<p>Anyone know of any people accepted into harvard who, well, was normal? By normal I mean a student who wasn't RSI/international debater/USAMO/world class musician, writer, athelete/intel finalist/started his or her own multimillion dollar company....you get the idea. Someone who was a regular high school student going to a regular high school who fully utilized the resources of his/her school and community and exhibits a passion for learning and success, but did not do amazing things.</p>
<p>I'm sure it happens, especially with URMs.</p>
<p>well...besides URMs or any other special circumstances.</p>
<p>This year no one from my school applied EA. For the prior 3 years 2 or 3 students were accepted EA or RD and most of them were nothing special. They were good students National Merit, but hey who isn't. I guess my school isn't regular at all b/c it is a top private school but they were nothing exceptional. Good students and just nice people.</p>
<p>hey ronlivs...</p>
<p>Dont worry - normal people definitely do get in. I got in early, and i did not get any of those things you mentioned. I wasn't a RSI/international debater/USAMO/world class musician, writer, athelete/intel finalist/started his or her own multimillion dollar company. Just a regular high school student who took advantage of the resources provided for me and showed a passion. </p>
<p>Thats all you need to get in to any school.</p>
<p>very, VERY few normal people get in, but the exceptional IN that normal group do.</p>
<p>How do you define "normal"? How do you define "amazing"?</p>
<p>By amazing i mean people who did things I listed before or of that caliber, nationally recognized, etc. I'm just asking bc I saw some posts by people that were just...intimidating..like this one:</p>
<p>"My friend got accepted at H EA he was presidential scholar, Intel finalist, state and international science compititions, 3 time USAMO,Westinghouse,RSI, Varsity Debate. This is along with the excellent school work and tests." --ChaiTea from another thread</p>
<p>So basically, the person ChaiTea was referring to is what I would call "amazing"</p>
<p>People in Harvard are not "normal". That's why they're at Harvard.</p>
<p>One of my close friends was accepted EA to Harvard, and she seems pretty "normal" to me. Well, she is our class valedictorian, and she's very involved in her ECs. She's not nationally recognized in anything; she's just a really smart, really nice girl.</p>
<p>"really smart" and "really nice" can easily be translated to "abnormally smart" and "abnormally nice"</p>
<p>...just a thought, juuuuuuuuust a thought</p>
<p>Valdez - I meant what I said, seriously. I've been friends with this girl since the 5th grade, so I really do know her well. She's bright enough to be valedictorian, of course, but I don't think she's eons smarter than the rest of us. As for her personality, she's thoughtful and funny. She's * not * fake and sickeningly sweet.</p>
<p>She's worked very hard and has truly earned her acceptance into Harvard. My message to the OP -- Harvard is certainly a possiblity for any smart, hard-working person.</p>
<p>I was just playing spooney--sorry if it rubbed you the wrong way.</p>
<p>Haha, I guess I'm just really loyal to my friends. But don't worry, no offense taken. =)</p>
<p>There are plenty of kids at Harvard who are not URMs and do not have amazing national-caliber achievements. They are usually VERY bright - the smartest kid in their high school or at least in the top 2 or 3, but it's not necessary to be an Intel finalist or math Olympics gold medalist to get into Harvard. Think about it - there are about 1600 kids in each entering class at Harvard. There aren't 1600 Intel and math olympic-type winners produced each year. And among the students who do have those honors, not all of them choose Harvard.</p>
<p>I like to think of myself as unique, but also normal, and I did get accepted to Harvard EA. I've done nothing on the national scale, but I've done almost <b>everything</b> possible on the local level. I played a varsity sport (football), I edit the school newspaper, I'm student council president, and quiz bowl captain, and I volunteer a little, too. The farthest I've made it on a national competition is the AIME (where I suck, yearly). My SAT scores/GPA are a little freakish, I guess, but I'd like to think I could have gotten in even if they were a little lower.</p>
<p>my friend just got accepted with 1330 sat and a 3.7 gpa. He had only 2 ECs, key club and NHS. he was not a legacy. he was not a URM. he played JV baseball throughout high school. he got accepted EA.</p>
<p>well looks like he found a loophole or lied</p>
<p>dan112931 that's mean. Maybe he is just a great person and his essays reflected him well and the adcom really liked him.</p>
<p>he didnt lie. he had great essays and good recs.</p>