List of Books

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>I want to do a list of books (because I'm too lazy to write an essay) but I don't know if my list would be sufficient. I've read about 12 books in the past year out of school - does that seem like too little? With the books I've read for school, it's been around 25 books this year. I read a lot of poetry, plays and short stories, but not really from books, so should I just include a short sentence saying that I read these other genres and then make a list of authors? Or should I just scrap it all together and just write an essay?</p>

<p>Thanks and happy holidays!</p>

2

<p>I did a list of books I read over the last twelve months for pleasure...my list had 12 or 13. </p>

<p>I don't think they really care about quantity. If you have some interesting or quirky books it would probably be good!</p>

3

<p>What are you guys talking about? Harvard asks for a list of books?</p>

4

<p>most people i've seen who've done the list and have gotten in had around 12-13 on their list...which is 1 book a month which is pretty good so don't worry about it! and i would include the short sentence about what other genres you read, it just gives them more info about you and what you like</p>

<p>cooljoe, you can make a list of books you've read for your optional second essay</p>

5

<p>Thanks, itida. Is this list for your entire HS career or just your senior year?</p>

6

<p>np! umm I think it says in the past 12 months...since if you were to list all the ones in 4 years you <em>should</em> have a lot, being well read and knowledgeable since you're applying to harvard after all :P</p>

7

<p>Umm...I never knew that this was even on the application.</p>

8

<p>Under the 'Supplemental Essay' section, it gives you some possible topics and one of them is a list of books you have read in the last twelve months.</p>

9

<p>It's like a waste of time in my opinion since I bet a lot of people put "Das Kapital" or "The Wealth of Nations" just to impress adcoms and I doubt Harvard gives a **** about what you like to read. I would go with another essay if I was truly serious about Harvard.</p>

<p>Just my 3 cents.</p>

10

<p>Well, obviously some people would be inclined to lie on their book list. But, that type of person would likely also be inclined to list books that would 'turn off' the admissions officers. </p>

<p>If you add quirky or unusual books that you have read, it might be to your advantage. Since the essay is optional and many people choose not to write the essay at all, I think the book list is a reasonable option.</p>

11

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

12

<p>Too many books? What if I put 50 books in the list?</p>

13

<p>I don't remember my son telling Harvard what books he'd read, but his GC asked for a list. Counting books he'd reread it was well over 100. Might explain why even though I call him Mathson, his highest score was CR.</p>

14

<p>^ I'm a short story geek, so though my "list" may look very long - it would all add up to Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, if that</p>

15

<p>Do books in other languages count? I'm not really a big fan of English novels so I don't really read many of them.</p>

16

<p>I bet harvard isn't as concerned with the number of books read as they type of books read. I'm sure they just want to get a feel of who you are.</p>

17

<p>lol it's just a test to see if you're too lazy to write another actual essay.</p>

18

<p>^lol ya pretty much but it can be a tiebreaker too (in terms of how they gauge your personality as opposed to someone else's)</p>