interview went absolutely amazing!

Matt Branman, 18, from Villanova, Pennsylvania (left)

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

Well, I was recruited for fencing so I probably wasn’t as surprised, but I was just chilling with a bunch of my friends when I checked. It was nice knowing for sure that I was in!

When I visited Harvard I completely fell in love with everything from the campus to the students. Also the fencing team is an awesome group of people! The school just seemed to be a perfect fit.

Do you have any fears, hesitations, or anxiety about anything for next year?

The only fear I actually have is getting a good roommate…otherwise I am more excited than anything else.

What are you excited about?

I am looking forward to meeting a bunch of new people who all have something special about them (otherwise they would not be at Harvard). Also some of the classes look extremely interesting.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

I’m afraid my interview was a bit boring and I don’t actually remember any of it.

Brianna DeSappio, 18, from Grand Rapids, Michigan

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

I had just gotten home from school. I literally was walking into my room when I got the call.

Why Harvard?

I feel like Harvard is the perfect place to find my calling. They encourage taking a variety of classes and don’t require you to declare until the end of the second year.

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

Of course! I’m going to be studying with the WORLD’S best and brightest. Valedictorians, prodigies, future scientists, and future world leaders are going to be my classmates! My anxiety is up to my eyeballs, but I’ve never been so happy to be anxious. Which leads me to…

What are you excited about?

In one of my classes, I might sit next to someone who will find the cure to cancer someday.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

We talked about coffee for at least 15 minutes.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

Probably my conversation skills, and my athletics.
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Devin,18, from Dayton, Maryland (fourth from the left)

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

My situation was very different from most other people because I got offered a spot of admission for football, so when I got accepted I was excited but I wasn’t surprised. However when I first got offered it was extremely surreal. I never really strived to go to Harvard or even thought I could get in and to be offered a guaranteed spot was crazy

Why Harvard?

Why No?? It’s the #1 school in the country and arguably the world, it’s away from home but not extremely far, and I love the East Coast and Boston as a city.

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

Probably just being away from home for so long for the first time ever.

What are you excited about?

I’m excited to meet new people and live on my own. It should be a great experience.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

To be honest, my interview was pretty smooth sailing. My interviewer made me feel comfortable and I was pretty relaxed throughout.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

My grade and athletics. Even though I got in because of football my grades are still very good (4.3 GPA) and they are something I take pride in.

Eli, 17, from Natchitoches, Louisiana

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

That’s actually a funny story. I was eating in a restaurant with my friends, and I was totally blindsided by the email because I thought decisions were coming out on the 15th. I clicked on the link, my heart starting beating really fast, everything was a blur. When I logged in and saw the big C, I started screaming “Holy fuck! I got into Harvard!” and my friends all laughed, gave me a hug, and told me to stop screaming fuck in public. It was a somewhat nice place, but no one cared, they just said stuff like congrats! Remember the little people! And some people toasted. It was really cool.

Why Harvard?

Harvard has been my dream since I was a little kid, because my mother is an alum and has talked about it forever. It doesn’t hurt that it’s the most prestigious University in America, maybe the world. Also, best for my two possible majors (Government, Economics).

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

Not too many. I, like many of our classmates, go to a super rigorous high school. My boarding school only hires teachers with terminal degrees in their field, so it’s been really good preparation. Some of my friends who go to Harvard tell me it really isn’t too bad. Mostly worried about the weather, because I’m from Louisiana.

What are you excited about?

I’m excited to go to college in general! I’ve been in boarding school for 5 years and haven’t had an incredible amount of freedom. Also, I love Cambridge, and Boston, my favorite city in the world, is right next door. I couldn’t be more excited.
During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

My interviewer was a grad student at Harvard. When she told me she actually went to Georgetown for undergrad, I stopped for a second and said, “Why?” We stopped and laughed for a second, then she said she didn’t get into Harvard and loved D. C. I was really happy with how my interview went.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

So I tick all of the boxes academically (near 4.0 UW, 99th percentile ACT), I am really civically active (did campaign work for John Bel Edwards, founded a chapter of JSA at my school, did FBLA, Student Government President at my school, state officer of High School Democrats), and I have a really unique background (grew up on an Indian Reservation, worked with my parents every summer since I was a kid to help preserve our language, only under 18 speaker of the language alive). Being a legacy and Native American certainly didn’t hurt, but crucially, I’m not “just” Native American, I am really active in tribal affairs and was active in my community. Community activism is really important, no matter your background.

