How to Effectively Position Yourself for Admission into Harvard College

Colleges & Universities A-Z Harvard University
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<p>I'm not allowed to post links, but if you want to see a better formatted version that's easier on the eyes you should just google "How to Effectively Position Yourself for Admission into Harvard College". Keep in mind that I can edit/update the eHow but I can't edit this CC page after a while. My approach is somewhat more conceptual and I hope this method helps you. Please make any suggestions as you see fit - they're very helpful. Sorry but I like to write in huge paragraphs. Here we go:</p>

<p>Step 1. Obviously, this article will mean different things to you depending on your stage in life. If you're younger than thirteen, immediately close this browser and do what you love to do - thinking about college at this stage is unnecessary and a waste of your time and energy. If you happen to be either a high school freshman or sophomore, read on and understand right now that the two most important things you can do to help your chances at Harvard are: 1. Build up solid grades along with a strong interest in the material, and 2. Explore and then pursue whatever you find most interesting to you. Now, if you are a high school junior or senior, then you can begin thinking about some strategy in terms of shaping your application to achieve one of your goals: admission into Harvard College (presumably this is why you clicked on this article). And if you're older, you're either internally laughing at the now distant anxiety of college admissions or bemoaning the superficial, petty nature of the college admissions process. Have some empathy. And just one disclaimer: as you all know, admission into Harvard College is notoriously difficult (around 7 percent this year), so if your grades and test scores aren't up to the mark, it's considerably harder (but by no means impossible) to "position" yourself for admission. Take heart in the fact that no decision by the admissions team is random. They have a great team up at Harvard and they really know how to understand each applicant. More on this in the next step.</p>

<p>Step 2. Let's understand where Mr. Bill Fitzsimmons (Dean of Harvard Undergraduate Admissions) is coming from. It's helpful to better understand the general atmosphere of Harvard admissions. Mr. Fitzsimmons has a very specific vision of how he models each Harvard undergrad class. He recently did an interview with a Harvard show "On Harvard Time," and here's what he said regarding each class: "Every year we’re going to admit about 2100 people. And there’ll be two or three hundred people who will have some sort of distinguishing excellence…music, social service (presumably journalism and sports as well)…at a national or international level. Then there are two or three hundred people who are very unusual academically…national or international contests. Most people therefore – you’ve done the addition, we’re now down to about 1600 spaces – are actually what we would call good all-rounders at a high level. These are the people who college guidebooks say never get in, but they have been our staple for years. You can’t really categorize them – they’re multi-talented – they’re right across the board academically, extracurricularly, and personally…The foundation for every case is character and personal qualities. We want to get people who make people better. Beyond that there’s no box you have to fit into". What does this mean? Well it's quite self-explanatory, but essentially YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIT YOURSELF INTO A PRESCRIBED BOX. You don't have to tag yourself as a 'journalist' or 'top chef' if you're not completely comfortable with that designation. As you go through your application, reflect on your personal character and qualities and speak truthfully in your essays and short answers.</p>

<p>Step 3. As you can tell, I'm taking a more general approach and staying out of the nitty-gritty. In your essay, don't feel forced to concoct something extremely creative (follow my different underwear on a 17-year journey!). If you have something like that in mind, by all means feel free to try it out, but if not, I think a really candidly written piece about something you really enjoy or are interested in works great and is often much more sincere that a forced creative piece. In addition, I strongly recommend that you write the additional essay Harvard ‘optionally’ asks for, as long as you can present a side of yourself different from the one presented in the first essay. Since "the foundation for every case is character and personal qualities," you would do well to show the admissions team more depth in your character.</p>

