Harvard Class of 2021 RD Thread

@Crystalline-asa does being international count?

@Crystalline-asa Me, but because my school is Early College and doesn’t offer it. Though I did replace me the AP’s with dual enrollment at the college. I’m currently in Calculus 3 and its a pain:0

Note that they don’t really care much if you’ve taken AP or not. They just wanna see that you took the most challenging courses offered at your school.

@Crystalline-asa I’ve never taken an AP class as the classes from least to most rigorous at my school go regular, college prep, honors. I’ve taken 14 honors classes, though, and have taken a couple AP tests.

IB Diploma representttttttt. Any diploma kids out there?

Yup …Just had a practice paper 1 for English Lit today…already dying and it’s not even May yet.

6 days left!! Nervous af

If you’re an Asian male, you basically have to win a gold medal in some STEM subject to have any chance

@JuicyMango Are you Asian? You sound somewhat bitter. I agree with you though.

@PinkQuetzal9 Not exactly Asian, but I guess in college admissions I’m in that category. I’m not bitter, just being honest. That’s just how competitive Harvard is. The type of Asians that apply are crazy :p.

@JuicyMango

Huge misconception. That is not how admission works.

@hhjjlala, please do tell us “how admission works”.

Does an AO check facebook profiles of applicants by any chance?

@paneerchilli I doubt they have the time

@HYPSPlease

If you actually researched how admissions works, you wouldn’t be here with a patronizing tone telling me to teach you how the admissions process works.

I’m sorry you can’t simply Google search “how college admissions works,” look at some videos put out by Khan Academy, former college admissions officers, and behind-the-scenes looks inside the admission decision room. I’m truly sorry you are incapable of understanding how admissions works by being on an admissions advice website that you have probably been on for the past three months since December.

@hhjjlala, yep, I expected this kind of answer from you.

@paneerchilli, not sure about Facebook, but they did look at my web site. I can tell from Google Analytics.

@hhjjlala I’m obviously exaggerating, but at the end of the day, no one can deny that it has gotten near impossible for an Asian male to get into Harvard without some VERY significant achievement. It’s just the truth. Better to face that reality now than on the 30th. That’s why I’m prepared for an unfavorable decision, but that’s nothing I can control. I’m glad I at least tried.

It’s nearly impossible for anyone (save legacies, recruited athletes and developmental cases) to get into Harvard. Let’s just say that it’s even harder for Asians (however unfortunate that may be).

@HYPSPlease

I honestly don’t know why I should take the time to explain this entire process to you, but take it as a random act of kindness because you do need some serious help. First, let me google it for you:

MODERATOR’S NOTE: Link deleted - not allowed.

1: Your application is submitted

The college admissions office downloads your transcript, recommendation letters, Common Application, and a supplement, if it has one.

2: Your application is compiled

Your application is compiled with the SAT score, ACT score, SAT Subject Test scores, and any other supplemental information like a Slideroom supplement into one manila folder. It includes information like where you go to school, where you live, whether or not you have legacy, etc.

3: Your application is read

Your application is read by two admissions officers who read separately. They have three options to suggest: admit, deny, or waitlist/defer. If the two suggestions do not match, a third admissions officer of a higher position reads the application and makes the deciding call. If you do not receive the admit/waitlist/defer suggestions, your application does not make it to committee. Your application then is forwarded to small committees, which review applications. Admissions officers discuss to see if you’re an interesting person, looking over small details in recommendation letters. They see if you’re a kind person, a determined person, an ambitious person, or a flowerly person through your personal statement and supplement answers. If your standardized test scores, GPA, and course rigor are acceptable, these small things which describe you as a person are what is discussed in committee. Will this person fit in on our campus? Will this person be a good roommate? Will this person contribute to our community? While colleges are academic institutions and your grades are of the utmost importance, most applicants have near perfect grades / test scores, so these factors are what basically tip the scale in your favor.

4: Your application reaches full committee

After being evaluated, your application reaches full committee if the small committee members vote to forward your application to full committee. You may pass small committee, but fail to attract members in the full committee. The admissions officer who read your application, and liked you enough to get you to full committee makes their case to admit you. There, a discussion takes place to admit you or not, or even waitlist/defer. All admissions decisions are final, so they take the time to deliberate.

