<p>I know they look for good grades and test scores and all that, but what is that crucial "X" factor that bring together incredible people?</p>
<p>There are some, on the surface, incredibly average people that get in, but then there are people that absolutely amazing that get turned down.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm just not getting the whole picture?</p>
<p>The crucial x factor, to put it simply, is pursuing your passions to the fullest. Harvard looks for creative thinkers in all aspects of life.</p>
<p>Grades do help a lot though. There is absolutely no doubt about that. But, if you balance ECs and dedication the scales will tip towards you when you're being compared to someone else.</p>
<p>All you need to do is use the word "waffle" in your essay- it guarantees that they'll accept you.</p>
<p>It seems to me that grades and tests are only sort of like a litmus test. Like a filter maybe, those who have under 2000 SAT or 3.6 GPA are just filtered out (given that your not legacy or athlete). Then they look at your passion and EC's to determine who really gets in. I may be wrong, this is just speculation. :)</p>
<p>Decent chaps and chapesses who have a brain and will succeed in life.</p>
<p>What about the essays? They are probably really important to demonstrate the passion of one's extracurriculars, right?</p>
<p>crucial x factor = TASP
but then again im bias</p>
<p>Yes your essays will be important too. My own view on the essay is that it should be about you as a person, not you as defined by your extracurriculars. But it's all good.</p>
<p>my cousin just graduated from Harvard and he said that all of the Harvard undergrads fit into 6 categories</p>
<p>1) athletes
2) international
3) politician's and alumni's kids
4) kids who are exceptional but come from bad areas (like the bronx or any other ghetto place)
5) geniuses= perfect score on SAT
6) regular kids</p>
<p>Well what if you're a diplomat's son? Does that help?</p>
<p>a diplomat's son? that should help
did your dad or mom go to harvard?</p>
<p>how does perfect score on SAT equate genius...?</p>
<p>well, not really genius. When I say genius i mean kids who have a perfect SAT score but they are gifted in some way</p>
<p>just bc u have a perfect SAT score doesnt mean youll get in, i heard harvard rejects 3 out of 4 kids with perfect SATs</p>
<p>i personally dont believe in SATs, i think its just a number and it has nothing to do with whether you will succeed (or fail) in life</p>
<p>I think you can peruse this "featured" thread and see if you can extrapolate any more information from it: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258492%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=258492</a>.</p>
<p>It seems to me that grades and tests are only sort of like a litmus test. Like a filter maybe, those who have under 2000 SAT or 3.6 GPA are just filtered out (given that your not legacy or athlete). </p>
<p>-thats not necessarily true... a guy from my school got in with a 3.4 GPA and although thats incredibly rare, he had amazing ECs which I won't go into detail about but having below a 3.6 GPA does not mean they will automatically reject you, it just means you better have something truly amazing to compensate for that</p>
<p>good point anyutachka. Unfortunately, we can't say that for almost 99% of the applicant pool.</p>