<p>I was curious if what I intend to write in my Harvard essay and include in Common App. can be seen as vivid and unique life experience. Basically, what happened, is that I played online poker since I was 15, won over 100'000$ with it.(over 20 months). Payed for my school which is quite expensive (15'000$ a year). Helped my family income. Should I even mention poker? It is legal in our country from 18+, however, I feel I should somehow include my accomplishment. What do you think?</p>
<p>Oh, and my income was steady and balanced, not that I won a lottery. Also, I can prove the numbers using graphs.</p>
<p>Telling Harvard that you broke the law in order to make money seems like a bad idea.</p>
<p>Yeah sounds pretty awesome… Would make a good essay imo.</p>
<p>Only problem - 99% sure that it is illegal… Not sure how that would go down.</p>
<p>My only intention for this was to pay for my school what my dad was not able to keep doing…</p>
<p>Are there any ways to somehow include the fact I earned over 100’000 but do not make it illegal?</p>
<p>dang…that’s an interesting dilemma. maybe you should reword it differently? or make it a similar scenario BUT in a legal form? O_o i wouldn’t advise that you mention any illegal activity, even when income situation is bad</p>
<p>I think you should do it. Tread lightly with your wording - and don’t avoid the fact that it is illegal (if it is…). Perhaps mention that you began with poker because you felt that you needed the money for your education, but now that you have succeeded both in poker and as a student, you realize that you have the potential to drop poker and still make a living - especially if you have a college degree from a strong institution like Harvard.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Unless you’re applying to Harvard Business.</p>
<p>No, that was sarcasm. :P</p>
<p>I have been thinking about this for a while now; I think that this is a make or break item. It could either get you immediately rejected, or hugely boost your app. If you think that you do not have much of a chance then include it - you may as well risk it. If you think that without you stand a good chance, then probably don’t.</p>
<p>An essay is not necessarily a make or break. If everything else is exemplary, a bad essay will not send you out the door. Ignoring the legitimacy of your activity, I still fail to see how this can make a compelling essay. Unless you spent the majority of the essay talking about how this event changed you or helped you understand who you are, simply writing about winning $100,000 to pay for your education is not enough. It seems to paint you as a material-oriented person, and that could be detrimental to your app. Of course, I could be wrong.</p>
<p>How 21 of you.</p>
<p>Current junior?</p>
<p>Technically, yes. So, whats with it?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Then I don’t see the problem.</p>
<p>I will be 18 by the time I will apply, would you think it is not a big deal that I will be writing that I won the money while 18, not 15-16? Would it still be seen as a major accomplishment? I think by the time I will turn 18, it will be a lot more than what I have already made. Should I try to explain I won it over 4 months period(From my 18th birthday to app deadline) It won’t give much sense, would it?</p>
<p>^ Setting your essay at a false point in time would be risky. If your essay does not jive with the other components of your application, you will set off red flags.</p>
<p>As for if this topic making a good essay, it depends more on what you do with the topic in your essay than the essay itself. It could make a great essay or a lousy one. That all depends on your writing skills.</p>
<p>As for if this topic is smart, the point is that it was illegal while you were doing it and, though you were “helping your family”, you chose to do this illegal behavior. Admissions may feel that if you were willing to do one illegal thing, you may be more willing to involve yourself in other illegal activities while at their school. All it takes is one Ad Com to be offended and you will not be accepted.</p>
<p>So let me rephrase the questions you’ve asked on this forum . . . </p>
<p>(1) Is it OK if I write my Harvard essay on how I illegally won $100,000? It’s a major accomplishment in my life, and I really needed the money.</p>
<p>(2) Is it OK if I lie in my essay to Harvard, making it seem like my illegal activity was actually legal?</p>
<p>Seriously? If I were an adcom and I read the first essay you proposed, I’d think you where the sort of person who would do “whatever it takes” to get ahead, including cheating, lying, etc. Not the sort of person I’d want at Harvard.</p>
<p>And if you get caught doing the second essay . . . well, that doesn’t end well either.</p>
<p>He didn’t hurt anyone. He did not cheat. He maybe lied when he said he was 18 but again, that caused no harm (except to the bank balances of those he played against…)</p>
<p>He did not do “whatever it takes”.</p>
<p>Whatever it takes is drug dealing, stealing and serious crime.</p>
<p>He pitted his wits, willingly and with full acknowledgement of the risks (at least that is what he should say in his app…) against others in the same position and won. He did not do this to “get ahead”. He did it to stay in school.</p>
<p>OP, well played…</p>
<p>BTW what was the original deposit. I assume fairly small ( > 100)? That will make a huge difference to how the essay appears.</p>
<p>My initial deposit was only 50$, it took me about 8 months to spin it to about 2000$, then I was winning steadily. No tournaments, meaning my income didńt come in 1 day. Right now averaging about 10’000$+/month(80-100hours). My main question is, how can I make it work hugely in my favor? How can it affect my chances if “explained” properly? Thanks.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It was illegal, though. This is analogous to an American applicant writing of how regularly taking illicit drugs during high school allowed him or her to write lots of creative songs, which end up being very commercially popular. Does the magnitude of the accomplishment justify the risk of the explanation?</p>