Caleb, 17, from Westchester, New York

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

I opened my acceptance letter in my college counselor’s office on Thursday, December 10th. It was an hour or two after school ended but my school’s student government, of which I am the president, was running an event that night, and I was staying at school to set up.

Why Harvard?

Coming from a suburb of New York City, I knew upon beginning to consider colleges that I wanted to go to a school at least fairly close to a major metropolitan area. I also knew, however, that I wanted a place with a real campus and a thriving social community, and one that would challenge me intellectually both inside and outside of the classroom. In my visits to Harvard, that is exactly what I found. I saw a politically engaged student body, one that took advantage of the opportunities offered by the affiliated John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a welcoming environment, in which nearly every student I met encouraged me to apply and attend.

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

Of course there are things that make me nervous for next year. From my friends to my classes to my extracurricular activities, I will essentially have to remake my life and identity anew. I know that it’s not always going to be easy, but the opportunities I will have at Harvard are unparalleled.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

I believe I was accepted because I followed my interests and tried my best to make a positive difference. When I found a passion for student government, I followed that pursuit, ultimately becoming student body president, because even though that activity did not mesh impeccably with my science research, it is something I care about deeply. Students sometimes can try to shape an image of themselves in a way that leads them to leave an activity in which they are interested because it maybe does not fit their message. Don’t do that. Throughout high school, whether in peer tutoring, my school’s apparel store, student government, or math team, I dedicated myself to clubs and activities that I enjoyed even as I helped others and the community. That meant, from a selfish standpoint, great letters of recommendation, but it also meant having experience in an array of fields and the ability to look back and see that I hopefully left my school a little better than I found it.

Aidan, 17, from Swansea, Massachusetts

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

About to head out the door for a thing at the school, so by the time I got there everyone knew.

Why Harvard?

It was my dream for years. Partially personal validation, partially the respect of others like proving myself, partially cause great school and name recognition, financial aid, and also a bit cause it’s near my girlfriend.

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

I don’t know. Making friends with very different people will be weird, I hope I handle it right. It should be fine.

What are you excited about?

Hanging out and learning with a bunch of awesome people in an awesome place. Excited for drama and the social life.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

I asked him what the music scene was like when he was at Harvard cause I’m a big 60s music guy and he was old but he went to the Divinity school and didn’t give a fuck about music.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

Honestly, has to be my essays and interview. Like everyone has good grades. I have no diversity whatsoever. I came from a kind of lame school with no guidance office or anyone who went to big schools. I don’t play a sport or instrument. It was honestly I think like personality and ability to bring people together. Plus like smarts/creativity in my essay.

 

Samuel Fernandez, 18, from Mebane, North Carolina

Why Harvard?

The name helps, but also because of its financial aid and the opportunities Harvard provides their students with.

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

Yes! That I’ll be the dumbest person there.

What are you excited about?

I’m excited about college life in general. The chance to experience something new.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

I tried playing safe and was careful in what I said. Although I’ve always had problems expressing my thoughts into words, so when he asked “why Harvard?” I stumbled with my words and found myself repeating what I was saying.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

Being a Hispanic immigrant living in the South definitely helps. But I truly believe that what got me in were the teacher recommendations. I come from an extremely small school (24 in my graduating class), so teachers know me very well. I’m not sure if having a brother at Harvard also helped my cause.

Andrew Morley, from Seattle

Why Harvard?

Harvard simply offers the best of everything. The Boston area is the best place to live. The Charles River is an iconic setting in the rowing community. The professors are the best in the world, and the community is the most welcoming I’ve ever experienced.

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

I’m most excited, but also most anxious, to be joining a school where only the brightest minds of our generation are accepted. All of the students in my class will be nothing short of brilliant. While it’s a daunting feeling to know I’m not going to be the smartest person there, I find comfort in the admission committee’s belief that I will be able to thrive.

What are you excited about?

I’m most excited to beat Yale.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

My interview was back in June – I don’t recall too much from it.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

My rowing performance is undoubtedly what had the most influence on my acceptance to Harvard. The school is a community of people that excel in one or many fields, and I happen to be able to make boats go fast.

Mariana Garza, 17, from White Plains, NY

Why Harvard?

It was the way Harvard students talked and the way they approached me and approached their professors. As cliché as this sounds, they truly believed in themselves and they believed that they could accomplish anything. Their confidence and their passion for learning were things I knew I couldn’t find anywhere else. In two words: the people.

What are you excited about?

I’m really into the cross-section of economics and environmental studies because they both center on how the world works and how individuals can impact the world, but in totally different perspectives. So I’m just super excited to start taking classes with amazing people and learning from brilliant professors!

What do you think got you into Harvard?

