<p>@Karabekian Be as specific as you can when answering the “why Harvard” question. For me, being an international, one of the main reasons is because it offers an exceptionally strong liberal arts program, contrary to unis in my home country which only allow you to study a single subject for 3/4 years. Other than that, I mentioned several H Professors whose books/papers I had read, listened to, some specific classes I’d love to take as well as very specific extracurriculars I’d love to be involved in. Basically, show that you are up to date with what is going around on campus. Read the Crimson, look at the sites of some student groups you are interested in joining, check out the concentration requirements for your intended concentration and other courses that you might find interesting. If you for example want to be involved in student government don’t stop there, but say that you want to become part of the UC at Harvard in order to push the administration to create a better sexual harassment policy or to increase funding for student activities. If you know someone who studies there, do mention that and tell how their experience of undergrad life at Harvard has led you to believe that you would thrive over there. But overall, remember that it is all about what YOU can offer THEM, not vice versa. Check out these websites, they offer some prudent advice. <a href=“http://harvardinterviewer.blogspot.com/”>http://harvardinterviewer.blogspot.com/</a> <a href=“http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/10/favorite-questions-why-school-x.html”>http://www.soootellmeaboutyourself.com/2009/10/favorite-questions-why-school-x.html</a></p>
<p>submitting early app on wednesday! good luck to everyone</p>
<p>Do I have to request an interview?
Or, will they notify me?</p>
<p>I took the October SAT and my scores arrive tomorrow. Do you guys think its fine if I send them tomorrow? Or should I send in my previous SAT scores now?</p>
<p>I just submitted my app. Good luck everyone!</p>
<p>@masonjar
I’m in the same situation as you. I’m planning on sending my previous SAT score as well as the one that comes tomorrow, tomorrow.</p>
<p>@Daminus and @masonjar you can submit ur October ones, it’s no problem. I submitted my October scores, that just came out right now!
And harvard also accepts the November sat score If I am not mistaken!</p>
<p>I’m taking my SAT 2 in November so I’m just praying that they will arrive on time… It says that it will on their website but the anxiety is killing me!!</p>
<p>Guys… I just got my subject test scores and am devastated… I can’t believe I did this poorly. Got a 620 math 2 and 690 bio. Is there any hope for me left…? This is like a huge black stain on my app. I was a competitive applicant until now.</p>
<p>@anotherpseokid seriously, subject test scores don’t matter. as long as they aren’t awful, you’re good. I have a 670 on literature and my counselor still said he thinks I have a pretty good shot. I think if your scores aren’t very high, but you have good essays and recs, that could actually push you over the edge. trust me, Harvard would rather see character over an 800 on a subject test any day. a 620 is rather low though… I guess if your actual math SAT is good then, you should be okay. your real SAT definitely matters…</p>
<p>@oxoxhawja3xoxo thank you. Do you think I should just take math 2 again on the November test date then?</p>
<p>@anotherpseokid If it were me, I personally wouldn’t. but I’m very confident in the rest of my application. if you feel like that score would hold you back from getting accepted, then retake it. If you feel like if you were the reading your application, you could overlook the 620, then don’t stress out about it. </p>
<p>@oxoxhawja3xoxo I’ll send you a pm in a few minutes so we don’t take this thread off topic. Thanks, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Just got the scores from my first SAT sitting. 2100 with 760 in CR, 570 in M and 770 in W. I’m an international applicant from an underrepresented country with a 44 IB score predicted. Does my low math score screw me over?</p>
<p>@cx500r I am not very familiar with the IB system and the testing thereof, so unfortunately, I can’t say with certainly if you score is too low. Have your scores for math as part of IB been consistently high? I would assume that they would be suspicious of a low math score, but perhaps a 44/45 might allay some suspicion. Sorry that wasn’t of much help :/</p>
<p>GUYS!! I’m having a dilemma. So I wrote two essays for the Extracurricular essay and I don’t know which one to submit. </p>
<p>One is about Science Olympiad, which I’ve been doing for 7 years, currently hold a president position in, and have been fairly successful in on the regional and state level. My common app essay essentially highlights my research, so the topicality aligns fairly well with the rest of my “narrative” as a prospective regenerative bio concentrator at Harvard. </p>
<p>The second one is about the Social Entrepreneurship Club I founded last year and am the president of this year. It’s sorta different in that it’s very much non-scientific. I highlight how it has taught me the art of creative problem solving and has been quite an interdisciplinary learning experience in that it has led me to learn how to carry out non-profit campaigns and prompted me to direct and produce a mini-documentary on social entrepreneurship in order to promote social entrepreneurship in a scholastic setting.</p>
<p>I feel like the second essay might add some character to my application, but the former cements my role as a scientist. </p>
<p>Que devrais-je faire? </p>
<p>@abriboi, first I’d show them both to some teacher and ask which one leaves a better impression. If neither is clearly superior in writing style/ content, then I’d go with the social club one. Is it just me or does Harvard dig social/government/economic stuff? At least for undergrads, I feel like they value these “I wanna change the world” kids over scientists. </p>
<p>@abriboi </p>
<p>I would reconsider the question, tbh. Your explanation of the content is not half as useful as the content itself.
My answer to your question? ‘Whichever essay leaves the best impression.’ I don’t know which of the two essays fits that definition. Have adults actually read the essays, then pick one.</p>
<p>@abriboi, I have a couple major ECs. I know one additional rec letter from one teacher wrote about one of them, and my additional non-academic supplement talked about another EC. That’s how I nailed down which one to put in my EC essay - that’s the one that is not elaborated by any other material… </p>
<p>This week had been really ominous for me, sigh.
All SAT and SATII scores from the test center I took my SATII at are delayed and unavailable today…(I am not an international) Guess I’ll just have to rush ship scores when they come out?</p>
<p>Also, just wondering, is it really that bad to have an optional essay without a focus/trait? I wanted my essay to be more multifaceted showing more traits, but a Harvard student told me that it is better to use an essay with a focus (and I do have another essay I could use for that). </p>
<p>Can someone help me with supplemental materials? I wanted to submit a copy of one my articles but I won’t submit my common app until Thursday and I won’t receive the portal until a week afterwards. Will I still be able to upload the supplemental materials then or can I not?</p>
<p>“For Early Action review, please submit by November 15, 2014. For Regular Action review, please submit by January 15, 2015.” haha wait never mind I found it :)</p>