Does publishing a novel (along with great grades and scores of course, for the Ivy League) significantly bring up your chances of admissions, or is it just like another extracurricular?
If you earn solid national or regional reviews from the industry- or a legit publishing contract- maybe. Quality matters. But it’s not about just cranking out words and putting them between a cover. And the rest of the right activities needs to be there.
I agree with @lookingforward . It’s easy enough to crank out a book over a weekend and self-publish it, but that does not mean that it’s worthwhile.
Agree, a self-published book will mean zero in the college application process as anyone who can cover the fee can publish a book in this manner. If you have a book that is accepted and published by a major publishing house, is well reviewed in the press etc. it would be a positive but even that should not be expected to get you into a school that you are not otherwise qualified to attend.
In another post you said you are a HS freshman. It is way too early to be in CC looking for ways to get into Harvard or any other school. See how your academics play out over the next couple of years.
I’ll repeat what others have said: it is too early to worry about getting into college and the kind of resume-building attitude you are showing will damage your high school experience, often without the desired outcome anyway.
That said, I would also ask why you want to go to an Ivy League school? And if you insist on thinking about this, do you know anything about the other options out there?
I would like to dedicate my life to building girls’ schools in third world countries to try to shorten the gender gap in education. I feel like Harvard would really catapult my career but I’ve also considered the University of Washington.
^^ @Forethought: Sorry, but IMHO that kind of statement is so altruistic it’s going to put you in the reject pile for several reasons:
- What can Harvard possibly teach you about building girls' schools in third world countries??? After all, Harvard doesn't offer an undergraduate program in architecture, building, or education. They do offer an engineering degree, but it's more theoretical than practical. See Harvard College majors: https://college.harvard.edu/academics/fields-study/concentrations and https://handbook.fas.harvard.edu/book/engineering-sciences
- The University of Washington is not a peer school of Harvard's . . . so Harvard Admissions is not going to be intimidated or enticed by your mention of the school. They are more likely to say "I hope you enjoy your time at the University of Washington. Best of luck to you!"
Again, you are a freshman. Your stated goal shows the kind of young idealism that young people your age sometimes show: they want to cure cancer, be a brain surgeon and save lives, change the education inequalities in third world countries, and so on. It is a nice quality, but as you grow in the next few years it will be tempered by realism and by awareness of what it really takes to effect change.
In the meantime, direct that altruism to your local and school environment. Be nice to people and make friends, contribute to your community, and explore interests. You have a lot of time to grow before you have to think about college.
If you’re thinking about writing a book, do it! But don’t do it because it’s going to become an EC. Writing is fun if you do it for your own creative need. In fact I haven’t published a book yet but I do write fanfictions and I actually included that on one of my essays to a school. Put your efforts into writing or any other EC because it’s meaningful to you. Good luck for Highschool 
@compmom-
You say “as you grow in the next few years it will be tempered by realism and by awareness of what it really takes to effect change.”
If I can only save one girl from becoming a child bride, save one girl from the sex trade, just open doors for that ONE GIRL… It will all have been worth it. These are PEOPLE I’m talking about. If I can help someone like this, that will be worth more than millions of dollars in salary to me. I believe what you meant by “realism” is that I will realize this will not be a very profitable job for me. I don’t care. I don’t. And as for “what it really takes to effect change,” well, I don’t need to send every single girl in the world to school. But I know I can send at least a hundred.
And regarding my “young idealism”: Wouldn’t it be better if people never outgrew this? Everything that happens surrounding me in the future is a direct result of my actions today. I believe I can make a difference; so what is to stop me if I just put in the right amount of work? I’m smart enough, I’m motivated enough, and I believe in good. The fact that everyone outgrows this idealism reveals how corrupt our society is today. As we mature, we abandon our plans for the greater good and instead focus in on how we can improve our own situations. Only us. Me, me, me. I don’t agree with this. Hold on to that idealism and make it possible.
And while I was fairly certain Harvard did offer an undergraduate in architecture, it’s not Harvard I’m hinging everything on. I will follow through with these dreams no matter where I go, whether it be Harvard or community college.
BTW, @compmom, I assume you are someone’s parent by your username. I implore you to get off this website immediately and stop crushing people’s “young idealism.” Thank you.
Holy cow. Are you active now in advocacy? Because when it comes to college admissions, actions speak louder than words. If you say yes, and it’s local, your work involves responsibilities and not just, eg, a hs club that talks, raises money, or otherwise at a distance, then that’s good. Or other sorts of solid community efforts where you deal directly with the needy, make that commitment, have some impact.
Idealism isn’t what gets you in. Instead, action, the right choices, “Show, not just tell.” This is a critical difference for top colleges. Many kids are involved, in high school. No need to wait.
MODERATOR’s NOTE:
Based on the OP’s last posting, it appears the s/he is not interested in responses, so i am closing this thread.