I’m planning to apply to Harvard, and a big part of my application will revolve around my passion (hate that word) for computer science. I have developed many websites in the past, earning money along the way. All of my money comes from advertising revenue. I have earned $20,000+ from my websites in total. Would this look good on an application, or would it hurt my chances of getting in since it shows that I have money? My family earns < $40,000 a year, however.
I am wondering whether mentioning the amount of money that I have earned will look impressive.
Personally, I would look at it from a different angle: instead of focusing on how much money you’ve earned from the advertising revenue, perhaps instead emphasize the number of impressions you get and the number of people actively using your services. It shifts the focus away from your own personal gain (though certainly it is something to be proud of. If you emphasize the profit, it certainly shows initiative and competency) and onto the (presumably positive) impact your sites are having on its users. Both viewpoints should be positive, so it’s just a matter of which route you choose.
While it’s impressive to have earned money from your websites, I wouldn’t mention the money aspect in your Harvard application. That’s because Harvard’s CS department is more focused on teaching the nuts and bolts of classical computer science and does not emphasize how much money can be made from a student’s entrepreneurial CS businesses. Keep in mind that Harvard has never asked for, or received, money from any business created by students on their campus. For example, Harvard has not earned any money from Facebook, which Mark Zuckerberg created in Harvard’s dorm room. So, Harvard doesn’t really care about the money you have made through your CS creations.
Stanford is somewhat different in that respect. Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed Google while working together as graduate students at Stanford. The college was awarded the patent and Stanford made about $330 million in the process. Ditto with Cisco Systems, which was developed on their campus. So, Stanford is very much interested in student’s extracurricular businesses, especially if they smell money that might be made from any new technology that you can bring to their campus which they can license.
So, as @CautiousOptimist mentioned, you should focus your Harvard application on what people actually get from the web services you have created.
Admissions and financial aid are entirely separate at Harvard.
I personally think mentioning that your websites have earned you $20K plus through advertising revenues shows an entrepreneurial spirit, talent with websites, and business acumen in setting it up, as well as work ethic. It also shows this is not really a casual hobby but a serious, professional-level endeavor in the CS field. I am not sure where this would go on the application. And I have to think about how you should phrase it- specific amount or generic language such as “earned revenue through advertising…” The amount itself impressed me but depending on where it appears could seem tacky. Not sure. Hmmm.
It is possible, if it cannot appear elsewhere in the application, you could submit a supplement of some sort with samples of your websites, a resume, revenue info and even testimonials.
“It also shows this is not really a casual hobby but a serious, professional-level endeavor”
That’s what I think. I would include the amount. IMHO, it goes on your resume or on the common app description of the activity. Success in web creation has a few metrics. Hits per month, unique visitors per month, and advertising revenue are some of the big ones. They all illustrate that you’ve created something that stands out from the crowd. If you have achieved something quantifiable, go ahead and quantify it.
Glad you answered with some specific kinds of info, Hanna. I think it will be even better to use the metrics Hanna mentions and then the $20K+ will be in a list. Listing hits per month as well as earnings and any other metric you have will be the most impressive and removes whatever (probably unfounded) concern I had about tackiness I think Cautious Optimist had the same concerns. If you can work in the types of businesses served, maybe a non-profit, great too.
I don’t see the relevance of Harvard’s interest or lack of interest in student earnings from entrepreneurial endeavors. This is an application for admission not an offer to make Harvard money. In fact, I would offer the same advice whether the student was going to major in CS or not, and if the student had no intent whatsoever of continuing this business while at Harvard.
I think Cautious Optimist had the same concerns. If you can work in the types of businesses served, maybe a non-profit, great too.