‘Arrogance.’ ‘Small-Town Insecurity.’ Here's Why Harvard Hesitates to Accept Some Applicants

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
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“When Megan Turner asked her high school teacher for help applying to Harvard, she hoped for a glowing letter of recommendation. What she got was a ‘negative’ essay referencing her ‘"small-town’ insecurity”’ that nearly sank her candidacy.” …

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2018/10/24/why-harvard-hits-pause/

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My guess is that a negative LOR and negative essays would be fatal to the vast majority of Harvard applicants no matter what kind of stats they have. “Megan Turner’s” ace in the hole was being half Native American.