Advice From Harvard Students

<p>What kind of scholarships does Harvard like seeing from applicants that could improve my chances of getting accepted? I'm a sophomore in high school, I'm a hard worker, and I would do anything to get accepted to Harvard!</p>

<p>If you’re talking about awards, I’m sure being an Intel and Siemens semi-finalist or finalist will increase your chances.</p>

<p>If you are talking about outside financial scholarships, getting one will NOT improve your chances, as Harvard has the largest endowment of any college. And FWIW: [Outside</a> Awards](<a href=“http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k51861&pageid=icb.page244017]Outside”>http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k51861&pageid=icb.page244017)</p>

<p>“Harvard’s current outside award policy is to use the full amount of outside awards first to replace your term time job expectation and then your summer earnings expectation. When outside award totals are greater than these expectations, the excess amount must be used to replace an equal amount of Harvard scholarship. Since outside awards are additional resources that reduce need, they cannot be used to replace the parent contribution. Last year Harvard students were awarded over $13 million in scholarships, grants, and benefits from outside sources. These awarding sponsors were non-Harvard benefactors such as secondary schools, civic organizations, parental employers, and corporations, as well as the National Merit and Scholarship Programs. Many of these awards are merit-based. Since the intent of these awards is that they be used for educational purposes, they must be reported to Harvard and applied toward college expenses.”</p>

<p>I dunno, gibby. On another thread, some insist 6% is 6% and that’s that. Nary a chance past 6%. But I am curious what advice OP will get from other hs kids.</p>

<p>^^ For the past couple of years, Stuyvesant High School has had more Intel semi finalists than any other high school in the nation. One hundred percent of those students ended up at HYPS or M. Coincidence? I dunno.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice! I’ll research more information on the Intel and Siemens competition.</p>

<p>Intel has 2 science competitions. The most prodigious is the Intel Science Search. For a list of winners and their projects, see: <a href=“http://www.societyforscience.org/sts/intel-sts-2013-finalists[/url]”>http://www.societyforscience.org/sts/intel-sts-2013-finalists&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m actually interested in the science field so it seems like something that I would succeed in. What grade do you need to be in to be eligible?? I can’t find it</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=403[/url]”>http://www.societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=403&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Never mind, I just found it. I have to be a senior. I’ll definitely keep this in mind in my last year of high school. Do you have any other ideas on what awards stand out in an application (keep in mind I’m a sophomore). I’m interested in science and math, and I want to be a doctor when I grow up. <<<so any awards that I could get within the fields that I have a true passion for (Also, any programs that are free that I can apply for in the summer. I only know of a prestigious program held at MIT, but that’s for juniors only.)</p>

<p>Although students enter STS during their senior year, most of them have been working on their research project for several years, including time spent in labs over summer vacation. You should speak with someone in your high school’s science department about a science project you would like to work on over the next two years.</p>

<p>Yea! That’s probably a good idea. Thanks, I really appreciate it.</p>