<p>Hello all!</p>
<p>We are yet about to start another cycle of grueling college admissions. I believe it's not too early to start talking about applying to Harvard's early action plan for this year (Class of 2018). Post any questions you might have about the application process or any comments/advice/tips you want to share!</p>
<p>I'll start it off : What is your reason for applying to Harvard early? And what other colleges are you considering?</p>
<p>I just love harvard and will do whatever it takes to be there. Hopefully my dream will come true and i will see you around when i come there as a freshmen in 2016.</p>
<p>What other schools have you thought of applying to BChanakya?</p>
<p>It’s difficult to say what draws me to Harvard. Maybe its the prestige, the best education, networking, or maybe it was just the feeling I had when I visited. But regardless, what I want to know is how many spots do SCEA applicants take up in the entering freshman class, and also are these admissions more heavily emphasized on an aspect of the application such as ECs or gpa more so than RD apps?</p>
<p>I would also like to know what makes you different than all the other applicants? What seperates you? And why do you think you will get in?</p>
<p>I went on a admission session at Harvard alongside a tour, and when the question of EA came up, the adcom said that there was no strategical advantage to applying early other than the results coming early. The acceptance rate looks to be higher, but there’s also a much more qualified pool of applicants applying early as well. EA and RD will be the exact same in terms of what is expected from the applicant.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t want to speculate too much, but what might make me stand out is my work with science research, and working to implement it to benefit underprivileged people. It’s not that I think I will get in, it’s that I want to apply to Harvard, and it’s up to the admissions officers to see whether I will get in or not :)</p>
<p>very true @terminatorp! I also have done some research as well and am getting published 
Cant wait. But I think I have an even better catch up my sleeve to help my chances 
Also, what kind of research have you done? It sounds interesting.</p>
<p>Harvard takes about half of its class through Early Action. Last year, 895 were admitted early:</p>
<p>[895</a> admitted through Early Action | Harvard Gazette](<a href=“http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/12/895-admitted-through-early-action/]895”>895 admitted through Early Action – Harvard Gazette)</p>
<p>Though the acceptance rate is higher for SCEA than for RD, you must view this acceptance rate in light of what Fitz said: “An increasing number of the nation’s and the world’s best students chose to apply early to Harvard this fall.”</p>
<p>@bmonticello23 I worked mainly with water sustainability, and developing affordable open-sourced alternatives for underprivileges people to help them gain access to clean drinking water. Did you participate in science fairs like Intel ISEF or such with your project?</p>
<p>@aleaiactaest : Yes, you definitely understand! People automatically assume that it’s easier to get in Harvard EA, but that’s not necessarily true. The people applying EA are often vastly more qualified, and would have been accepted anyway had they applied regularly. The main reason I want to apply EA is because I am truly interested in the college, and I also want to hear admissions from the college earlier, so I can make my decisions accordingly with more time on my hands.</p>
<p>Well I’m not applying to harvard early, but I am applying RD. may I ask everyone who are on this thread take 4 mins to chance me on my application to Harvard University please?<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1532170-chances-harvard-university.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1532170-chances-harvard-university.html</a></p>
<p>@terminatorp sounds cool! And no, I’m not entering it in this year, because the research most likely will be done by fall/winter-ish and I’m not the principal investigator. I’m working with a couple of super-seniors at a college under the tutelage of a genius professor (who went to Harvard), and we’re going to be publishing in a peer journal in the fall/winter. Nevertheless, the research I’m doing is on biomechanics. We’re using a motion capture system (like they use in the movies for animation and green screen) and coding programs to track different joint angles for good/bad uphill runners and also using constructed torque gauges and photocells to measure the differences in muscle strength between runners, and acceleration speeds. Also conducting these experiments on dogs, and other animals as well. </p>
<p>Personally, I believe that this, plus the fact that I started a teenage investment firm/hedge fund that grossed $275,000 and also have my own app/website development business that makes $5,000 a week and I’m currently working on a novel social networking application worth $130,000 will be my hook. Plus international finalist for DECA (Sorry to brag). Has anyone else done some kind of business venture that might relate to mine. I would like to know how mine stand up compared to others.</p>
<p>@bmonticello23, You have done more than what the vast majority of Harvard/Princeton/College applicants like myself have done, rest assured However, your essay will speak about yourself, on why you did what you did, and what the use for it in the real world will be. Harvard wants to know, what will you contribute to their campus? After all, it’s in their best interest to enrich their campus as well. I am sure though, you will do great! Taylor Wilson, a boy who built a nuclear reactor in his garage at the age of 14, was rejected from MIT. Goes to show how important other things besides EC achievement are :)</p>
<p>My essay originally was not about why I did those ECs though. I wrote about a deep insight about eating the same sandwich everyday for lunch. People I sent it to said they love it and that it shows my personality. Should I refocus my essay around my ECs or keep it original and rich in my personality.</p>
<p>Monticello - you have your own hedge fund already!? Goodness, do I feel unaccomplished!</p>
<p>Hello. Harvard SCEA 2018 here! Dear lord, you guys scare me. :D</p>
<p>I’ve done scientific research as well, but nothing nearly as impressive. I’ve been working mainly on a larger research project under a mentor.</p>
<p>I was considering investigating a scientific research idea that I have been developing. Any ideas that you guys can offer to me as to how to go about that, such as developing a proposal, finding a mentor, etc.? It would be much appreciated! :)</p>
<p>thank you guys And @collegeluva101 what specifically are you interested investigating?</p>
<p>Well, I have not done a lot of investigating yet, but it’s this idea I had of using viral infection to possibly cure cancer. This is something that has been investigated, and I was considering a slightly different approach. I have not looked into the details that well yet, which I will be doing this summer, but I just need help on how to pitch a fully written proposal to research labs.</p>
<p>Okay, wow that sounds interesting! But it also seems like a very difficult proposal to make unless you have very convincing facts that it will work. Unless you have this evidence and planned on pitching it to a professor, think of how they would interpret it: “Oh he’s just another kid who thinks he can cure cancer…waste of my time and resources”. So what I mean to say is that you really need some bona-fide proof</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I think I’ll work on gathering evidence and developing a really detailed proposal. Then, once school begins, I’ll start pitching my idea to professors.</p>
<p>When you were pitching your idea, how did you go about doing so?</p>
<p>Sounds good. And my idea came from the fact that I’m involved in lots of sports. So, since it actually interested me, I created a detailed proposal including IRB forms (human consent form for subjects) and got all my facts detailed on paper and emphasized the benefits for my mentor to help me work on this project. I made a very professional cover letter and emailed my resume plus the proposal as attachments to the cover letter in an email to hundreds of professors and only 1 granted me the opportunity. Biggest point is to come across mature and professional because since were in HS they automatically assume that were immature, so you must subtly address that by being professional and mature in your writing.</p>