Hi all, wanted to start a discussion thread for everybody applying to transfer to Harvard for Fall 2016!
This will be fun! I read the past few threads and it looks like we find out in a year :)) Best of luck to everyone! It’s a moonshot for me especially but you miss 100% of the shots you take, right?
*don’t
^ Lol
Some information so you don’t have to trawl the site
Fall 2015 Transfer - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1747447-harvard-transfer-fall-2015-p1.html
Fall 2014 Transfer - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1595839-official-harvard-fall-2014-transfer-discussion-thread.html
Fall 2013 All - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/681434-the-official-harvard-university-2013-decisions-thread.html (good guide for information posts if we share stats)
Fall 2012 Transfer - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1177902-official-harvard-2012-transfer-thread-p3.html
Fall 2011 Transfer - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1098136-official-harvard-2011-transfer-thread.html
Fall 2010 Transfer - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/882051-harvard-transfer-fall2010.html
Fall 2009 the Transfer program was suspended
Fall 2008 Transfer - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/300206-official-harvard-transfer-thread-p1.html
Fall 2008 Transfer #2- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/338669-harvard-transfer-thread.html
Harvard Transfer gives advice to another - http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/74181-advice-for-an-accepted-harvard-transfer.html
Guys, I am SO excited for this!!!
I’ll start:
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 680 M, 790 CR, 720 W (2090)
ACT: 30
SAT II: None
College GPA (out of 4.0): 3.55
Pursuing major/study: Political Science and History
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Student Ambassador, mentor in disadvantaged youth program, (founder) international relations discussion group.
Job/Work Experience: Editorial internship at a major news media organization past two summers, year long position as a contributor and lower level editor at the same organization. Also work for a political fact-checking company.
Volunteer/Community service: Co-founder of a grassroots group that has organized worker strikes and protests to (successfully) increase wages at multiple businesses in the metropolitan area (second largest in our state), prevented tuition increases in the area, etc. Volunteer organizer and trainer for local and state level political campaigns.
Summer Activities: See “job” and “volunteer work”
Essays: Great. Personal about my own struggles with how school and politics have negatively and positively affected my life.
Teacher Recommendation: One was amazing, one was good.
Additional Rec: Rec from Lead Editor at said news organization (amazing; alumni from Ivy) and from an adjunct professor at a top ten school I’ve known for a few years.
Interview: None
Other
School Type: Community College
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$65k
Hooks: Black, first generation American but my father has graduated from college. Failed out of my first college then enrolled in community college. I’m now an honors student (PTK) and completed my own independent research project which I’ll be presenting at a statewide conference.
Reflection
Strengths: Made clear my field of study (politics), how well-versed I was in it, and my clear academic need for transfer.
Weaknesses: The fact I failed my first two semesters of college. My GPA isn’t HIGH largely because of my job and community commity commitments. I have a weak ACT and “average” SAT because I haven’t retaken it since high school.
Glad to see there’s a section devoted to Harvard hopefuls! I wish everyone the best of luck!
Here are mine:
Concentration: Biochemistry
Current College:
Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO
GPA: 3.85
Extras: I am in the Honors Program & in Phi Theta Kappa; I was in the Chancellor’s list 3 times in a row
EC: Local Hospital ER, Convoy of Hope & Humane Society
Job: 1 full time as bilingual customer rep at a local bank & 1 part-time job as a bilingual tax associate in H&R block (I have worked full time for the past 3 years for 45+ hours/week plus 1 year of 65+ hours a week)
Summer Activities: full time job
Essays: I thought they were excellent. They had a twist to them, I used a theme throughout all my essays of the song “Defying gravity” in relation to my goals and incorporated the science of sound wavelengths in that song as a metaphor of my life and journey. The other essays were about why I had to take 2 years off after high school instead of going to college due to my immigrant status and the others were about very specific things I will do at Harvard.
Teacher Recommendation: Excellent. First one was from a chemistry teacher who loves me, she is like another Mom. The second one was amazing too from our Honors program director. He talked all about my struggles and determination and it ties up with my essays perfectly. They couldn’t be better.
High School:
Willard High in Willard, MO
GPA: 3.75
ACT: 25
I graduated with an honors diploma
EC: NHS, FBLA (Secretary), DECA, Science Club, Foreign Language Club
I won a couple of rewards and made it to state twice with FBLA and I won a couple of diplomas in French from MSSU at a competition with our foreign language club
Other
School Type: Community College
Ethnicity: Hispanic - born in Mexico
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: less than $50K
Hooks: Mexican, Immigrant, first generation college student, unique story
Reflection
Strengths: Essays (I told my story in a unique way, it is clear it is very personal), Teacher recommendations (They both said they had my back and they did amazingly), background (I have a unique story but instead of focusing on the bad, I wrote about it and put the real meaning on the lessons I learned and what I did to “defy gravity”, it was very empowering and determined; plus I was very specific on why I needed to transfer (included exact programs and you can draw a timeline with how specific I was).
