<p>I've decided to apply to Harvard as a transfer student and want to know what you guys think about transfer resumes. Usually, college application resumes are supposed to be more impressive than high school application resumes. I met a high school student who is going abroad and volunteering. I'm in college and I don't have money for that type of stuff. My family's financial situation isn't great and so I don't have the luxury to upscale my resume. Consequently, I'm stuck doing not so extraordinary ECs. Don't get me wrong, I like the ECs I'm doing. Also, I'd love to volunteer abroad because it's an experience of a lifetime not because it would simply upgrade my resume. Bottom line, it's just that I'm financially unable to do it. When I apply to Harvard, would they understand that I was unable to have such a resume or will they see my resume and toss it out when they see someone who went to 10 African countries and helped teach for an entire summer or something like that?</p>
<p>I think that Harvard (admission committee) looks at people and asks "did this applicant do the best he/she could with what he/she had?" Do you think this is at least somewhat true?</p>
<p>Yes, but whatever EC’s you’re doing, you should be steamrolling. If you’re into college theater, you should be getting leads in Shakespeare plays (as a freshman). If you’re into politics, you should be organizing busloads of classmates to ring doorbells in swing states (as a freshman). If you’re doing something ordinary, demonstrate extraordinary devotion and skill.</p>
<p>Trust me, no one gets into Harvard as a transfer because their parents had money to send them to Africa for the summer.</p>
<p>I’m doing an internship right now and will be heavily involved in some ECs. What about work experience? I’ve been working for three years now because, like mentioned before, my family’s financial state isn’t too great (too personal for me to post here). This takes most of my time and in fact, I’ve advanced in my work. Unfortunately, my work isn’t related with my interest and I’m at a point where I cannot advance any more. Will they look at my work experience as a valuable EC or will they skip over it because it has nothing to do with my study of interest and it isn’t wow material like working with lawyers on cases or something at that level?</p>
<p>What about AP scores? I didn’t do too well on the AP tests during high school and out of everything on my potential application, I feel those results will hurt me the most. However, I’ve performed very well in the most demanding college classes I could have taken. Do I have to report my AP results or is reporting them optional? If I do report them, will the fact that I’ve done well in college sway them to not put as much emphasis on the AP results?</p>
<p>I understand that no one but the admission committee knows the exact answer but I do appreciate your opinion(s). Thanks!</p>