Harvard supplement problems

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>So I completed reading book that includes successful Harvard admission essays - only number of them seem to say something about academics , most of them seems like recollections of random events not really having to do anything with university. </p>

<p>The point is that in British system, we write a personal statement where we actually say why do we want to do the course, why are we good to do it and so on. </p>

<p>But here I do not really understand how my supplement should look, what should I say?</p>

<p>Anyone willing to demystify this process?</p>

2

<p>Throw away that book! No student is admitted BECAUSE of their essay. Essays help fill-out the rest of an application, but every essay in that book also had a guidance counselor and two teachers recommendations – all of them I imagine were stellar. And those recommendations probably swayed the Admission Committee more than their essays!</p>

<p>Many students are accepted to Harvard without submitting a supplemental essay. Harvard’s directions are actually very clear:</p>

<p>Occasionally, students feel the college application forms do not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. If you wish to include an additional essay, you may do so. </p>

<p>Possible topics
– Unusual circumstances in your life
– Travel or living experience in other countries
– Books that have affected you the most
– An academic experience (course, project, paper or research topic) that has meant the most to you
– A list of books you have read during the past twelve months</p>

<p>For what it’s worth, both of my kids submitted their supplemental essay for Yale to Harvard. Yale’s supplemental instructions: </p>

<p>“You have already told us about yourself in the Common Application, with its list of activities, Short Answer, and Personal Essay. In this required second essay, tell us something that you would like us to know about you that we might not get from the rest of your application – or something that you would like a chance to say more about. Please limit your essayto fewer than 500 words.”</p>

<p>Yale has some great advice on their website about writing essays for the Common App personal statement. The same advice would apply to Harvard: <a href=“Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions;

3

<p>thank you so much!</p>