Does Harvard ever reject students in early action?

I know early action at Harvard can provide a strategic advantage, but I'm worried about the possibility of rejection. Does anyone know if they reject applicants during this round? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, Harvard does reject a certain proportion of students in the Early Action (EA) round. However, a significant number of early action applicants get deferred, meaning their applications are moved to the regular decision pool for further consideration.

With EA at Harvard, there are three possible outcomes:

1. Admitted: This is the outcome everyone hopes for. Your application was strong enough that the admissions committee decided to extend an offer right away.

2. Deferred: Deferment casts a wider net for the college and allows them to see their entire applicant pool before making a decision about you. If you're deferred, your application will be reconsidered with the regular decision pool.

3. Rejected: Unfortunately, rejection is always a possibility in college admissions. If the admissions committee determines that a student is not competitive enough for admission, they may reject the application during the EA round.

It might be worth remembering that Harvard's EA is not binding, meaning that you are free to apply to other institutions EA or regular decision, and you can also compare financial aid packages before finalizing your decision.

Keep in mind that EA is typically a competitive round, as many high-achieving students apply early. Having a strong application profile, especially within the range of Harvard’s accepted student statistics, will help increase your chances of admission.