<p>I'm going to be a high school freshman, and going to Harvard is a dream of mine. I've visited the campus once, and I immediately fell in love with the place. In 8th grade I was an exceptional student. I graduated top of my class, had a 4.0 gpa, and through Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) I was able to take the ACT in 7th grade(I got a 20). I would really appreciate any advice about what to do in high school in order to get accepted into Harvard. Also, I'm a white female, and I'm wondering if that affects my prospective chances. Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>Read the link in post 2</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1516495-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1516495-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Just wondering…you took the ACT tests in 7th grade? Is that possible? And do a lot of extra curriculars that shows who YOU are. For example, you love volleyball (your username) so volunteer teaching kids to play volley, and other things like that. Being very good at something, or even many thing will make admissions officer how you might put a good name to harvard. Getting a perfect or over perfect GPA is a must, do VERY well in the SATs…really review hard for it, and if it means hiring a person to review you for the SAT’s, then do it. Try to be something that seperates you from people and be unique. Like only a few people create an AIDS awareness organizations. TONS of extracurriculars, and do something for the summer and don’t just sit at home and watch TV the whole day. Make memorable stories that will make a good personal essay. And try to find connections like Harvard alumni because they can write you recommendation letters and that’s an advantage I guess. And make a good impression on your teachers. be nice to them because you will need teacher recommendations and you would want them to write a very good one. Also race is not important to Harvard. I think…Read the book “The Chosen: The Hidden History of Admission and Exclusion at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton” but that’s kinda based on the 1900’s…I don’t think racism is on effect in harvard ammisions anymore. Good luck! And don’t just take advice from me!</p>
<p>Thanks for the link! It was very informative. Thanks for your response. :)</p>
<p>@RichelleMelad
Thank you SO much for your response! 
I took the ACT in 7th grade because of a thing where the 10 kids with the best scores on ISATs and MAPs (the 2 standardized tests my school takes) are selected to take the ACT or SAT. My parents made me take the ACT only, but I wanted to do both. It’s actually really funny that you mentioned teaching little kids volleyball because I’m actually running a volleyball camp this summer at my school. Anyways, thanks so much for responding to my post. It was very helpful.</p>
<p>Volleyball: should you be taking the advice of an eighth grader (Richelle) and new user just like yourself?</p>
<p>"Getting a perfect or over perfect GPA is a must, do VERY well in the SATs…really review hard for it, and if it means hiring a person to review you for the SAT’s, then do it. "</p>
<p>Wrong and Duh.</p>
<p>“Try to be something that seperates you from people and be unique.” "Like only a few people create an AIDS awareness organizations. TONS of extracurriculars, " Ummmm. No. Great advice on being a poser, however.</p>
<p>"And try to find connections like Harvard alumni " Unless we’re doing a read through of “Legally Blond Part 3” No again.</p>
<p>Advice for you volleyballl: There are many denizens of CC. It’s an open forum. Check the backgrounds of various posters. Left click on the username and see their posting history. Easy to do.</p>
<p>@T26E4
Thanks a lot for your response! I will definitely be sure to take your advice. I do believe that RichelleMelad’s post was uninformed and very over the top, but I’m appreciative of anyone who takes the time to respond to my post. That being said, I’m trying to be very careful distinguishing advice that I should really listen to and advice I should just ignore. When I posted this I wanted advice from people who are applying/already attending Harvard, and although I appreciate the effort from RichelleMelad, I won’t be taking her response too close to heart.</p>
<p>To date, this link is my favorite explanation of how to approach the competitive college admissions process. Hopefully it can give you some guidance. </p>
<p>[Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions)</p>
<p>For some more specific advice, this series of questions and answers from William Fitzsimmons, the Harvard dean of admissions, may also be of some help.</p>
<p>[William</a> R. Fitzsimmons - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/author/william-r-fitzsimmons/]William”>William R. Fitzsimmons - The Choice Blog - The New York Times)</p>