<p>Hello, at the moment I'm completing a BSc majoring in physics and chemistry at the University of Auckland, which is reasonably high internationally, but is not particularly noted for the sciences, and I'm going on to study physics at the graduate level. Aside from the obvious GPA factor, would somebody happen to know what it is that really drives an application home for MIT or Harvard or Caltech, etc.? At the moment I can say things like, speak 3 languages (including English), part time author if things go well with publishers and agents and what not, and am looking to get involved with research (but that's uncommon and often difficult here). But I'm still getting the feeling that I need to add more to be noted by these schools. Any advice on applications would be appreciated.</p>
<p>(Also, I have time before I'll be applying, so this isn't like any last-minute additions to an application.)</p>
<p>Aptitude, recommendations, and what you’ve done out of the classroom are probably all very important. Many graduate programs, including MIT, H, etc., also really look into research experience, because for the most part that is what you do in graduate school when looking to get a PhD. Hopefully that will work out for you. I don’t know too much about the actual applications, but I’m sure you have to write essays, and so your authorship and writing skills well help you there. Just be honest and open about what you expect and desire from graduate school, but remember that not getting into these places is not the end of the world, either.</p>