I’m not quite sure, I am just so happy they accepted me!

Lourdes Kaufman, 18, from Easton, Connecticut

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

I just got home from working at the YMCA as a lifeguard. I checked my email, as I do normally, not expecting my decision to have been made – I thought we were finding out on the 15th! It was a pleasant surprise on my dad’s 60th birthday.

Why Harvard?

Harvard is perfect in every way. It is located in the wonderful city of Cambridge. It is the top institution in the world, filled with some of the most brilliant minds. Students are encouraged to explore any/all of their interests, and in some cases, with no end in mind. The opportunities at Harvard are one of a kind.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

Probably that I wanted to take a cooking class at Harvard.

Emily Valentin, 17, from Buffalo Grove, Illinois

What were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

I just got out of the bathroom when I checked my phone and saw an email. The adrenaline was making my heart rate go up so fast and my hands were shaking so I could barely log into my status portal thing to check!

Do you have any fears about anything for next year?

In general, I know the academic load in college in going to be a lot bigger than it is in high school! Sometimes I get worried I won’t be able to keep up – especially since it’s Harvard – or that I’ll be the dumbest one in my classes (I don’t think I’m even the smartest kid at my high school).

What are you excited about?

I’m excited about all the amazing people (classmates and professors) I’ll get to meet and spend my time with. If I commit to Harvard (which I want to do as soon as we get the financial aid package) I’m excited about Boston and wearing Crimson. Everything from Harvard’s academics to its wide array of activities and clubs and the campus itself makes me unbelievably excited! Like, I can continue doing things I loved to do in high school but I’ll also be able to start fresh and join new clubs and take classes that are new to me. I expect to not sleep that much, but since breaks are a little longer, I think I’ll survive. Also I look forward to:
– “Where do you go to school?”
– “I go to school in Boston.”
– “Which college? My brother went to school in Boston too!”
– “Cool! Uh- I go to Harvard.”

What do you think got you into Harvard?

Obviously I have good grades (I did have to work my ass off to get some of them) and good test scores, but I was also really passionate about all of my extracurriculars and kind of threw myself into them (band and speech team), and was pretty accomplished in those. Also, I worked 10 hours/week all year junior year so maybe they liked to see I could balance a lot of things and use my time wisely? I’m proud of my essay and I think who I was and what I believed in really came through. In general, I think my application showed I was a hard worker and liked learning and was passionate about things. I think it was all these factors coming together that got me into Harvard. I’m still in a little bit of shock that I did!

Isabella, 18, from Miami

So what were you doing when you found out you got accepted?

The second I saw the word “congratulations!” I fell out of my desk chair, began sobbing, and ran out into the hall yelling for my mom. I was incapable of articulating words so I just pointed to my computer screen and cried tears of joy and disbelief. Without a doubt, best moment of my life.

Why Harvard?

Harvard has been my dream ever since I could remember, but what really sealed the deal for me was my visit last September during the Harvard vs. Brown football game. I witnessed a beautiful sea of white and crimson migrating towards the stadium with so much enthusiasm, spirit, and sense of community that I felt as if I was already a part of it. I come from a miniature high school of 350 students that fosters an incredible sense of community. I was afraid that going to large college would take that away from me, but at Harvard I was able to see that the closeness of a community is independent of size. It is a product of its members and the values the school instills upon them.

Do you have any fears, hesitations, or anxiety about anything for next year?

I am feeling much more excitement than fear at the moment, but as moving day approaches I expect the anxiety to start rolling in. I am more worried about what I am leaving behind, such as my friends, family, and school, than what I will encounter at Harvard. I have no doubt that it will be amazing.

What are your expectations for next year and what are you excited about?

I am not really sure what to expect for next year. All I know is that it will be a new experience that will require adjustment and prove to be challenging at times. This uncertainty, however, is also what excites me. I look at change as an opportunity to learn more about about myself and the world around me, and I see no better place to do this than at the greatest university in the world with incredible students and faculty.

During your Harvard interview, what’s the worst or silliest thing you said?

My interviewer asked me to talk about the school assignment that has meant the most to me. Midway through my description of a paper I wrote Junior year, I realized I had completely forgotten the name of the novel I had analyzed. It was a true “blanking out” moment, and I said to the interviewer “I forgot the name of the book, but it has to do with the Vietnam War.” The true impact this assignment had on me was definitely questionable after that.

What do you think got you into Harvard?

I think my grit and hard work got me into Harvard. I put my full effort into everything I did, whether it was my studies, my sport, or any extracurricular. I believe that with clear goals and dedication, people can reach their maximum potential and achieve greatness.