Explaining TikTok’s Viral Trend: ‘Pretending I Got Into Harvard’

The TikTok platform has seen a meteoric rise in popularity for the ‘Pretending I got into Harvard’ trend, captivating users and dominating the For You Pages with engaging and humorous content.

Emerging in late December 2024, this trend puts a comedic spin on the emotional narratives associated with college acceptance. Participants mimic dramatic and over-the-top reactions to hypothetically “getting into Harvard,” echoing the style of viral acceptance videos that flood social media.

The Roots of the ‘Pretending I Got into Harvard’ Trend

This quirky trend is an evolution of a longstanding TikTok practice where students typically play Sam Smith’s song ‘Latch’ in the background while sharing their genuine reactions to college admission announcements. However, as TikTokers embraced parody, the song took on a new life in a comedic context starting in late December 2024.

@_angelomarasigan
we did it! 🥹 #harvarduniversity

♬ 7 years latch – favsoundds

The catalyst for this trend appears to be a viral video posted on December 19 by TikToker _angelomarasigan, humorously titled “Pretending I got into Harvard because we’re bored.” This whimsical take quickly amassed over 33 million views and 5 million likes, igniting a creative frenzy across the platform.

One prominent participant, TikToker mmmjoemele, further expanded the trend’s comedic scope by posting a video on December 24, in which he pretended his chicken had been accepted into Harvard. This humorous ploy attracted significant attention, garnering over 11.8 million views and nearly 2 million likes.

@mmmjoemele
congrats pluckers 😭🥹

♬ 7 years latch – favsoundds

Participants have continued to enhance the humor, with some claiming acceptance into fanciful institutions such as “Monsters University” or “Hogwarts.” This brilliantly light-hearted satire resonates with audiences, gently poking fun at the often overwhelming emotions tied to academic achievements.

With an increasing number of TikTok users joining the trend, varied renditions are consistently populating feeds. This lively trend showcases a unique ability to leverage humor in highlighting the sometimes absurd nature of life’s serious moments, presenting an enjoyable escape.

‘Pretending I got into Harvard’ joins the ranks of other viral sensations on TikTok, alongside popular trends such as the ‘Pepe the King Prawn’ meme and the ‘Sofia Richie dance.’ As it gains momentum, this trend exemplifies how social media continues to evolve in creative expression and engagement.

Source & Images