<p>Step 4. One suggestion that I feel may be controversial to some is the resume. I feel really strongly that a good resume boosts your chances at Harvard, seeing as how I and other successful friends spent time on these and got back good results. The form on Common App is not sufficiently large enough to describe your activities meaningfully. With a really nice resume, you add depth and credibility to your activities. In your resume, you should list the headings EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ACTIVITIES, and AWARDS. Under EDUCATION, put your school, GPA, and test scores. Under EXPERIENCE, put down the places you have worked at or interned at ALONG WITH TWO OR THREE BULLET POINTS UNDERNEATH describing exactly what you did there. Be specific and promote your talents if applicable. Put the dates of work in as well. Under ACTIVITIES, put down the things you do at school (Debate Club), again along with bullet points (Hosted official state debate tournament and had record turnout) as well as your position (Co-President). Under awards, list your awards and the year you got them. The exact format of the resume can vary. Search 'resume' on Google Images to find a format you like. I made a nice resume and I think it really helped differentiate myself from the less avid applicants. Attach it in the Additional Information section of the Common App - they even have directions for a resume.</p>

<p>Step 5. While these are still somewhat general steps (they have to be due to the drastically different circumstances of different applicants), I hope I helped you get a better sense of Harvard admissions and some things you can do to differentiate yourself better. As a parting message, remember to speak from your heart and never despair about the admissions odds. Furthermore, while Harvard is a great school, there are many other great schools as well, so never exclusively consider Harvard. Also, don't be afraid of applying - they'd love to learn your story!</p>

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<p>Are you saying that we should send the common AP along with the resume?</p>

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<p>I think the advice about the resume is silly. If Harvard wanted more information on activities and such, they would ask for it. There’s a reason they don’t: they get 26,000 applications. Frankly somebody who thinks themselves too fascinating to be confined to the CommonApp like other students is probably not going to make Harvard adcoms super thrilled. Not saying a resume will destroy your chances, but it’s certainly needless (again, if they wanted it, they would ask for it) and could be a detriment.</p>

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<p>Yes, they say on the Common App that if you would like to attach a resume, use the attachment module on the Additional Information page.</p>

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<p>I see where you are coming from, and I certainly didn’t think this suggestion would be free from controversy. I have to disagree with you, however. If you have done activities that are interesting enough, the resume won’t hurt you and will certainly add depth. Harvard most likely doesn’t require it because they don’t want to add another stressful requirement to their application, and because if they were to require a resume, then some students would go to outside sources that in turn would help model for them perfect resumes - this added dimension would just be stressful and confusing for many applicants - another item to be gamed.</p>

<p>But I think its clear that if you have a one-page resume (as all resumes should be), you certainly stand out a little more - besides my 2400 I had few distinguishing accomplishments when I applied, yet I got into almost all my schools since I showed my passions more clearly in my resume (granted, I am only a single case, but many of my successful friends did the same). I understand that your adcom folder should not be too thick, but a one-page resume won’t hurt. Most students don’t include them anyway - so what’s an occasional resume?</p>

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<p>Like the Tom Brady Anti-Sexual Harassment Video on Saturday Night Live:

  1. Be a Legacy
  2. Be a special person
  3. Demonstrate your specialness
  4. Have parents who went there
    and
  5. Include a resume that show how special you are</p>
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<p>When my son was applying I found the Common Application incredibly annoying - those little boxes didn’t have room for much information about the activities. In the end my son didn’t attach a resume, because most of the information that would have been on one got covered by his essays or the extra recommendations he had sent. (From people he’d done computer programming for.) Michelle Hernandez in her first book (Acing the College Application) has examples of the sort of resume that provides additional information in an easy to read format. I think if one wants to use the “Is there anything else you want to add” part of the application for a resume it can be useful in some circumstances.</p>

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<p>Both S and D attached resumes for their applications. Son got into both Ivys he applied to but chose Tufts. D got into 1 out of 2 (waitlist and then reject on the second) and is attending Harvard. The resume did not hurt them.</p>

<p>My resume comments are to develop one in a style that is right for you. S’s and D’s resume are completely different styles. His was more traditional since a major EC was his extensive employment and the job experience that added to his application. D’s was none traditional and mostly focused on EC’s awards and such that were not handled by common AP. Both were one page and very clean and uncluttered.</p>

<p>I would probably not fill space with education on it, or at least very little (Son had a little and D’s had none). Your common ap should have handled your academic info well.</p>

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<p>^I agree with what smoda said. Under Education just make a one-liner regarding school and GPA (since test scores they already know through the common app). Mostly a formality. Also, building a resume now is helpful for juniors and seniors who are interested in a summer internship. Make a professional, clean, yet personal resume that can be used for internship searches and colleges.</p>

