<p>Okay so I bet everyone has heard all of the stereotypes about getting into Harvard, I mean what you have to do to get in....
Are they true? Do you REALLY have to be legacy to get in? Do you really have to the top 1 or 2 to get in? Do you really have to find a cure for a disease and send money to a poor country? And do athletes really have a better chance of getting in? (by an athlete...how good do you have to be?)
Cause I have been hearing all of this, "oh well to get into Harvard..." I mean is it THAT hard to get into Harvard?</p>
<p>Not necessarily that hard, but it is just difficult to effectively define. In other words, great candidates with super ECs, 1600s, 800s SAT IIs, 5s on APs may be rejected for someone else with worse stats but equal or better ECs and a great essay. "Automatic Admits" or shoe-ins usually have some of the qualities of demonstrating passion in addition to excellent academics and test scores (which do not necessarily have to be 1600s or perfect scores or even 1500s or rank 1/2/3. I know someone with a 1490 and Rank 3 who got in. I'm not sure what his hook was, but he had won National Titles in many competitions.</p>
<p>thanks for answering Hyper2400</p>
<p>btw another question... do they care about ur background? Like if you come from middle class, single mother, upper class, that type of stuff.</p>
<p>I think it's more like if you're able to pay for your tution or not...I'm not sure...Summergal what year are you in?</p>
<p>I'm a sophmore in highschool graduating 2007! Meaning I would be class of 2011 or 2012...depends cause I am planning on doing double majors...
btw what does Harvard think about double majors? They do allow it dont they? cause I know that Princeton doesnt offer double majors.</p>
<p>As a Harvard admit, I am not an athlete, nor a legacy, nor a donor, nor #1 or #2 in my class, nor have I cured any diseases lately. So, to answer your question:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are they true? Do you REALLY have to be legacy to get in? Do you really have to the top 1 or 2 to get in? Do you really have to find a cure for a disease and send money to a poor country?
[/quote]
Hell no! :)</p>
<p>then how did you get in raven001? If you dont mind telling me....</p>
<p>raven101 is just so lucky, and you just need to be yourself!</p>
<p>No question, I do feel fortunate. </p>
<p>As to how I got in? Damned if I know!
That said, people who read my application commented that it just seemed really strong all-around.. high grades, high scores, several extra-curricular organizations that I'm very passionate about, solid essays, etc. I know that my teacher recs were strong and I sent in 2 supplimental recommendations from people who I've worked with who know me pretty well.</p>
<p>I ran into the man who read my application at Yale and he remembered who I was almost instantly. He said that my essays particularily moved him. Maybe that was what got me in?</p>
<p>I'm not posting to brag.. I just want to end the idea that you have to be of a particular minority (racial, athletic, legacy, etc.) to be admitted. It's NOT true!! :D =)</p>
<p>There's a reason why those groups are a "minority" at Harvard, you know...</p>
<p>im with you Raven. I was accepted with a 3.86 uw gpa, 1480 SAT and no research. Im not a legacy (im actually first generation). Its hard, but i think personality is a very important factor in college admissions. I was, like Raven, rejected by Stanford EA but accepted by HYP(M for me also). I had amazing recommendations with a good amount of leadership positions.</p>
<p>irock1ce.. what kind of leadership positions did you have?</p>
<p>I think that Raven001's post, with its reference to being "very passionate" about some things, and irock1ce's post, with its reference to "personality," are both telling - and may point toward a larger point, which, IMO (as the father of a recently admitted student), is this: </p>
<p>If you want to try to go somewhere like Harvard someday, don't try to calculate years in advance what they're looking for and live your life as if you have an admissions officer always looking over your shoulder. Do that and you'll just wind up being busy, busy, busy. Instead, try to figure out what it is in life that really excites you - what you're genuinely "passionate" about - and dive into that, deeply. The rest will take care of itself, one way or another.</p>
<p>Amen, epistrophy.</p>
<p>I did what I was passionate about and worked hard at it, not because I wanted to get into an Ivy (and didn't even start thinking about the Big 8 until late Junior year, and at first, the only one I was considering was Columbia), but because I fell in love with my passion. The Harvard admits that I know define themselves by their interests and passions, not by academics and SAT scores. </p>
<p>My strategy for applying to HYP and others was to emphasize what made me interesting. My transcript and SAT scores weren't flawless, and I knew that I had to draw the reader's attention away from those things. I worked hard on my Resume and Essays to make them memorable; I wanted my application to "stick" with the reader, so-to-speak. Grades and SAT scores don't stick with the readers; personalities, backgrounds, etc. are more memorable. A Harvard admissions officer I spoke to once said, "We like a good story." I think that says a lot. It worked for me, at least. I got into six Ivies and my admissions officers from HYP still remember me. </p>
<p>The best advice I can give is to ENJOY high school. I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend more time doing what I'm passionate about than worrying about what SAT score will impress the admissions committee most.</p>
<p>true...true saxfreq...
I mean I know grades arent everything...I talked to a Harvard admission officer last year (they came to my school)...but from what EVERYONE tells me is that YES you have to be top 1 or 2 of your school and YES you have to be a legacy to get in...
I was wondering if anyone can reply to my other post...its "what would Harvard think about this"...its a question about me continuing Japanese school instead of doing community service....great if I could get my replies...
thanks for everyone who posted!</p>
<p>do something that makes you unique. colleges definitely like that (it can be ANYTHING.)</p>
<p>:] I'm a sophmore too! :P Hahaha maybe I might see you in Havard someday if I ever get in. xP</p>
<p>me3! I've been thinking about Harvard for a long time, maybe i'll see you 2 there, class of 2011</p>
<p>Woohoo! :] Can't wait to see you too SunShineStar!</p>
<p>thanks for all the replies everyone!!!
I've been hoping and I felt as though I knew that Harvard wasnt the complete stereotypical Ivy league school...but everyone has been telling me oh u have to be top...oh u have to be a legacy...oh u need money...ya di ya...so just wondering what is the REAL truth....
sneakiie and sunshinestar I hope to see you both at Harvard...if I get in...
I dont have flawless grades...to be honest I have been having a little hard time adjusting to highschool...a lot of family problems and stuff like that has been kinda getting to me...
But I do, EC activities...well I try to this year I have been testing the waters so I havent been AS active as I want to be...hopefully this summer would give me an opprotunity to be more active....but I do go to Japanese school...I hope that gives me a little bit of uniqueness...lol..uniqueness isnt a word is it?</p>