<p>As an "avg student" (4.25 wgpa, 3.89uwgpa, 1350 SATs), I look at Harvand admits as stellar and totally "genius". As I read some of the posts, I feel out of place because everyone here as an essence that speaks intelligence. In my eyes, I think Harvard admits kids that have stellar stats but also has a great background in what they look for in their own lives. People who get into Harvard probably start something huge like a march for protest. They start nonprofit organizations or travel around the world building homes. They do extra things that take A LOT of time, yet they get the grades of a person who sits at home adn studies the SAT books inside out. Harvard students are typically reserved students who probably read more than one newspaper and know the most current events and already formed their opinion on each one. As an avg student, people who get into harvard should be students who actually applied life outside of school but yet did something that somebody else would admire. Even if somebody starts something or partakes in it, it has to be impressive instead of dedicating 200+ hours at a hospital forsay. yea, i totally rambled on with no intelligence. obviously not harvard material LOL ( can i say LOL here?)</p>
<p>Harvard is just as odd when choosing students as the next competitive college. As all colleges, they want students who: 1) meet and fulfill the goals of the institution, 2) work hard and are driven, 3) are able to help other students in need and give back to the community.</p>
<p>Obviously, they are looking for an intellectual spark as well. As Amherst's Dean of Admissions Tom Parker said in the NewsHour Report, a definite admit would be an applicant that the committee can see in the classroom, actively participating and becoming an integral part of the campus.</p>
<p>Hey, OP: You are not an average student! "Average" students don't have high averages like yours nor do they have such nice board scores. Believe it or not, there are students at Harvard with stats similar to yours!</p>
<p>The moral of the story is don't rule yourself in or out. Harvard can see something in an applicant the applicant didn't know they actually had. Harvard can also overlook applicants. If you are accepted or rejected come 11 days aleast you applied, something so many kids would never even dare to do.</p>
<p>" If you are accepted or rejected come 11 days aleast you applied, something so many kids would never even dare to do."</p>
<p>well said, it makes me feel better :) thanks</p>
<p>I'll echo what PrincetonWannabe once said...</p>
<p>So many Canadians....
Another one? <em>looks above</em></p>
<p>I think one thing that I never realized until after I'd talked to many other '09ers is that Harvard students/acceptees are actually remarkably normal (for the most part), genuine and modest (for the most part). </p>
<p>I've had some good conversations with many of them, on everything from the oxford comma (I know, I know) to partying it up Hahvahd style.</p>
<p>A 3.89 and a 1350 are by NO means "average"--these are great numbers, good enough for the admissions committee to glance at them, set them aside, and look to your essays for true indications of your intellect, sense of humor, perseverance, work ethic, etc. etc. etc.</p>
<p>I sometimes wonder if, in their quest to get into Harvard or any top-tier school, people forget how to do what they love and have fun doing it. And I have an inkling that the people who are doing what they TRULY love (for most people this wouldn't include taking standardized tests) are the people who end up impressing the admissions committee the most.</p>
<p>It's high school! Enjoy it! It only lasts 4 years!</p>
<p>Ooh, the Oxford comma! Are you for or against?</p>
<p>wats oxford comma?</p>
<p>it's a comma that is referred to as the oxford comma, the harvard comma, or the unnecessary comma.</p>
<p>Chancellor_Phoenix, I'm canadian. haha</p>
<p>err......any significance to this 'comma'??</p>
<p>No, not really. Saxfreq was just noting that he had discussed the subject. It's known as an Oxford comma, a Harvard comma, an 'unnecessary' comma, or an optional serial comma.</p>
<p>Just depends on your perspective.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_comma%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_comma</a></p>
<p>Psh, unnecessary. It's a FANTASTIC comma!</p>
<p>It's really optional.</p>
<p>But as a space-saver for newspaper layout, it sometimes helps to leave it out.</p>
<p>(But after using it for most of my life, it felt kind of liberating to start leaving it out. :-D) </p>
<p>How cool is that. The Harvard Comma. I don't see any Yale Commas around anywhere. Do you guys? I didn't think so. :-D </p>
<p>Heh, jk. I just couldn't resist.</p>
<p>Even though it's optional, it can help aid in clarity, which is probably why Harvard likes it. Consider these two sentences:</p>
<p>My favorite comedians Rock, Barry, Abbot and Costello are funny.
My favorite comedians Rock, Barry, Abbot, and Costello are funny.</p>
<p>This isn't a particularly common example, but when I see the serial comma removed (as in the first example) I assume it was intentional, to distinguish "Abbot and Costello" as one entity rather than two. There, it's a "Yale comma" to me as it deserves omission. But if I had the sentences:</p>
<p>I like corn, potatoes, peas and carrots.
I like corn, potatoes, peas, and carrots.</p>
<p>I'd be inclined to read the first version as a statement of liking "peas and carrots" the dish, rather than "peas" and "carrots" in the second, correctly punctuated, sentence. (My view, in any case)</p>
<p>holy **** saqfreq i def kno u</p>
<p>that's not avg...=) I truly hope H looks at all these...i thought they would just see my scores/grades and dump me..><</p>
<p>Ali: Trust me. I felt the same way. They look at everything; no worries.</p>
<p>The Witzness: . . . . . . . . how?</p>
<p>ur sn and location, i used to talk to you, im melissa's cousin</p>