What is TRULY necessary to get into Harvard?

[dascholar]

<p>Monepo, your emphasis on “lesser stats” is precisely the problem, especially since you are primarily talking about the SAT scores and not the GPAs and AP scores of URMs. And yet Harvard is explicit when they tell the whole world the following about the “stats” you are so fixated on:</p>

<p>“Harvard does not have clearly defined, required minimum scores; however, the majority of students admitted to the College represent a range of scores from roughly 600 to 800 on each section of the SAT Reasoning Test as well as on the SAT Subject Tests. We regard test results as helpful indicators of academic ability and achievement when considered thoughtfully among many other factors.” (See [Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Frequently Asked Questions](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/faq.html#10]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/faq.html#10))</p>

<p>Here, upfront, Harvard is telling Asian, white, African American, Latina, and Indian (or polka dot) students that it may consider you special or extraordinary even when your SAT scores are not perfect. Curiously, you and many other students are still trying to define to Harvard the test scores it should use to determine who gets in, but Harvard, every year, keeps telling everyone, “We are Harvard, not Berkeley!” Monepo, get over it: At Harvard there is no “Ignoring essays and teacher recs [and athletic and extracurricular awards and honors]!” </p>

<p>Nevertheless, I hear you. Some Asian students are seeking perfection in ways that hurts them. They think great “stats,” particularly test scores, are the prize. But one student’s 2300 on the SAT could be more impressive than another’s student’s 2300. One student’s 1900 may be more compelling than another student’s 1900. You see, it’s not all about the numbers (the “stats”); it’s the story behind the numbers: the person, their achievements, their struggles, and their triumphs that makes one student special or extraordinary and another student non-compelling or ordinary. Some Asian, white, African American, Latina, Indian (and polka dot) students understand this and are fortunate enough to get in. But not all of the astute ones get in because there is just not enough room for Harvard to take every special or extraordinary student it finds. Is it egotism that prevents some people on College Confidential from understanding this reality?</p>