General Advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

Hi guys! This is my first post, but I’ve looked at CollegeConfidential long enough to get the general gist of it.

I was hoping for some general advice that anyone could give for a high school sophomore looking at Harvard. I’m not a valedictorian, my last name isn’t Bush or Kennedy, and I haven’t cured cancer (yet), but I’d like to think I have a shot at getting into this incredible school. Every year a couple people from my school get in, including my older sister a couple years ago.

Right now, I go to a small high school in suburban Massachusetts, and I have about a 4.1 GPA (Weighted out of 4.5)
I took the PSAT already and scored a 1480, geting a full 760 on math, but only a 720 on English.
I took the Bio SAT in my freshman year, and scored an 800.
In school, I’m taking all honors classes, and I’m doing sophomore precalculus
EC’s:
Newspaper Staff Writer
Junior States of America Vice President (Basically debate)
Mock Trial Member
Model United Nations Member
Cross Country JV Runner
Spring Track Runner
Hospital Volunteer
Violinist (I’ve been doing it for 6 years, and I’m a first violin in my school orchestra)
Creative Writing Club member

Thanks so much for the help!

2

MIT has some great advice which also is applicable to HYPS: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

3

“Applying sideways” means not doing things because you want to get into a school.

That essay mentions doing well in school, trying to be a nice person, and following some sort of intense interest.

As a sophomore, it is a little early to be thinking about college so I hope you are enjoying high school.

As your interests develop, try to do a few things outside of school, or in the summer, that help you grow.