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The elusive group of applicants that is accepted through a little-known process: the Harvard Z-list. Since the Supreme Court case against affirmative action, the Harvard Z-list has been under new scrutiny. Many students wonder how they can guarantee admission into the prestigious university. The Harvard Z-List is one such method. So, what exactly is the Harvard Z-list and how does it work?
What is the Harvard Z-List?
According to William R. Fitzsimmons, Harvard’s Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid since 1986 and a Harvard alum, the Harvard Z-list has been around since the 1970s and is the last group of students (behind regular and waitlisted candidates) to earn admission. The Harvard Z-list is an admission requirement offered to a select number of applicants—to take a gap year before being admitted the following year. Essentially, this offer is provided to students whom the university wants to admit but does not have room for, so they admit students the following year. This is different from a waitlist because the university 100% wants to admit the student. At this point it is unclear how to get off the waitlist and into the Z-list.
How many students get admitted from the Z-List?
In an article from The Crimson, Harvard’s student newspaper, in 2002 20 students were admitted from the Z-list. In 2010, Firzsimmons stated that the number was between 30 and 50 students. More recently, an article with the New York Times states that this number has continued to increase to 50-60 students annually within the last decade.
Who does Harvard put on the Z-List?
According to the Students For Fair Admissions (SFFA), 70% of the students on the Z-list are white legacy students and only 2% of the students are Black. Legacy admissions make up about a third of acceptances. This is especially high for a university with an overall acceptance rate of 6%. Needless to say, the Z-list, according to The Crimson, favors the affluent.
What if I get a Z-List offer?
Like we recommend all students who receive acceptance letters, we recommend you think about whether or not you truly want to attend Harvard. What will you do in the gap year? Would that time be better spent at another university? These are just a few of the questions we encourage you to ask yourself. The Z-list is not publicized so choosing to accept the offer will not put a mark on your application. Another thing to consider is that the SFFA filings stated that students on the Z-list have lower academic records and performance than other admitted students. They claim Z-list students’ academic profiles resemble those of rejected students. At the same time, The Crimson suggests that students on the Z list tend to fill their time traveling, exploring new hobbies, and refining their craft. Keep in mind that if you do not have the financial means to do similar things, you may need to take up a part time job since financial aid packages won’t start until students actually attend classes. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide but we encourage you to look at the process holistically.
What other schools have Z-Lists?
While the term “Z-list” is coined by Harvard, other schools like Middlebury College and the University of Chicago have reported a Z-list option, with Chicago offering 20-30 students the Z-list. Other universities like Colorado College offer the option for students to experience gap semesters and experience the real-world before entering campus.
Key Takeaways
- The Z-list is an option provided to a select group of students that the college 100% wants to admit.
- There is no clear way to join the Z-list, unless it is offered to you. The majority of the Z-list is legacy students.
- Schools like University of Chicago have reported a Z-list option while other institutions may have similar options that prioritize gap years and semesters.
