<p>Hi Guys,</p>
<p>I really want to try to go to Harvard. But, I don't know what I should try focusing on to "entice" the adcomms.. So does anyone know what Harvard values the most/more? </p>
<p>One example of this "weighting" could be seen with Stanford; i've heard that Stanford doesn't put that much weight on standardized testing and likes to focus on other things.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>What do they value? Excellence. And people secure enough in their own life’s direction that they don’t need a place like Harvard. Ironic, no?</p>
<p>Why don’t you go to the Harvard forum and look up profiles of accepted students? The problem is that they look almost exactly like the rejected students’ profiles.</p>
<p>But if you’re looking for a formula, you’ll be Don Quixote. There is no formula.</p>
<p>I’m definitely NOT looking for a “formula”. I was asking because some schools value some things more than others (ie Stanford). </p>
<p>Also, the forums don’t offer much help. Trust me, I’ve looked through many of the acceptance threads but I haven’t been able to divulge anything. I was just wondering if anyone who has looked through the threads has seen some pattern</p>
<p>I think you’ve come to the correct conclusion, tommy. There is no pattern besides excellence and what the admissions committee, any given year, feels is needed to create that year’s class.</p>
<p>But be secure in the knowledge that, if you’re anywhere near being a viable H candidate, you’ll be in store for an excellent college career, whichever school confers a degree on you in 5-6 years.</p>
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<p>Statistically insignificant. HYPS, etc., they all look for the same qualities of excellence that T26E4 explained. You may think you see a pattern be because of a couple of case studies, but they are just parts of the entire fr class.</p>
<p>^what do you mean, entomom?</p>
<p>x-posted and added more, hope that helps.</p>
<p>I will add, if you look at the CB, 25:75 SAT scores do look lower for S than H:</p>
<p><a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board;
<p><a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board;
<p>But what you have to remember is: Pac 12 sports. </p>
<p>There is a major difference in the significance and impact of big time sports on admissions at S vs. peer HYP. But unless you’re a recruited athlete, this isn’t going to help you, the standards for unhooked applicants are the same at all these schools.</p>
<p>does it help to show a trend with ECs?</p>
<p>Like for me, I want to major in Poli Sci/ Govt. My main ECs are:
Model UN (running for position), Debate (running for position), and Mock Trial (founder)
Would that be beneficial?</p>
<p>IMO you want to tell a story or paint a picture about yourself, your interests and goals. That doesn’t mean you need to have all ECs within a specific area, quirkiness/broad interests can be interesting too.</p>
<p>The main problem with what you’ve listed is that they’re all pretty standard HS activities. I suggest that you either need to reach high levels in these pursuits or think a little more outside the box. For instance, volunteering for a legal non-profit working with underserved communities.</p>
<p>i plan on volunteering for the local democratic committee this summer and (hopefully) go to Governor’s school and study in poli sci; if gov. school doesn’t pan out, i’ll prob go to harvard SSP instead</p>
<p>^Honestly, still very upper middle-class standard stuff. Just trying to give you a heads up that while all are very nice activities, they aren’t going to turn any heads at H, etc. </p>
<p>These are just my personal thoughts, I’ll let others weight in now.</p>
<p>It probably values gogetters. Do your best but don’t be disappointed if you don’t get in. According to its common data set, it values nothing. Everything is in the “consider” category.</p>
<p>Oh trust me, I know that the adcomms have seen it all, I just wanted to know that they would see them at least as adequate. I’m just hoping that they don’t look at these Ecs and turn up their noses</p>
<p>Harvard values: true achievement by proven go-getters. Family money/connections. Look at their student body, and I would say a good 95% falls into one of these categories.</p>
<p>tommy: what are other schools of similar caliber to Harvard you’re seriously considering?</p>
<p>Other schools I’m considering (in order):</p>
<p>Harvard
Brown
Wash U in St. Louis
UPenn
Duke
Vanderbilt
Dartmouth
UVA (in-state)
JHU
Georgetown</p>
<p>Ps I didn’t include safeties</p>
<p>Really, the previous posters have it right. Excellence is what’s valued. I have a friend who just got accepted who is an amazing (top in state) sax player. But I also have a cousin who was accepted who wins literary competitions. Do what you love and do it well. That’s what Harvard values IMO.</p>
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<p>Frightfully similar to what I said in post #9 on this thread:</p>
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<p>In both threads you are ASKING for advice on how to improve, but I honestly don’t get the impression that you’re actually listening and open to suggestions. You’ve already selected things within your comfort range that you are planning on doing. And that’s fine, but then there’s no reason to ask others for their opinions, comments, etc.</p>
<p>I thank you for the help, entomom; but just because someone gives you information doesn’t mean that it is possible for that person to follow through. The main problem for me is my age. I’m not yet 16 and most places require the age of 16 to volunteer/work. So while I do appreciate the information, it isn’t always plausible to follow through.</p>
<p>Ps I live in an area where there are no “underserved communities” for me to reach easily. And without a license I’m bound to my parent’s schedules. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>All you can do right now and up till january of your senior year is do the best YOU can and do things YOU love and are passionate about. People I know who go to Harvard don’t plan for it before spring of their junior year when we start looking at colleges. As posters above stated, Harvard is so competitive and random at times that all you can do is do the best you can in high school, work hard on your application, and hope for the best.</p>