<p>I hate to diminish anyone's accomplishments; this is not my intention at all, but do any people get into Harvard who haven't done something incredible? I mean if you have a unique essay with solid academics (say sats 1400ish) and good but not out of this world ec's, then can you still get in? Are there any out there on this board you have gotten into harvard but weren't the next albert einsteins or something like that?</p>
<p>I like to think I'm pretty normal. The world does not produce 2,040 future Einsteins every year (although Harvard does a pretty good job of finding the few that are out there). SATs and ECs determine your odds, not your destiny. All you can do is give it a shot.</p>
<p>no, to the best of my knowledge, harvard a strict policy against normal people</p>
<p>a joke I hope :)</p>
<p>What is normal?</p>
<p>i wasnt sure either but i looked it up in a dictionary and normal means:</p>
<p>-something that isnt remarkable in any way</p>
<p>why would harvard want people like that?</p>
<p>No they wouldn't. So I guess normal don't get into Harvard.</p>
<p>That being said 1400+ SAT and good grades is not normal at all. I wouldn't say that scoring in the top 5% of test takers is a "normal" thing.</p>
<p>with all due respect, hanna was hardly a "normal" applicant.</p>
<p>Spyder, you're a complete douche-bag. I hope you're already enrolled somewhere and are just getting some pathetic joy out of screwing with applicants, because I go to Harvard and I don't want to see your arrogant, socially-inept ass walking around Cambridge.</p>
<p>To be honest, you're the kind of person I would really want to see suffer in some way. Nothing quick, but something long and agonizing that would force you to realize that it was your own pompous attitude that caused your pain.</p>
<p>In fact, I registered on this site with the sole intent of telling you just how big of a tool you really are. Seriously dude, I should be studying for a midterm but I just felt so compelled to insult you I couldn't help myself.</p>
<p>So yeah...if you want to be a prick that's your business, but don't inflict yourself on innocent people. Just read your comic books and play with your glow-in-the-dark light saber and do your best to pretend you have friends.</p>
<p>Twat.</p>
<p>woah, just woah...</p>
<p>sorry to disappoint but i am applying to harvard and you probably will see my arrogant self chilling in the quad</p>
<p>im not exactly sure what spawned this sudden rush of hate but i really have to take issue with part of it. what makes you say i have no friends?? thats hurts man. i mean call me gay, call me a douche-bag, call me a slacker, call me a bum, call me a prick, call me the dirtiest words you can think of, but socially inept? that cuts to the bone.</p>
<p>i do read comic books, but when i was a kid my parents wouldnt buy me the glow in the dark darth maul ligthsaber, i threw one hell of a temper tantrum over that...</p>
<p>but jesus, its kinda surprising that you hate me so much...</p>
<p>rightsaidfred-</p>
<p>You're a total douche bag. </p>
<p>spydertennis is absolutely right, why the hell would Harvard want people that are normal i.e. that aren't remarkable in any way???</p>
<p>wow, not to ruin an incredibly important debate, but this is hilarious :D</p>
<p>i think people are confounding two different definitions of "normal" here. deadhead's definitions is
[quote]
who haven't done something incredible?
[/quote]
and
[quote]
weren't the next albert einsteins or something like that
[/quote]
Yeah, plenty of people get in who aren't geniuses, or didn't do something incredible, but they have many other things going for them (ie. leadership). As far as spyder's dictionary definition of "normal," he is correct in saying that Harvard doesn't take people who don't stand out in something or aren't remarkable. After all, the cream of the crop only get in, and I'm confident each acceptee is amazing in some way.</p>
<p>Social_Pariah, that's not true. What about Developmental cases? Many of them aren't extrordinary except for the fact that they have some money to give the school. </p>
<p>I see what you mean, though. All of us middle-classers and poor people have to be exraordinary people to get in.</p>
<p>Developmental cases, and any other special cases, fall under the category of "have many other things going for them"</p>
<p>No, but it is their advantage. Developmental means their parents have something going for them (success and money). The one applying doesn't have to be extraordinary, just roll off their parent's success. Perhaps we just see differently. </p>
<p>Other special cases (URM, econ-disadvantage, athletes) have things going for them without the help of their parents (except Legacies, which would be a bit more near developmental cases.)</p>
<p>"No, but it is their advantage. Developmental means their parents have something going for them (success and money). The one applying doesn't have to be extraordinary, just roll off their parent's success. Perhaps we just see differently."</p>
<p>I don't necessarily think it's quite that clear-cut. I have friends who were TALENTED development cases that didn't get in. </p>
<p>As far as there being "normal" people here, it depends on how you define normal. Not everyone has SAT scores in the stratosphere, nor has everyone achieved international or even national acclaim; these seem to be the standards Harvard students are held against, and in that case, there are quite a few "normal" people here. </p>
<p>But Social_Pariah is right in saying that everyone has something going for them--a talent, a personal trait, an ability to overcome adversity of some sort, and just good old fashioned quirkiness--and in that sense, no, no one is "normal." It all depends on how you look at it.</p>
<p>The good thing is that most people don't flaunt their talents. I can't tell you how many times I've hung out with people, or even become close friends with them, only to later find out that they're an internationally ranked debater (like my roommate) or that they professionally design and sell clothing, or that they're taking Math 55 and PASSING, or some other weird/incredible talent. But there are people who are just all-around amazing, hard-working people who didn't need to cure cancer to get here.</p>
<p>Yale does.</p>