<p>I'm going to be a freshman in high school September, and I've always wanted to go to Harvard since I was really small. What are some really important thing to look out for, and how/what should I do to make my shot at Harvard better?</p>
<p>hey! I'm going to be a sophomore in highschool this coming year and I started to kinda frequent the harvard board during freshman year (not really before though). what I found though was that harvard wants somone who has a passion for something and are great at that thing. </p>
<p>A hard courseload is a must, as well as a great GPA (3.8-4.0 unweighted). this means honors classes and things like that. in the next few years you'll take the SAT, so when you do shoot for at least at 2200 (typical for harvard applicants).</p>
<p>and important thing to remember is that no matter how hard you work, your courseload gpa and sat's will be almost exactly the same as everyone else applying. You might be wondering how you could set yourself apart then? That's where extracurriculars come in. Strong ec's are very very important. Don't spread yourself too thin (40 clubs, none of which have anything to do with eachother). Harvard doesn't want to see someone who does everything but has no spacific focus in one thing. What the admissions officers want to see is someone who knows where their interests lie and persue them. Leadership is also looked at as a very good thing (student government and things like that).</p>
<p>The important thing is not to mold yourself to Harvard. Mold yourself into who you want to be based on your passions and interests and if Harvard is a match then awesome.</p>
<p>For examples of other students that apply look around the board for 'chance threads'</p>
<p>"The important thing is not to mold yourself to Harvard. Mold yourself into who you want to be based on your passions and interests and if Harvard is a match then awesome."</p>
<p>Great advice!</p>
<p>Use your h.s. time to avidly pursue your extracurricular and academic interests. Then, when it is time to apply to colleges, find colleges that fit you. Don't try to mold yourself to fit a particular college. All that leads to is unhappiness. Become the best you that you can be, and then become more fulfilled by finding a college that would be a wonderful fit for the person whom you've become.</p>
<p>When people say 'hard courseload' do they mean pick the hardest subjects or do they mean choose the hardest options within your interest? Because I can imagine economics or something being a lot easier than literature, but someone with a passion for economics might be seen to be picking the 'softer option'.</p>
<p>Oh. I don't think I have any great passions or talents. The only thing I do now is piano and I'm not too great at that. I mean, I'm not going to play solo or get any big awards for it. I've always wanted to start my own business or something like that, but is it technically possible?</p>
<p>sure, it's possible. i was reading this one story about some kid who started a bakery and now has franchises in california and georgia. while you certainly don't have to scale up that much, you can certainly start a business with your free time.</p>
<p>Anything is possible! Start your business, start a club, start a regular volunteering activity, and even start another instrument. Just do something you're passionate about and want to excel at. I started a new instrument the summer before junior year and started playing in orchestra that year..it's fun!
And hard courseload means you HAVE TO take the hardest classes offered at your school. If your school offers 5 APs, take as many of them as you can and get As. If your school offers no APs, take honors classes and try self-studying APs.</p>
<p>can you not take an ap class but still take the test?</p>
<p>yeah but colleges place more emphasis on taking the class. they are looking for rigorous academics, not just a test score.
meaning: if your school offers the AP class, TAKE IT.
if your school does not offer it, by all means study on your own and take the test</p>
<p>yeah, a lot of people do it.</p>
<p>Thanks, but how can some people take so many? I was browsing through the forums, and some people have taken 11 or 16. For sure, I can take a science AP, english AP, French V AP, probably U.S. History AP in my junior year. That's only 4! How can someone put so much APs in?!?!</p>
<p>I mean, how can people take so many AP classes?</p>
<p>well it's not that hard.
i took 1 AP soph year, 5 junior yr, and am taking 5 senior yr. it's not difficult--i go to a tough private school and didnt get any Bs either soph or junior year. the key is to know your personal limits. i had to get a tutor for my AP math class, that was the one extra push i needed.</p>
<p>i dont mean that its too much. At my school, it's sort of impossible to take more than a few.
If you apply to college, you don't have AP test scores for senior year right?</p>
<p>What should you do if you want to take an AP test on your own, without taking a class, that is. Should you just study the subject and read Barron's and Kaplan.</p>