I am currently a junior in high school, and I have a huge interest in coding. Since the 6th grade, I have worked on many programs, websites, and tools. One of my websites has over five million views, and it runs on a platform that I developed from scratch — the platform itself involves ~2,000-3,000 lines of code. Last year, I also helped improve my school’s website. What else can I do to demonstrate my interest? Are there any notable activities, internships, awards, competitions, or clubs that I can participate in?
I am ultimately aiming for Harvard. Also, does having a YouTube channel count as a “notable” extracurricular? I have over 13,000 subscribers and 1 million views. However, it is a gaming channel that revolves around MMOs for children. I started making videos in the 5th grade, and this activity has stuck with me ever since. I am worried because I feel like the genre of my YouTube channel would turn off admissions officers.
i think you’ve already done a lot. maybe join your schools comp sci/coding/stem club if one like that exists, or participate in a coding contest. i’m sure you can find an internship if you look hard enough, maybe you could work at summer camp/summer school and teach kids about coding or something like that. i think your channel could definitely work in your favor, i don’t think it’ll be a big deal if you disclose the genre since that just shows your interest for computers more, as well as gives a more accurate picture as to who you are. I doubt a harvard adcom will look at it and be like “an mmo channel? nerd!”
Why – because of Harvard’s prestige? Based upon what you wrote, it doesn’t sound like you would be very happy with what Harvard’s CS department actually teaches.
If you compare the Computer Science courses offered at various colleges, you’ll begin to understand what each CS department values and hopefully will grasp what each Admissions office looks for in an applicant. For example, besides the basics, Stanford, Brown, and Carnegie Mellon offer courses such as Computer Game Programming, Mobile and Pervasive Computing, 3D Computer Animation, Virtual Reality Design, 3D Game Engine Development, iPhone and iPad Application Programming, Apple Watch and TV Programming, Content Creation in Virtual Reality, General Game Playing, and 3D Computer Vision.
However, if you go to Harvard’s CS Department, you will find none of those types of courses. That’s because Harvard’s department is very classically oriented, they teach the nuts and bolts of computer programing and compiling but do not offer “creative” courses such as the other departments. IMHO Stanford, Brown, and Carnegie Mellon would better appreciate all of your accomplishments, whereas Harvard might just yawn and say “Well, that’s nice, but we don’t offer anything this young man is interested in.”
@gibby In that case, do you think my extracurriculars may actually harm my chances of getting into Harvard? I am really intrigued by the impact Harvard alumni have left on technology, and my cousin goes there as well. Also, I am not certain about whether I will go down the medical or technology route. My extracurriculars, however, definitely point me towards the latter option.
No, but your gaming applications and youtube channel are not going to “wow” Harvard, as much as they would Stanford et al. But, if you indicate a co-interest of medicine/technology that might broaden your appeal, as Admissions Offices everywhere understand that more than 60% of college students switch their major from the one they indicated on the Common Application. So, an Admissions office (be it Harvard or another college) might think “Well, if he gets bored with what our CS Department is teaching, he could always switch to medicine and be happy.”
Keep in mind that Admissions Offices don’t want to set a student up for failure or disappointment. So if a student indicates on the Common Application that they are interested in business, for example, Harvard Admissions is going to think “Great, but we don’t offer a degree in business, so this student might not be as happy with what we offer here.” Ditto with someone solely interested in gaming, youtube, web design etc.
@gibby That is reassuring. In that case, however, should I begin to participate in ECs that demonstrate my interest in medicine, or should I continue to hammer down my computer ECs? In other words, would it be alright if I have a bunch of computer-related ECs, but then simply indicate a co-interest of medicine/technology?
A little off topic, but relates to the whole “medicine ECs” thing: I was recently invited to some medicine Congress (cannot recall the name), but it costs $1,500. Do prestigious universities frown upon students who participate in expensive summer programs?
^^ Agreed. IMHO, you would be better off finding a doctor in your town who would let you shadow him once a week during the summer. And then spend the rest of the summer working, which is something all colleges value: http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/work/
My son had Harvard on his list even though he planned to be a CS major. As a legacy and stellar student we thought it might still be better to go there than his safety schools. My son had some similar activities listed (an award from Gaming Magazine for modding Civ 4 for example), but he’d also worked with a company that put together websites and databases for the Oxford English Dictionary and the World Health Organization. He was able to add outside recommendations that could verify his accomplishments.
If you are interested in medicine, by all means explore it now. I don’t think most of those paid conferences are really that useful from an admissions point of view, but I’ve heard from enough students who nevertheless found them valuable personal experiences. If you have money and time by all means do it, but I agree there are other less costly ways to get experience.
And a real job is always a good thing. Can you find something in CS?