Is this true?....

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Through a friend's friend (hence why I'm doubting this) I heard that attractiveness/good looks are also important in ivy league admissions. In harvard's case, this person said that during her interview, she was able to glance at the sheet he was filling out and it had a box for appearance. </p>

<p>Now that I think about it, going through the facebooks for harvard's class, it seems to me the case. </p>

<p>This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing lol but it doesn't seem right or fair, obviously.</p>

2

<p>You went through the facebook for us and still think they screen for attractiveness?!?</p>

<p>The joke around here is that Harvard doesn't operate on the 1-10 scale for hotness, it operates in binary...</p>

3

<p>I think by appearance they mean cleanliness and posture or something like that.</p>

4

<p>lol. i looked on yale's which was > than harvard but still...</p>

5

<p>Yeah, appearance most likely means how you're dressed and your cleanliness.</p>

6

<p>h-bomber, you literally made me LOL.</p>

7

<p>She is lying or out of nervousness, she misread the form. There isn't any checkbox for appearance.
I'm an alum interviewer and also have chaired my regional committee for alum interviews.</p>

8

<p>Thanks Northstarmom. This is ridiculous to think that attractiveness would be a line item! I can understand the cleanliness aspect, but not attractiveness. </p>

<p>I agree, either a HUGE lie or she misread the form</p>

9

<p>No need to assume malicious intent, I'm sure she was just nervous and misread the form (upside-down reading can be difficult, articulate might look like appearance if you're already primed to see the wrong word, etc). Plus, as that old NYTimes article details, they did use 'appearance' as a criteria back in the day, but it was to keep the Jews out (I think the article was something about "The Hidden History of Discrimination in Admissions").</p>

10

<p>this whole thread is so sad.</p>