<p>I don’t see any link.</p>
<p>The link Lookingforward was referring to: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1420290-chance-threads-please-read-before-posting-one.html</a></p>
<p>Oh, okay I kind of already knew what was in your thread. I was more asking for empirical answers. I’m fully aware that the Harvard admissions office has a rather abstruse method for determining who will be admitted. I wanted opinions because I knew no one had any conclusive factual knowledge of how the admissions process actually works.</p>
<p>Factual information of every college is contained in their Common Data Set. For Harvard’s, see: C9, C!0, C11 data <a href=“http://www.provost.harvard.edu/institutional_research/CDS_2011-2012_Final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.provost.harvard.edu/institutional_research/CDS_2011-2012_Final.pdf</a></p>
<p>95.4% of admitted Harvard students were in the top 10% of their high school class<br>
91.49% had a GPA of 3.75 and higher.
75% of accepted Harvard students had a 2080 SAT or better
25% of accepted Harvard students had a 2380 SAT or better</p>
<p>I’ve seen the statistics.
I mean digging deeper than just the standardized test scores and grade point averages.</p>
<p>OP: You have been given great advice thus far from many of the posters who have responded…it seems to me what you are seeking is the “magic formula” to get into schools like Harvard…similar to many other posters who are seeking the “holy grail” of single-capital-letter-identifiable schools…</p>
<p>…let me put it bluntly, there is no “magic formula”…and there is no “secret sauce” that we can all consistently point to that determines whether one gets in or not…</p>
<p>…like Gibby, those of us that have been fortunate enough to have children get into the so-called TOP schools and attend as students…may seem to hold some godly wisdom…but even we cannot divine what each “applicant” brings to the table other than some random statistics written on CC boards…it is very different than having a “complete” record, resume, ESSAYS, RECOMMENDATIONS, along with the personal “interview” that the college admissions officers are privy to. Even the so-called “interviewers” who often participate on these CC forums are “practically blind” to your file…I should know…I use to interview when I was younger…</p>
<p>…if it helps any…I can at least say that both my children had at least one or more of the “WOW” factors that I and many other wise parents have posted in the past…you can look them up…</p>
<p>…and I am sure Gibby’s children got into their respective schools for a different set of reasons…</p>
<p>…every child, every student who gets into these schools get in on their own “merits” with their individual “identity” by and large…and we, the parents, are there for the ride…</p>
<p>There’s no ONE ANSWER chinny. Stop looking for one</p>
<p>Listen to what these people have to go through</p>
<p>[Behind</a> The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR](<a href=“Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR”>Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR)</p>
<p>“I’m fully aware that the Harvard admissions office has a rather abstruse method for determining who will be admitted. I wanted opinions because I knew no one had any conclusive factual knowledge of how the admissions process actually works.”</p>
<p>This is not entirely true. William Fitzsimmons, Harvard’s Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, has on numerous occasions described in detail “how the admissions process actually works.” In no way is Harvard’s method “rather abstruse”…its results are just unpredictable because their pool is so good that they decide based on incredibly subjective nuances. </p>
<p>Look at the extensive (and very informative) set of interviews Fitz did for the NY Times:
[William</a> R. Fitzsimmons - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/author/william-r-fitzsimmons/]William”>William R. Fitzsimmons - The Choice Blog - The New York Times)</p>
<p>And watch this:
[A</a> Glimpse of the Admissions Process - YouTube](<a href=“A Glimpse of the Admissions Process - YouTube”>A Glimpse of the Admissions Process - YouTube)</p>
<p>If you want to make admission very likely, you’ll have to be a recruited athlete, the child of a major donor/famous person, and/or the child of a faculty member. </p>
<p>If you want more info about whom Harvard admits, watch this:
[Harvard</a> Admissions Dean Fitzsimmons Interview (On Harvard Time) - YouTube](<a href=“Harvard Admissions Dean Fitzsimmons Interview (On Harvard Time) - YouTube”>Harvard Admissions Dean Fitzsimmons Interview (On Harvard Time) - YouTube)</p>
<p>Basically, if you don’t have any of the aforementioned ‘hooks,’ then you can maximize your changes by being ‘very unusual academically’ (as evidenced by winning academic competitions and having ‘best in career’ recommendations, not just by getting good grades/scores) or by having ‘some type of distinguishing excellence’ (national/international champion of something). If you can do neither of these (which is the case for most people), then simply strive to be what Fitz calls a ‘good all-arounder’: strong academically, extracurricularly, and personally. Most people in the pool are good all-arounders, so by becoming one you are by no means guaranteeing admission. However, you would be maximizing your chances. How do you become a good all-arounder? Do well in the classroom, do what you love outside of the classrom and do it really well, and be a genuinely nice person. Which is the advice offered in Applying Sideways.</p>
<p>Everyone has been too kind to say this, so I guess I will try as gently as I can: Given that 91.49% of Harvard admits have a 3.75 GPA or higher (a 94.5+ average), Harvard is not really a viable option with a 3.50 GPA (87.5 average). If that truly is your GPA after freshman year, I don’t see it happening without a major “wow” factor or you getting A+'s in every course for the next three years.</p>
<p>Of all the kids who consider H, I don’t think many get that the competition is fierce among high achievers. </p>
<p>OP, this is no simple matter of being yourself, liking this or that, getting reasonably good grades, etc. Or wanting it desperately. You don’t get in just for wanting it.</p>
<p>If anything, it is about how you transform your interests into impact and your perspective into action, make solid commitments and stick with them, how you choose and face challenges, what level of challenges, and have resilience and move forward.</p>
<p>And still, in the end, 3x as many super finalists as slots. Where do you think all those great minds who don’t get an admit, do go? Consider that.</p>
<p><em>sigh</em>
All I can say is wow.</p>
<p>Oh and gibby, that is EXACTLY my plan. I obviously wouldn’t dare apply to any Ivy League with an unweighted GPA below 3.8, even with a “wow” factor. I’d be doing myself a disservice.</p>
<p>I just need to listen to this advice. I need to embrace the adversities that have shaped my life and use them to my advantage. It’s really overwhelming, though. I mean, I’m constantly on Google searching for writing contests and academic competitions, but I can’t find anything. I don’t even know where my adversaries are going to find these programs. It’s really annoying.</p>
<p>You have drive- you just need to find your ways to tap that. Partly to move you forward as an individual. But also to contribute in other ways. Best wishes.</p>
<p>Thank you so much.</p>
<p>@ Chinnybuns,</p>
<p>You mentioned human rights and writing contests?
You can enter a writing contest run by the First Freedom Contest and submit essays that address the principles of religious freedom and human rights: [First</a> Freedom Student Competition](<a href=“http://www.firstfreedom.org/education/students.html]First”>http://www.firstfreedom.org/education/students.html)</p>
<p>The registration deadline is November 18, 2013.</p>
<p>Thanks Rebecca!</p>
<p>The best part about you is that you are thinking ahead and have atleast two years to improve. I suggest you start participating in a sport. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks GadgetPrincess!</p>
<p>Hey chinnybuns, you sound like an awesome person. You’ll be great wherever you go. ;)</p>
<p>Aww! That means so much to me, 1sparkle2. Thank you!</p>