<p>Secret to getting into Harvard. OK, class, let’s get this straight:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Be a nationally-recognized something with 2100+ SATs, a B+ average with a few APs. </p></li>
<li><p>Win some big science award.</p></li>
<li><p>You can have the above stats, and not be nationally-recognized, if you are a State-recognized athlete – lacrosse or football if male, swimming or soccer if female.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It is really and truly that simple. The best kept secret of the Ivies is that they want ATHLETES!!! Yes, the Ivies are just the SEC cloaked in better SAT scores. Stop sending your kids to violin lessons; it doesn’t matter if they are a valedictorian or an National Merit Finalists. All of these are boring, boring, boring to Harvard. Be an outstanding athlete, get a coach’s support, get decent grades and test scores, and you are on your way.</p>
<p>I mean, really class, how hard is this? Anyone taking notes?</p>
<p>Sorry, all the above is trumped if you are a URM and go to some private school and do decently. Hispanics are especially in demand these days!</p>
<p>paclido - Your descriptions don’t match with what I saw. Here are what I saw with the kids who were accepted to Harvard in the public shools in my area:</p>
<ol>
<li>Most of them were in top 2% of their classes.</li>
<li>Most of them had 2300+ SAT.</li>
<li>Most of them were academic stars receving state or national awards.</li>
<li>Most of them received high awards in music, arts,…</li>
<li>Very few of them played sports.</li>
</ol>
<p>Harvard recruits 13-15% athletes each year who might fall under the academic index described by Placido. However, the only athlete I know recruited from my neck of woods was in top 2% of class and had a 35 ACT and an IB diploma. I just don’t see B+ average making the cut unless the athlete is phenomenal.</p>
<p>Rest do have to meet high academic achievement requirements unless they paid for a building.</p>
<p>Actually, not any athlete. Football - offensive guard. Instead of spending $5k on SAT coaching, have him bulk up. 280lb. minimum. 300 is better.</p>
<p>We’ve got a top notch football team at our high school, but I don’t think any of them have gotten into Harvard. (I suspect none have applied.) From our high school you really do have to be in the top 5%, and probably top 2% of the class. Generally the kids who get in are very strong academically and well rounded types (ie valedictorian, track team, science olympiad medal winner) or very pointy (top 1%, all the science APs with 5’s including AP Comp Sci as a freshman, Calc BC as a junior, lots of comp sci experience). But yes, I think all our Intel finalists have been accepted at Harvard. :)</p>