<p>What do you guys think? If admissions is so subjective and ultracompetitive RD, what do you think it’s like EA? And who actually gets in? I mean, what kind of qualities would an applicant have to have that were so great that even Harvard couldn’t resist? </p>
<p>Isn’t it hard to consider that everyone could get deferred or rejected?
(…sorry for rambling…)</p>
<p>ppl who take initiative, to sum it up.</p>
<p>but this is harvard! 90% of applicants (at least) take initiative...harvard can't take them all</p>
<p>Someone who truly shows a passion for one thing. I've heard all my life that Harvard looks for students who are well-rounded and while that may be true, the Harvard students I met over the summer showed a lot of dedication and passion for one thing.</p>
<p>imagine them looking at your app at the decision table. is your app going to make them say "let's grab him," "lets hold on to him," "let him go," or make them just glance at it and laugh?</p>
<p>real initiative. e.g. i read some guy started his school's h.s. newspaper. who wouldn't want a guy like that?</p>
<p>and yeah, passionate. e.g. i am passionate about dragon boating.</p>
<p>true...
haha, ivyleaguechamp...that's what i was imagining as i wrote the original post; i'm just curious about what would change the adcoms decision from "let's hold on to him" to "let's grab him" considering that this is harvard and nearly every applicant, if permitted to attend harvard, could become the next president or find a cure for AIDS or be the greatest french horn player on teh planet</p>
<p>any other opinions?</p>
<p>We'll have our answer on December 10.</p>
<p>if u wanna get into Harvard, I don't think stellar scores are what count. 1600 SAT doesnt mean anything. 1450-1550 is just fine. Of course good grades in school are important.
What you do need is a focus. One thing you really care about. For me, its music (i play the saxophone). SO ive done all i can to make my point. Im sending in a recording im getting an optional letter of reference from my sax teacher, im writing my essay on music...
You do however need to be well rounded. If u don't have a combination of at least two of the following: athletics, music, debate, research, community service, clubs -- then you don't stand much of achance in my opinion.
Then again all this is what I think, I maybe completely off the point...</p>
<p>axfr...i agree completely; your post is very reassuring
collegeperson...that's exactly what i'm scared of!</p>
<p>question: did you write anything in the "What else do would you like to tell us?" thing?
I know some people stuffed in another essay, but i don't thik that looks good...</p>
<p>i did, but it was to clarify something else in my app...not another essay or anything like that...like 10 words
yes, though, i agree that it looks like you're trying to steal more of their time than is rigthtfully allotted to you and your app</p>
<p>Wait...what "what else would you like to tell us?" question?</p>
<p>on the supplement, i think...it says soemthing like "is there anything else you'd like us to know?"</p>
<p>where are you applying to Lagal? where are you from?</p>
<p>if you want my personal, unofficial, unorthodox and provocative opinon on the admission process for Ivy's...Well here it comes even if you don't wanna hear it.
There are basically 3 possibilities:
1) you've got perfect stats credentials ec's recs ...
2) you're a world class musician or olympic class athlete
3) your mamma's got banknotes pouring out of her ears and donates 10k a year to the school
COnsider this example:Both Bush and Kerry got into Yale. Look at their SAT scores: 1200. Now look at Bush's dad. Look at Kerry's dad. I'm sure you get the point...</p>
<p>If you've got 1), you have a 40%chance.
If you've got 2), you've got a 70% chance.
If you've got 3)...BINGO! you're in!</p>
<p>...and that's the sad reality of things.
Please feel free to disagree/abuse me (verbally) for the mean things I said on your favorite school/curse me for being such a cynic...</p>
<p>10k??? more like 10mil. at least. 10k is a drop of water for harvard.</p>
<p>i agree completely...<em>tears</em></p>
<p>i read your thread on the interview and politics LAgal.
i think you should try to get some opinions on current events, but they won't be asking for complex stuff. Politics aren't the only important thing in the world after all. In anycase that's not the main part of the interview. They'll be more interested in why you wanna go to Harvard and that stuff</p>