<p>I see a ton of people here who REALLY have a huge chance of going to Cambridge in the fall. Here are some points that helped me to make the application that granted me admission here. You can all get in.</p>
<p>1) Make yourself shine like a star. Never say "oh, that accomplishment is already implied by the three words I have on my Common Application", or something similar. Meaningful supplementary materials work wonders. Put anything that could in the least be overlooked in a concise but powerful resume or other document.</p>
<p>2) Make your accomplishments part of you. Accomplishments didn't happen on their own. YOU made them happen. Tell the admissions committee why.</p>
<p>3) Unearth your true passion: make small things small and big things big. Fellow acceptees I talk to also have a certain something they love to do. Are you a lunatic? Are you an awesome scientist? Can you play Mozart nonstop for 2 hours? Are you genuinely concerned about the welfare of Djibouti? If you don't feel you were inspired, talk about how you are seeking inspiration. Did you see a meteor at night, and start thinking about studying astronomy? Did you just talk to your mother who said that you have to finish your homework now, and think about what homework actually means?</p>
<p>4) Remember why you are applying to Harvard. Is it just for the prestige? Is it because the economics classes are simply awesome? Is it the academic opportunity? Is it the city? Is it because you could never face the public after you graduate from Yale? Show it on your application.</p>
<p>Take another shot. Everything I said you all know, but it's so "implicit" that some might not see how important it actually is. Here's hoping to see you in September! </p>
<p>Oh, and remember that your past can't be changed. Your SAT scores can't be changed. Neither can your sex, ethnicity, or your parent's education. So focus on the present: how do you make your application the best one possible NOW?</p>
<p>hey, Give Me Harvard, you're awesome! thanks for posting up this advice for everyone here to use. </p>
<p>too bad you didn't put this up before apps were sent out, but oh well. it'll come in handy for interviews and such.</p>
<p>and as for why harvard ... hmm, i'd have to say because of the city. but would mentioning that to the admissions people make me seem dumb? "i like cambridge and boston... never mind about anything else your school has to offer.. it's all about location."</p>
<p>SAT 1490
GPA u98.25 w102.50
SATII span list 790, chem 770, bio 760
Rank 2 or 3 of 373
Extracurricular:
Prez Model Congress 2yr, Sec'y for one
Prez National Honor Society
Sec'y Class of '05
Crew 4x 8+ medalist, coxswain in 1st season
Science Olympiad medalist all over the board
Piano - 12 years and going
International Brain Bee: 5th. Regional Brain Bee: 1st
science research for 2.5 years and 1200 hours w/no publishable results yet (arrgh!)
Upstate New York
OK public school
Way cool essay (Then again, I'm the author...I could be biased)</p>
<p>-Thank you!
-You're right, I should have posted in 2004, but it actually took me a while to realize what I actually sent in and why I did so.
-If you're doing an interview, I would mention the city there. (Something like: "Not only does the blah blah blah attract me to Harvard, but also the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the campus. I think that Cambridge is almost part of campus, and campus is almost part of Cambridge blah blah blah.") Mention it several times, and your interviewer may actually write it down. Also be prepared for: "Do you have any other questions about Harvard, or anything else?", and "I like to prepare good recommendations for my interviewees. Is there anything you think the admissions committee would like to know about you that you think you haven't had the chance to express?" By the way, you may want to ask him about his life before, during, or after Harvard, if he seems like he's the right kind of person to ask. It'll give him a chance to shine, and he'll like that. Poke fun at Yale if he ever makes a reference to the rivalry between the two schools (AND obviously shows affection to Harvard over <em>shudder</em> Yale <em>twitch</em>).</p>