For Charles V. Graham '96, who is concentrating in computer and information technology, the "process was worse than applying to college."
Levitt spent his entire sophomore fall searching for an advisor, he says.
"From September to December it was almost an additional course in terms of time commitment," Levitt says. "You have to go see 30 or 40 people."
Adomanis had to put off applying to the program until the fall of his junior year because he was unable to find an advisor before the spring deadline.
"I tried to apply twice to special concentrations," he says, "and once I couldn't get a final app through because I couldn't find an advisor."
Concentrators also have to find a tutor to work with them on a weekly basis in a self-designed tutorial. Tutors are often graduate students who are paid for their time.
Levitt intends to start "wandering around Dudley, spending lots of time in the Cafe Gato Rojo, which is a tremendously popular place for people in search of tutors."
Mollick intends to use his time in a course at the Kennedy School to further his campaign for a tutor.
"I am going to try to find some starving graduate students at the Kennedy School," he said.
McCavana says the application process is designed to ensure that those in the concentrations are really equipped to handle them.
"It's designed as a hurdle to see if people are able to work independently," he says.
About 80 percent of those who apply do get into their concentration of choice.
The remaining 20 percent are usually deferred, not rejected.
And for those who get in, the concentration is the best thing Harvard could offer, students say.
"It's a pain in the ass, there is no denying that, but fundamentally it is worth it," Levitt says.