<p>hey guys i just happened to stumble upon this forum and i have a whole range of unanswered questions
im from Australia and currently in yr 11, next year my HSC (for school leavers commences) and i've been trying so hard to find a uni that i think is suitable. Harvard has been my dream uni ever since i was just a little girl but i dont know how to achieve my seemingly impossible goal.
how do overseas students apply for a spot in 2011 or 2012? do i need to undertake SATS-if so, how do i apply to take the SATS and does it involve specified areas of study or only general knowledge? what qualifications do i need? debating skills?? are extra curricular activities valued highly?
these are just some of the basic questions that makes me frown...
i would like to undertake either law or business in the Harvard school but i realise the capability and competitiveness of my peers from around the globe. how can i stand out from the rest? do scores matter? i am promising on academic aspects but i am certain it takes a lot more to be accepted into an Ivy League school
haha sounds corny-- help needed to fulfill this harvard dream</p>
<p>Okay, let’s take this one question at a time.
how do overseas students apply for a spot in 2011 or 2012? First of all, you can’t apply for the class of 2011 or 2012, they applied two or three years ago. Now if you want to apply in the year 2010, so that you can matriculate in 2011, then that’s perfectly okay. To take the SATS: visit Collegeboard.com and click ‘students’ on the front page. It should list information on how students living overseas can take the SAT. The SAT is a general knowledge test that covers Critical Reading (reading and vocabulary), Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and simple probability), and Writing (one essay, and sentence correction/paragraph correction). Apart from the essay, it is all multiple choice. You should also plan to take 2 or 3 SAT IIs (subject tests) in some specific subject areas. I took US History, Mathematics II, Physics and Chemistry. These are specific tests, and slightly harder than the SAT I tests. They are also all multiple choice. As for qualifications, this varies. Harvard applicants are for the most part extremely intelligent. You want to have an excellent GPA/grades/be at or near the top of your class. Obviously, your SAT scores need to be very good (2250+). However, even this will not automatically qualify you. Harvard is exclusive, and for internationals, it is even harder to be accepted. You need to show a passion for certain extracurriculars. You mentioned debate - you need to prove that you are a skillful debater (have you won any tournaments? are you nationally ranked?). Even then, you should want to explain, through your essays, how debate/another extracurricular has helped you in life. Extracurriculars are valued extremely highly, because 90% of everyone who applies to Harvard have GPAs that are 3.8+ and SATs that are 2250+, and 2 SAT IIs that are 700+. It’s basically a given. However, the extracurriculars can make you stand out if you are really good.</p>
<p>You also need to consider the application essay. I know I’ve mentioned it a little bit, but the essay is hugely important. It’s the one chance for colleges to see who you are through your writing. I didn’t get into Harvard (Waitlist), but I got into Princeton, and I think that part of the reason is because Princeton asked for an essay that Harvard didn’t ask for, and that essay that I wrote happened to be my best one. I can PM you the essay if you want an example of a good/reasonable one. </p>
<p>You need to start looking for teachers at your school who would be willing to write your teacher recommendations. Admissions Officers say these are really important. In general, one should be a math/science teacher, the other one should be a humanities teacher. You want a teacher who you are really close with and who will be able to write a stellar, personalized recommendation. “This is a very talented student” is not good enough. They have to be able to provide specific examples of your talent and excellence and explain how you stand out from the rest and really convince the admissions office that you are the best student they’ve ever written a rec for.</p>
<p>If you are in an IB school, you are at an advantage. Colleges love IB, because it is challenging and stuff. Make sure you prepare hard for IB tests though, because most people who apply to harvard probably make all 6s and 7s on their IB tests. If you are at a British school and are doing A-Levels right now, that’s also really good. But you really need to make all As or A*s on the A-Levels.</p>
<p>The common app online (commonapp.org) has all the necessary information you need to fill out for many colleges (including Harvard, Duke, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Cornell) so if you go there, you can start looking at all the requirements. Also check out college’s websites to see exactly what they want. Collegeboard.com also does college profiles that you can read to get more information on specific colleges. Make sure that you apply to more than just one school. At harvard, only 7-8% of people were accepted this year, and for international students, the number is even lower. So you probably want to apply to more schools just for safety in case Harvard doesn’t accept you.</p>
<p>By the way, if you are applying for undergrad (which it seems you are), then there is no Harvard Law or Buisness for you yet. It’s just Harvard College. It’s only after you get your undergradutate degree that you can apply for grad school where then you can go to Harvard Law/Business/Med or whatever.</p>
<p>Above all, remember that undergraduate is just one step in life and that even if you don’t get in, there are other schools. Plus, if you launch a successful undergrad campaign, you can always apply to harvard for grad school.</p>
<p>I just want to correct one thing, Harvard (unless they changed for next year) requires 3 SAT IIs. Don’t make the mistake of only taking two. I know of student who could not apply at the last minute because they did not have three. I only know of two schools who require three so it is a very easy mistake to make.</p>
<p>Georgetown, along with Princeton and Harvard, also requires 3 SATIIs.</p>
<p>Hi,
I’m really interested in Harvard as well…will it be possible for you to send me the essay you wrote for your application to Princeton to see an example essay?
Also,I heard there’s an interview you have to do for ivy leagues…is it necessary and what do they ask you?</p>