Sorry. I focused on Harvard as that was the conversation I had with an admissions officer, which is why I only commented on Harvard’s hollistic process.
@Euclid314 I don’t think I have a hook, I’m an asian guy with no legacy, etc. This summer I went here: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2018/may/top-20-high-school-students-compete-for-spot-on-us-chemistry-olympiad-team.html
and I’m also doing a free summer math camp at a local university taking linalg and nt. Sorry if I misinterpreted your question. My other data is pretty boring, good stats and grades. Some random ECs. Stuff that won’t keep me out, but won’t get me in.
@collegedad13 Yeah, I was just using kids who do well on Putnam as the type of kids Harvard’s math department is geared at? Just a possible explanation for (true or not true, I have no )
Harvard Math is not per se geared at kids who could do well on the Putnam exam.
A dream is something that readily converts into fruitful accomplishments later in life. Being a doctor, lawyer, etc meets that criteria. A college is just a tool used to achieve it. It’s really no more a dream than driving a Chevy to work. No one goes to job training because training is just so awesome…they go to job training because they need to develop skills to get better at a certain job. What I would suggest is doing some searching to find out what your interests and goals are. THEN see what school fits. You’re the one choosing the school, not them.