5: You receive your application decision

After being considered through a rigorous process, your application is again sent to the fileroom with designations: admit, deny, waitlist/defer. Admissions offices start packaging acceptance packages and letters, and on decision day, you see if you were offered admission online/by mail.

There is the gist of the process. It is highly subjective, so ANYTHING could make your application attractive. Did you overcome all odds as an underrepresented minority with low income and succeed academically? Did you dedicate your time and effort in the extracurricular you said you’re passionate about? Did you come across as a kind person? Sure, awards might help, but WHO YOU ARE is WHAT GETS YOU IN.

GENERAL TIPS:

1: Admissions officers have repeatedly said standardized test scores do not matter in the admissions process.

They have said time and time again that they look at the test scores for five seconds to see if you’re within their range. They move on to the subjective aspects very quickly. However, your subject test scores may tell something different. If, for example, you had a C in AP US History, yet got a 760 on your SAT US History Subject Test, this may tell admissions officers that your work ethic might be lacking. Furthermore, if you say you’re a determined person in your personal statement, that may be a red flag. While an applicant might have five hundred awards from the International Science Fair, they don’t matter if the person doing them might not have the work ethic or passion or dedication. Admissions officers know these aren’t the types of people that succeed in the world. These people did the science fairs just for the sake of the admissions process, and they can detect that. Just because you have awards doesn’t mean you get in, and just because you don’t have awards doesn’t mean you aren’t accepted.

2: Admissions officers have said the process is HIGHLY subjective.

Unfortunately, admissions officers aren’t perfect. They might be having a bad day when they read your application, or they might’ve been sick for the past two weeks. As a result, some things may fall through the cracks.

3: There is no one factor that guarantees admission.

Your application as a WHOLE is evaluated (literal definition of “holistic admissions”). As a result, they don’t compare applicants to each other. They don’t say: admit the Hispanic-American over the Chinese-American. The only reason URM status matters is because most URMs are poor. The reason they are admitted is because they succeeded academically without the resources that most mid-to-upper class Americans have (i.e. SAT tutoring, mom who drives kid to school and after school activities every day, etc.) They take everything into consideration, and an award takes up very little of that entire application.

4: No racial quotas, no geographical quotas, no school quotas, NO QUOTAS PERIOD.

Yes, colleges want geographical diversity. Yes, colleges want racial diversity. Yes, colleges want economic diversity. HOWEVER, if you come across as a sincere, kind, loving, smart person, you will be admitted. If your essays are genuine, and they demonstrate your passion for several activities you have pursued over four years, you will be admitted. Awards help demonstrate that passion, but awards are not considered on their own merits.

5: Admissions officers have repeatedly said they could fill their classes with geniuses.

There are enough kids that make 2400/36/ISEF/World whatevers to fill their classes. Yet, they don’t. Why? Because they do everything I have outlined so far. Like I said, just because you have a bunch of awards doesn’t mean you’re a good person. Sure, 2400/36/ISEF/World whatevers is a HUGE pull factor. However, if you don’t have the passion. If you don’t have the dedication. If you don’t have what it takes to succeed in the world… admissions officers would rather take the 2250 Hispanic-American who actually tried and put in dedication and passion than the 2400 who accomplished everything, probably will be patronizing towards professors, and who doesn’t have personality.

I hope the thirty minutes I spent on this post trying to educate you on the college admissions process, which you could easily research on this website alone, will help you not have a condescending tone towards others.

@JuicyMango

Yes, Asian-Americans are smart. Above, I hope I outlined that stats aren’t the only thing that matter. There is no support to back up the statement that Asian-Americans have to have some significant accomplishment to get into Harvard. I know someone from my school district who was admitted to the Harvard Class of 2019 with a likely letter (Asian). He had a 2120 SAT, but he had passion. Admissions officers saw that through the recommendation letters and the essays. If you search Tylersunami / Su At Su on Youtube, you will find she, as an Asian-American, entered Stanford’s Class of 2020 with a 2130 SAT with no significant awards. Stats are not all that matter. I deny your statement.

MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Please move on from hypothesizing how Harvard admissions works. Unless you work in admissions you don’t know. Regardless, it’s not the purpose of this thread.