How much does Eagle Scout weigh
Typically, 145 pounds.
As far as importance, it’s the same as any other strong EC
@havesomeheart , @bruhinterviewme , any updates from you? None from my side. I have convinced myself and my DD that if we don’t get interview notice by EOD, it’s time to move on. On the bright side, there will be no stress while results come out. 
Good luck to everyone else! I wish you all the best in your future.
If you win an award at Intel ISEF, how does that rate as far as other ECs?
@Amyd19 I would advise you and your DD to not lose hope quite yet! Harvard is known for for giving out late interviews
@AnnaNura , that’s nice of you to say! I wish you best of luck to get in to your dream school!
I didn’t get an interview either but other people in my area did so I am sure I got rejected. That’s OK, time to move on for me!
@Ny14337 I’m wondering about the same. Is Intel ISEF considered academic or extracurricular? It seems to be more academic, but also took a lot of extracurricular time to do the research (unless that research was part of your parents’ or their colleagues’).
@cmc1999 so actually Harvard admissions officers have told interviewers that there are ~400 of the class that have strong spikes and then the rest would be considered “well rounded” (ex-all edge cases around RA/legacy I’m guessing) interestingly enough. I also thought it’d be much higher as a mix of “spikes” but apparently that’s not the case.
In general, EC. If it’s not a graded course, it’s not academic. Some things can be double counted. e.g. some schools may offer a credit course for orchestra, but there might also be a performance aspect outside the school day. Not that how something is categorized makes a big difference.
@Ny14337 I believe ISEF Award is a spike and gives you pretty signifncant boost
Did anybody see unusual uploads in your portal as academic work? My daughter’s counselor sent her fall term grades per regional AO request. The grades were uploaded as academic work. Two days later there is another upload saying academic work. Called admission office. The lady said it’s internal in and out documents we don’t need to worry about. Is it common?
@hgrad2010 what would Harvard see as a strong spike?
Further to @hgrad2010 post #628, I have always thought the emphasis in “spike” was overblown and a product of consultants trying to market their services. It is easier to sell, “you need a spike and I can help you create/highlight one”. They create a tangible deliverable and something that makes them sound like they know the secret sauce. No question to be a successful HYPS (or other super selective) applicant you need to have and demonstrate top academics and accomplishments outside of academics, but you don’t have to be some international or nationally recognized XYZ. In fact, I suspect that if you come off as one dimensional and you are not at the tippy top of that spike, you are worse off than the more rounded applicant who has stood out in multiple areas.
@esc2023 I agree too. There are 22 Best of Category prizes ($5,000 each) plus 3 grand prizes at Intel ISEF this year.
@skieurope , any comments on my post #631? Thank you so much!
I’ve read the bios of so many Harvard admits. The non-hooked students all have the grades AND. The “AND” being the “best” at something Nationally ranked Chess/Irish Step Dancer/published writer/French Horn etc. Straight good grades plus NHS isn’t usually what they are. Just my .02
^ i agree but this isn’t that surprising. harvard has thousands of academically excellent applicants, so obviously there has to be something to differentiate an admitted student from all the rest. but i think this also could be really great essays and recs, rather than just some huge international EC or award
@foolgirl I think that sounds like a positive to me! It sounds like you are still in the running for sure…what area of the country are you?
Just wondering, how strong of a spike is presenting at the American Junior Academy of Sciences? About 150 people are selected to present at the national conference each year