Need some advice on getting into Harvard!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Greetings, </p>

<p>I am a 16 year-old high schooler currently residing in Sweden, Gothenburg. Going to Harvard has been a dream of mine for quite a substantial amount of time. However, after reading a multitude of threads on this excellent forum, I have come to recognize the genuine difficulty of actually being admitted. And so this is essentially why I am making this thread; I am in need of some advice.</p>

<p>To give you an idea of what my present situation is like:</p>

<ul>
<li>I am in grade ten.</li>
<li>I have obtained A's in the vast majority of my subjects.</li>
<li>I have a persistent and constant love of learning; which is reflected in the fact that I am an avid reader. Hopefully, this will also be adequately reflected in my essay.</li>
<li>I am the president of the Student Council of my high school. As such, I am considered a highly ambitious and intelligent student by both my teachers and my peers (seeing as they elected me).</li>
<li>I have participated in several competitions outside of school, such as the European Youth Parliament (EYP). Which, in essence, is a type of debating championship wherein each European nation goes through a rigorous process of selecting a small number of students that are to represent each country at an International Session (IS). Basically, I was, after advancing from the Regionals to the Nationals, chosen to represent Sweden at the upcoming IS to be held in Amsterdam in November.</li>
<li>I know seven different languages: Swedish, English, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Latin and Persian.</li>
<li>I have not yet taken any SATs or ACTs, but am planning on taking the upcoming SAT I in May of this year (so I am starting rather early, which will probably increase my chances of getting a perfect score).</li>
<li>Although I have not yet engaged in any form of substantial extracurricular activity (other than EYP), I am definitely planning on doing so in the near future.</li>
</ul>

<p>Obviously, the above statements are not an attempt at summarizing the entirety of my 16 years of existence on this planet, but they should at least give you a slight notion of what type of individual I am.</p>

<p>Now to my questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Am I on the right track of getting into Harvard? Which things should I focus more/less on?</p></li>
<li><p>Which SAT II's should I take? Do I need to take any other standardized tests as an International applicant?</p></li>
<li><p>What types of ECs do institutions like Harvard prefer to see on an application?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>On a side note, how do you guys reckon my English is? They barely teach English at my high school, and so I have familiarized myself with the language on my own - mostly by reading books and such.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Come on people, I need some advice here! :)</p>

3

<ol>
<li><p>You are on track. I think your multilingual status is very unique, but keep working and work to become AS UNIQUE as possible.</p></li>
<li><p>Take the SAT I and several SAT II’s (math, physics, biology, LANGUAGE, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>They don’t “prefer” to see anything. Do what you love and do it well.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>P.S. your English is pretty good.</p>

4

<p>Spend a good deal of time reading through the various threads here and you will learn what types of test scores, extracurricular activites and recommendations you will need. </p>

<p>Until you have spectacular SAT I and II scores, it is too early to predict if you have any chance at all to be admitted. Work hard, take your tests, devote yourself to your EC interests, then return in a year to ask again.</p>

<p>Remember that admissions for international students is extremely competitive, so you will need be an extraordinary candidate.</p>

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<p>Thanks a bunch! Much appreciated.</p>

6

<p>Congratulations in “winning” NS – I know it’s a feat because I did too :). As someone who was selected to represent Sweden at the last year national session: do EYP to the fullest. I didn’t have the time to take ten days away from schoolwork for the IS, hence my involvement in EYP never took off for real, but I know quite a few people who are very active in EYP, and they all love it. There are also many opportunities for you to get involved as an organizer, chair, etc, which (assuming you have fun with EYP) you should take. As far as I know, if you really engage with EYP it can serve as a lane into internships in the EU, etc. So if that stuff is your thing, throw yourself into it :). You will also meet great people.</p>

<p>Aspire to do the things you are good at and enjoy to the fullest. As was said above: cultivate your language skills – if you really are decent to good to fluent in all those languages you are a rather special kid ;). As has also ben said: take subject tests for those languages (or make sure you have other qualifications showing proficiency).</p>

<p>Also, don’t see it as necessary to pull off 2400 SATs. I was accepted with a 2200, and a 2100 isn’t going to block your admission if your application is strong.</p>

<p>The essays – you can spend hours and hours reading example essays, advice on how to write them, etc. This is only beneficial to a certain extent. Make sure you know what the purposes of the essays are, then just stop googling “college essays” :P. The rest must, and will, come from you – they will tell the stories you choose in the way that you choose.</p>

<p>Get excellent grades. Aim very seriously for 20.0 if you haven’t already had some G/VG. (one caveat: 19.0 and well rounded with ECs, etc, is better than toiling for 20.0 and letting ECs suffer).</p>

<p>Lastly – be aware that Harvard rejects excellent candidates, and be aware that Harvard is not the only truly excellent school out there :). I am currently torn between Harvard and Penn, for instance, and I’ve been talking/thinking about Harvard for a number of years as well – after doing some research the choice isn’t as straightforward anymore!</p>

7

<p>Thank you so much for your quick reply! I will most definitely keep all of the things you said in mind, that I can assure you!</p>

<p>I’ll also make sure to keep you updated on how my situations evolves (that is, if you don’t mind). Hope to see you at Harvard some day! :D</p>

8

<p>Oh, by the way, I just thought of a question I’d like to ask! It is this: If I were to “read up” (that is, after the end of senior year) or compensate for a certain course that I might have received, say, a VG in in, for example, grade ten, would that affect/hurt my application in any way? Do you know? :S </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

9

<p>It wouldn’t be as good as “the real deal” but I’m not sure how much it would hurt you either… But perception is reality, so if you can retake some tests and get the grade onto your official transcript in lieu of the old grade, then they won’t know the difference ^^.</p>

10

<p>Hi Veritas2400 :)</p>

<p>Please have a look at the messages I sent you,
Thanks :)</p>