I’m a homeschooled 11th grader with a 4.0 gpa. I will be taking the PSAT in October. As for my extracurricular activities, I am starting a tutoring service, founded a foundation for young children, and play school and club basketball.
Is there anything else I am missing?
Did u watch Kung Fu Panda?
There is no secret ingredient.
To attend Harvard, you have to make an application and you have to be one of the 5% - 6% that get accepted.
That pretty well sums it up!
Is there a homeschooled kid who doesn’t have a 4.0? I’m guessing you’ll be valedictorian too. There’s actually a homeschooled kid on the cover of a recent “Boston” magazine and the article is about her education and she is going to Harvard, so it can happen. There just has to be way more than a 4.0 and a few ECs. There are approximately 10000 threads regarding your specific question on this website alone. Review those and then re-read posts 1 and 2 on this thread.
I’m also Nigerian if that helps. Also, should I add more extracurricular activities?
There are approximately 10000 threads regarding your specific question on this website alone. Review those
what kind of foundation for young children? how much time did you put into your ecs? what types of classes did you take? was it an online school or true home school? did you take any practice sats?
To the young person who posed the question, Harvard is one of the most selective schools in the world and there is no standard formula that assures admission there. It is incredibly difficult for all but very very few students to gain admission there. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Our daughter is in her second year at Harvard and she has a very good friend who was home schooled and is also in the class of 2018. So being admitted as a home schooled student is possible. Unfortunately I believe it to be far more difficult because a home schooled students situation is far more difficult to measure and compare versus students coming from traditional school circumstances. Your standardized tests become even that much more important, your need to stand out becomes that much more important etc.
Yes, it would be helpful for you to search threads here that address this subject, that should provide a basis of understanding for you as it relates to what is involved. If you are an International Student that is another consideration as it relates to the likelihood of admission.
Keeping your grades high, doing really well on your standardized tests, doing sincere work in your community are all the ingredients that will lead to you having the most opportunities.
The secret ingredient to getting into Harvard, is understanding that Harvard and the other top Ivy League schools are looking for “original thinkers.” That is really the key phrase = they are looking for students who are going to be the leaders and thinkers of tomorrow. So, excellent grades and test scores aren’t enough…you need to show them that you are already doing interesting and original things. This can be a hobby, and interest, OR an academic pursuit. The key to getting a school like Harvard interested in you, is to show them you are doing things that are different than what your friends are doing around you = something unique and individualistic!
In my snarky opinion, anyone who just asks on the Internet, “What do you have to do to get into Harvard” should be banned from the school. There is plenty of information on the Harvard website and elsewhere that shows what to do in order to have a decent shot at being admitted.
^^^ Whenever I read this question I’m reminded of what Louis Armstrong said when asked what Jazz was: “Man, if you gotta ask, you’ll never know!”
It’s already too late. Apply if you want to, especially if you have outstanding grades and test scores. But most of those admitted to Harvard were on the track by 8th grade. Regarding the girl on the cover of Boston Magazine–she happens to be an accomplished jazz singer, won a prestigious music award, and performed nationally.