<p>One caveat: A resume should not duplicate information already presented in the Common or Supplemental Apps. (For example, Harvard’s Supplemental asks about your summer activities, therefore it’s redundant and superfluous to also include this info in a resume.) If you include anything extra at all – be it photos, youtube links, or a resume – the information should be unique and enhance your application.</p>
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<p>Yes I basically agree that overlap in extra materials should be minimal (unless you add some real depth to previously mentioned activities and such), but also beware of appearing too disjointed if do you opt for the “optional”. Sometimes repeating some key points of your accomplishments can be useful - redundancy is not always bad because at 2 in the morning on a lot of coffee, not even a Harvard admissions officer is infallible.</p>
<p>I would highly discourage from being pressured to send in a resume. That said, I do recommend using the additional information space to elaborate on an activity or a life situation. If your achievements fit the resume style better then go for it. But if you want to add more of your voice and character to the application, then writing something in more of an essay-form also works great. I did not include a resume and got into all the most selective schools, for example. I feel the resume format you describe leads to repeating things that could be easily included in the common app itself.</p>
<p>I was a random high school senior from Sweden who after getting inspired by a classmate applied to Ivy Leauge and Top Tier schools and made it into Cornell and Harvard’s Waitlist (including Penn’s Brown’s and Columbia’s). And I applied FA so in all schools except Harvard and Princeton did that hurt my chances severely.</p>
<p>I think I did a hell of a job promoting my application. But one cannot make up for lower SAT scores (2050) and narrow range in SAT2 (math, math2, physics - 2290). These tests are very hard on international students who haven’t been studying IB or anything else in English (English is my third language and I only had two hours of English class each week).</p>
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<p>I agree. I feel that if you have little to add, don’t bother. But I also think that many (I’m apprehensive of saying most because that’s statistical) applicants to Harvard have activities with a lot more depth than the skimpy Common App can accomodate. A one-liner (Volunteer at old home) is much different from describing what you actually did (Started a yoga class and a computer center, and taught the senior citizens how to do/use both). I agree that no one should be forced to send in a resume, but people who want to and who would benefit from it should realize that it is a great way of adding depth to your activities and your character (a well-made resume is really a joy to read and it’s easier on the admission officer’s eyes than an essay).</p>
<p>First reaction: Excellent summary. Useful to some I am sure.</p>
<p>Second reaction: You can likely expect a “cease and desist” order from Harvard re: your use of their seal. They’re pretty uptight about that kind of thing. Just a heads up. They have a whole pantload of lawyer noobs across the river just looking for something to tort about.</p>
<p>^Thanks. I cited the logo (bottom of page) so hopefully they will take note. Also I encouraged people to apply at the end so they shouldn’t get on my case XD.</p>
<p>^ Cool. I remember some guy once made some popcorn or something and called it “John Harvard’s Famous Cambridge Corn” or something like that, and Harvard basically nuked him in court. But seeing as you are not profiting but merely guiding applicants their way, I agree, they will most likely be ambivalent.</p>
<p>Any other questions? Before I applied to Harvard I realized that I hadn’t talked much about the purpose of the essay, something I would have really appreciated to discuss. I’d actually like to get a discussion going on the purpose of the essay. Is it more to showcase your personal qualities or your writing skills? For example, if you wrote a moving, stunning essay on going it alone, would that be as influential for the admissions committee as a pretty well-written essay on friendship? I’ll give my opinion as well a little later.</p>
<p>Here’s a link to my thread about the college essay:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/765269-how-write-college-admissions-essay.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/765269-how-write-college-admissions-essay.html</a></p>
<p>hi noitaraperp…ive tried my best to get to you…here,ehow and everywhere else.but for some reason, you might not be available.i thought it’ll be better for me to be able to chat with you cos i have quite a few questions to ask. i dont know if its better we just keep to this site for our q&a’s or what? i really need your help with SAT, Harvard and everything else you’ve written about or should i say most of the things you’ve written about. it’s not that easy for someone in Africa to get a scholarship in Harvard, you know?
thanks and i’m eagerly waiting for your reply</p>