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<p>I’d agree on a resume for the interview, but I assumed that any unnecessary paperwork would be a detriment. The fact that the extra essay was optional is a tip-off. </p>

<p>I liked your advice regarding younger kids and how they shouldn’t be angling for Ivy League admission at this point in their lives. It’s sad that conscious preparation to look good on a piece of paper begins so young.</p>

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<p>They give you all those options for the optional essay for a reason. They are very thorough with their applications and they want to find more sides of you - character is the foundation of any case, as Fitzsimmons said. Finding your different sides - a resume can accomplish that relatively efficiently.</p>

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<p>I was under the impression that the alumni interviews served as a “live resume” and that’s why Harvard was vigilant about getting every student questioned. My interviewer and the ones my friends had took lots of meticulous notes about activities, volunteer, things you couldn’t put on the application. Mine out and out said that this was because Harvard realized the app wasn’t conducive to exploring all of a student’s personality. So a resume could be fine, but they seem to be on the ball. =)</p>

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<p>Charmelody - If you think that the “optional essay” is something that Harvard doesn’t want, I think you are completely wrong. You should not pass up the optional essay. Of course you should spend as much time on this optional essay as you did on your Common App essay.</p>

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<p>D sent in both an optional essay as well as the resume.</p>

<p>As for using the resume for future internships, S’s was a format that worked for that and was very useful. D’s is not good for employment but it conveyed what she needed to convey to admissions. Over the winter, she can develop one for employment.</p>

<p>Both kids brought resumes to all their college interviews. Some schools/interviewers were receptive. Some were adamant that they did not want one. Also, for reference, if the applicant is planning to use the resume for interviews be aware that there are school/interviewers that will refuse your resume if there is any GPA, rank, SAT scores etc on it. More reason to leave those details off.</p>

<p>PS I have told my kids that optional is not optional.</p>

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<p>I do agree, to me it’s like this:
Optional is optional, just that if you do the optional part, most of the time it’s going to help. Like the essays are optional but if you work on it hard, it’s going to help. So it is better to do it than not. It’s highly recommended.</p>

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<p>As for optional, I could be wrong, but I feel like the “optional” portions of any college application are part of the sorting process. Do people get in without doing the “optional” part, or course. But I would have to assume that if the “optional” section is of an appropriate quality it has to speak in the applicants favor. It shows interest, and effort to complete these portions also. On the other hand, sending in garbage in these sections I feel would hurt the applicant more than leaving them blank.</p>

<p>BTW Harvard’s application was the easiest application my daughter had to complete. These is no reason to have trouble doing it.</p>

<p>The hardest she had to do were Yale and MIT followed by all those schools who require various “why xyz college?” essays.</p>

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<p>I definitely agree that completing the optional essay is a plus. They want a good picture of their applicant. I filled out the optional essay (or rather, did the book list). All I’m saying is that a school that’s getting 28,000 applications needs some way of standardizing what is sent to them.</p>

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<p>^ at the same time with 28,000 applications, they need a way to sort them.</p>

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<p>As the resume is sent through Common App electronically, I doubt it gives them too much trouble. They received a fax I sent at peak admissions season and almost promptly informed me that it had been sorted into my admissions portfolio/folder.</p>

<p>I do agree with a earlier point that by making it optional, it shows which students are perhaps a bit more enthusiastic about the school. They would not bother to make a space for it on the application if they disliked seeing them in their inboxes - they also say that the optional essay won’t affect you adversely if you don’t complete it, but that disclaimer essentially just puts the less enthusiastic people at ease. In fact, if you don’t do it, it doesn’t affect you at all, while helping others who do it by giving them more depth (which essentially hurts you).</p>

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<p>I sent a resume with my application. I think my high school even requires us to but I’m not sure since I would have done it anyway.</p>

<p>Just don’t make it more than a page; that’s annoying.</p>

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<p>Also, I really liked your article. Usually as a rule I disagree with at least 10 points in these “how to get into the college of your dreams” things but yours was pretty solid. I also loled at “follow my different underwear on a 17-year journey”</p>