<p>Hi, I'm an international student from the UK and am interested in applying HYPSM. Could someone help me out here - to stand a chance of getting, do you just need to kill the SATs, do a broad range of ECs and voluntary work, and make sure you have outstanding teacher recs and essays? All of the above does not actually seem that hard - rather it seems more formulaic - so could someone please explain to me whether this is actually the case? Or is it more that you need to have some crazy EC like being an Olympic athlete or something to get in? I'm an international student and so do not really have any points of contact for advice on this topic.</p>
<p>Yes, it is like being an Olympic athlete, celebrity, running a company, being an author, winning the Nobel Peace prize, future President. Plus you have to be incredibly intelligent.</p>
<p>No, you don’t have to be an Olympian or celebrity to get in. It’s hard to get into Ivy League institutions, but many “normal,” very accomplished people gain admission. I’d say that getting in is formulaic to a certain point. Getting a high SAT score, maintaining a high GPA, securing a good class rank, and writing amazing essays are generally part of the formula required to be a competitive applicant. There is no formula to actually gain admission, though. </p>
<p>Far more qualified students apply to Harvard (and the others you list) than the school can accommodate. That obviously means that you can be perfectly qualified but still not be accepted. THAT is your major problem, not a failure to do the “right things”.</p>
<p>Apply, but be sure to apply to less competitive schools if you are determined to study in the USA.</p>