Weaknesses: GPA isn’t perfect but I did take on 2 jobs in the last semesters in 5 credit classes. ACT score isn’t high but others things make up for it, not enough ECs (but the ones I have are meaningful and they have a story and a purpose, which I explained. So I really don’t think they should count as a weakness)
Overall, I didn’t plan this. One day (like 3 months ago) I woke up from a dream and I reflected on what I wanted and found out I wanted this. Everything I’ve done was not so I could get into Harvard, everything I’ve done is the most I could get out of the resources I had. That is why I feel I have a good chance, everything is purely honest and reflects me as a person.
Good luck to everyone 
So I missed the deadline to submit the writing supplement, but still uploaded all the questions on a word document through Harvard’s website. Laughed afterwards and realized I’m probably the first man down
Have you tried emailing them about it? When did you submit the email?
Submit it anyway to be honest. I know that people have applied late as freshmen/transfers and still made it in.
Woops also forgot, my intention is a dual concentration: government and history but you get the gist.
Anyways, seriously apply even if late. Nothing > Late > On time
If it’s a crapshoot for any of us then it really doesn’t matter.
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): None
ACT: 36 (35 English, 36 Math, 35 Reading, 36 Science)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Chinese w/ Listening, 790 Spanish w/ Listening, 780 Bio M, 770 Physics, 750 US History
College GPA (out of 4.0): 3.83, 4.0 on midterm report
Pursuing major/study: Statistics and Computer Science
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Head of Design for HackDartmouth, Dartmouth Chess Club, Dartmouth Quantitative Trading Team
Job/Work Experience: Youngest intern ever in Apple history, previous work experience at a few Stanford startups (one worth $500M+, one acquired by Google in 2014 for $500M). Currently developing a startup.
Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer as a cook at a local homeless shelter
Essays: Put a bunch of work into these. They’re great.
Teacher Recommendation: Both were amazing.
Interview: None
High School materials: Top math and science student in senior class, Nationally-recognized high school journalist (won the Pulitzer Prize equivalent for high school journalism), AIME Qualifier, National Merit Finalist (PSAT 240), National AP Scholar
Other
School Type: Dartmouth College, one of 8 top mathematics students awarded a prestigious mathematics scholarship
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: ~$170k
Hooks: Don’t think I have any
God you both are amazing, hope you both get in to be honest! Wish we all could!
@NovusCannis I hope you get in too, I think you have a great chance too, seriously!!. And yes I agree. I hope we could all get in!!!
Well thanks to being sick my midterms were crap since I missed some assignments :(( my grade will be fine next week but for the report its all As and 2 Cs :((
any way I clarify this to them?
^I would send an updated transcript or some statement from your professors.
Hi, does anyone know if Harvard accepts emailed mid-term reports?
I believe the mid-term report must be mailed to Harvard.
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): None
ACT: 25 Composite
SAT II: None
College GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Pursuing major/study: Current Major: Sociology/Speech Communication and interested in the Harvard Special Concentrations program for Community/Economic Development
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): PTK (Regional Officerr, Chapter Officer) Student Government (VP of Leadership Development), Debate Club, Toastmasters, Scholars Foundation, Campus Progressives, Presenter at 2 school research conferences, Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature official mock government session (Senator and Representative)
Job/Work Experience: Freelance writer (current), Shift manager at Pizza Hut
Volunteer/Community service: Co-Chair and briefly Chair of the Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign in my district (the only district with counties that won in my state, but admissions doesn’t know that); former State Director of Wolf-PAC, developer of a collaborative symposium for 12+ organizations and 44+ individuals in my region concerned with local agriculture.
Essays: Good essays. I focused a lot on how I got where I am, how I got the passion I have and what I plan to do with that passion. I feel that I come across very focused, energetic about my field, well-thought out and prepared with a plan.
Teacher Recommendation: Both excellent
Additional Rec: None
Interview: None
Significant Awards/Recognitions:
TN All-Academic Team
New Century Scholar
Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship semi-finalist
5th Place Outstanding Speaker at Debate Tournament
3rd Place Debate Team
Other
School Type: Community College, graduating this Spring
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: <$20k per year
Hooks: Low-income, high school drop-out (is this what we mean by hooks? lol)
Reflection:
Strengths: I probably come across as very focused, sure of my goals and sure of my academic path at Harvard should I be admitted. I have a strong resume and standing with my school and that will show in my letters of rec. I have an unusual background primarily effected by social/economic circumstances, which may be a plus?? Maybe? I went for that spin. I dropped out of high school, but it was with the support of my father, mother and guidance counselor. I demonstrated a period of independent research where I wanted to figure out my passion before going back to school. I tied my influential book very well into my academic/professional goals.
Weaknesses:
ACT, ACT, ACT. Almost no one gets admitted with a 25 lol. I did explain that I took that test in 2011 right before dropping out of high school. By the time I realized I should retake it, it was already too late. I requested that they consider my current college transcript, with a 4.0 GPA, my resume and the evidence of my recommendations to evaluate my academic ability. We’ll see how that goes, I hear a lot of admissions boards are moving away from emphasizing standardized tests, but that may be my pipe dream.