Supplemental Essay

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

Since Harvard’s essay is “free choice” what is the strongest topic to write about (i.e. why you want to go to Harvard, another personal essay, etc.)

Thanks!

2

The strongest topic will be the one where you reveal a little bit of your soul – and that topic is going to vary from student to student. Unfortunately, no one on CC is going to be able to help you brainstorm, as it’s a very personal essay – or at least it should be.

FWIW: I would NOT write about why you want to go to Harvard, as (1) Harvard assumes they are everyone’s #1 choice and every student has their own personal reason for wanting to attend, and (2) Admissions does not consider a student’s level of interest (or their reasons for wanting to attend) as part of the applications process. So writing about why you want to attend Harvard is a complete waste of an opportunity to tell the Admissions Committee something deeply personal about yourself that they could not already glean from the rest of your application.

TIP: I once heard Peter Johnson, a Senior Admissions Director at Columbia University, give this tip on college admissions essays:

Mr. Johnson’s comment applies to Harvard’s supplemental essays as well. Most every student has some quirky story that they are embarrassed to tell someone about themselves because it’s too personal – and that’s what students need to write about. You need to write about something so specific that only you could write it. Good luck!

3

I second that!!

4

Would this be a good place to write about how you’re a good fit for harvard? like what you plan to achieve there?

5

No. Harvard would be a “good fit” for thousands of students, and Admissions doesn’t consider “fit” when debating the merits of an application. So, IMHO, writing about “good fit” would be a waste of your supplemental essay.

6

@gibby is being too subtle. :slight_smile:

Harvard does not care about your reasons for wanting to attend Harvard or why you think that you will be a good fit. Harvard assumes that every one of the 35K applicants has a good reason for wanting to attend, and that they are a better judge of fit than the applicant. Gibby’s right - don’t waste your essay on this subject.