<p>Compmom, I too find the Harvard hopefuls don’t come off too well. Last year my son was applying to a number of top colleges and there’s a level of angst and oneupmanship here that isn’t on the other forums. I comfort myself with the thought that most of the kids applying to Harvard and at Harvard are far too busy to spend much time hanging out here. I know my son never posted here. He was a pretty normal kid too. He got enough sleep, had a couple of school ECs and pursued his passion (computer programming) outside school because he’d been interested in it since he was very young, not with any thought at all of college placement.</p>
<p>How can you label Juanmarco “spiritually sick”? Here is a young man striving for a worthy goal (excellence), while hoards of teens occupy themselves with alcohol, pot, video games, gangs, etc. He may realize the treasures to be experienced at Harvard (or other Ivys): expert profs, a saturation of history in the campus, incredible resources such as the Fogg Art Museum and the a JFK gov school, etc. </p>
<p>He is grasping reality–HYPSM require tremendous accomplishments of their applicants–there really is not enough time for a casual teen life, and plenty of sleep, if one is determined to meet their basic requirements. There will be plenty of time to smell the roses later in life.</p>
<p>And I bet, Compmom, that your daughter spent an incredible amount of time practicing her instrument to qualify for a conservatory, and Harvard.</p>
<p>With the costs of homes, cars, land, this generation does not have the luxury of the hippie era to eke out a living without some bonafide preparations. (I recall many of the hippies who dropped out of “the system” had money coming in from Daddy or trust funds for support.)</p>
<p>Good luck Juanmarco-- reach for the stars, realize that only 7% will get lucky, have backup safety schools, pursue your passions.</p>
<p>Maybe I gave the impression that I do what I do just to appeal to colleges, but that isn’t true at all.</p>
<p>I don’t just practice my viola 1-2 hours a day so I can add another item to my list of “extracurriculars.” I do it because I love making music. I see nothing wrong with using that passion to help me get into a college; its like two for the price of one.</p>
<p>Ditto for mathematics, writing, sports, and knowledge bowl. I admit, I started doing community service to appeal to colleges, but once I started I realized what a joy it was. </p>
<p>Thanks for the responses everybody, they’ve been very informative for me :)</p>
<p>I’m another mom with a Harvard admit, and this is what I’ve come to realize: One can get into Harvard through setting it as a goal and making it (we know some who did), but in the end they aren’t really happy. After visiting Harvard last week, we came away not that interested. It is too self-centered for us, (although I do think the middle income initiative will help), and the students were just continuing the competitive ways that got them there. Were they loving it? I don’t know.</p>
<p>My son who was admitted never spends time on these blogs (it has only become my obsession) because he is too busy doing what he loves. I guess that came off in his application. So, if you really think you want into Harvard, do what you love and it might work out. And remember, if you do achieve the goal, make sure it is really what you think it will be.</p>