Why is the admissions process unfair?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>What exactly does Harvard look for?I mean I know several smart people who are rejected, while the valedictoria of my school (who isnt any extraordinary) got into Harvard?</p>

2

<p>Harvard admissions says 80% of their applicants are technically qualified for Harvard. When you accept one in ten qualified applicants, there's a lot of nitpicking and a lot of seemingly random acceptances. There is nothing exactly that they're looking for - in fact, they want classes to be as diverse as possible, so if you try to follow the trends for accepted students it will probably hurt your app.</p>

<p>They will look at geographic, ethnic, and educational diversity, as well was whether or not you're a legacy; you can't do anything about that. What will give you a boost (and not just at Harvard) is to keep your academic record competitive, but also follow your interests outside school, so that your record shows that you're not just a one-dimensional brainiac: you're also a real person who's demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment in a variety of areas, even if (especially if) some of them are unconventional. Follow your passions and don't try to tailor your app to what you think Harvard wants to see.</p>

3

<p>thanks! so basically u have to be unique.</p>

4

<p>wait a minute.....qaere, where did you get this info from?</p>

5

<p>Accumulated knowledge from CC, conversation with my GC, and reading "trade publications" (my dad works in college administration).</p>

6

<p>ok i believe you</p>

7

<p>Also, the Admissions office says much the same thing in publications and presentations. Consider this - you have the most qualified applicant pool in the world, 80% of whom are academically qualified, and you only have room for 9%. I think Harvard does what we all would do given that situation - look for the most interesting people they can find, the most uniquely talented people available, and some evidence that an applicant shows signs of being likely to make substantial contributions to some field after graduation. And, of course, they'll craft a class that has includes a wealth of diversity - international, multi-ethnic, athletic and performing talent, etc.</p>

8

<p>I've seen quotes from Fitzsimmons, the head of admissions, that says 90% of Harvard applicants qualify for admission there. If you Google, you can find the same info.</p>

<p>Considering that there's space for only about 1 in 10 applicants to be admitted, and Harvard wants a well rounded student body in all meanings of the word (including students who'll major in even rare majors, enter a variety of fields, students from all corners of the world, students who'll choose to be active participants in Harvard's hundreds of student clubs including some on very obscure subjects), it takes far more than being valedictorian or having high test scores to get accepted.</p>

<p>From what I've seen as an alum interviewer, the most difficult thing to find is students who truly have a passion and leadership for ECs. Many applicants clearly have done ECs only to try to get into college, and H isn't looking for those kind of students. H wants students who'll choose to spend 20 hours or more a week pursuing their ECs at H -- ECs that the students get no class credit for, yet are run by undergraduates like professional organizations. Most people simply aren't like that unless the "EC" they are avidly pursuing on campus is partying.</p>

<p>Consequently, applicants whose ECs in high school were basically titles with no responsibility or impact aren't likely to get in. H isn't looking for students with resume decoration, but students with such a passion and skill for their ECs, etc. that they would avidly pursue those things regardless of whether admissions officers cared.</p>

9

<p>
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I've seen quotes from Fitzsimmons, the head of admissions, that says 90% of Harvard applicants qualify for admission there.

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<p>I doubt that 90 percent of the enrolled students at Harvard are "qualified for admission" in the way that phrase is understood by the general population. Fitzsimmons, if he really said 90 (I think 80 is the more typical number floated by admissions at the elite schools), was using a peculiar admissions euphemism, most often invoked to obscure the lower entrance standards for athletes and other preferred categories.</p>

<p>The 80-90 percent figure is a recurring factoid that needs its own FAQ.</p>

10

<p>"doubt that 90 percent of the enrolled students at Harvard are "qualified for admission" in the way that phrase is understood by the general population."</p>

<p>? Harvard has one of the highest graduation rates in the country. Around 96-97% of students who enter as freshmen graduate from Harvard within 6 years (You can look up the exact stat yourself. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education usually annually lists graduation rates for all students and for black students for the top private, LAC and public institutions).</p>

<p>From what I have seen as a Harvard student and alum, the majority of students who don't graduate in that length of time either return later and graduate or transfer to another college and graduate. For instance, I know 2 women who attended Harvard, but transferred because they got married.</p>

<p>As for the 90% of all applicants to H "qualify" for admission, that means they "qualify" indicating they have the high school coursework, grades and scores that indicate that if accepted to H, they'd be able to graduate. It doesn't mean that 90% of all applicants have the intellectual passion, ECs, maturity, ethics, etc. that H looks for in admitting students.</p>

11

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<p>It is my impression, after a few years of reading this forum, that many applicants who are ultimately not admitted are missing more in those other aspects Northstarmom mentions than they lack in high school grades or test scores. All those things matter to Harvard. Valedictorians number in the tens of thousands, and something has to distinguish among students with strong high school grade averages. </p>

<p>After edit: I'll use this edit to note that I disagree with the premise of the original post, that the process is "unfair." It's Harvard's process to meet Harvard's institutional goals, and any student who is smart in the United States has a lot of good college choices, even if the student is not admitted to Harvard.</p>

12

<p>thanks a lot guys! :)</p>

13

<p>Just a quick question,</p>

<p>About what quality of stats makes you qualify for being in that probable 80%.</p>

<p>If anyone knows, please indicate all that apply, class rank, GPA, SAT I, SAT II, basically, well, the basics.</p>

14

<p>I think the main point is that scores are not the bottom line... to the OP, what makes the admissions process "unfair" is that things are viewed in a subjective or maybe even arbitrary light... the only "fair" way would be to go solely on numbers and scores, or a grading system but that would add zero diversity to the college - which is probably what they're aiming for - and like northstarmom said, there wouldn't be enough seats for all the high scoring applicants.</p>

<p>The val of your school must have had something that was unique..you just don't know about it.</p>

15

<p>ok, but can anyone tell me of any of my stats are low, I'm not boasting, i'm just worried that my app won't get past the first wave of elimination.</p>

<p>Sorry to the OP, but everyone here seems to know a lot about exactly what I'm asking</p>

<p>Rank: 24/282
GPA: 3.57 UW GPA
SAT 1: 2240, 780M, 710CR, 750W, 12 Essay
SAT 2; 780 Math 2, 680 Chem, will retake Chem and take Physics</p>

<p>This is not a chance me thing, I just don't know what getting into the qualified 80 percent requires.</p>

16

<p>The GPA, IMO, is your biggest weakness, but your relatively high rank indicates that you may be the victim of grade deflation.</p>

<p>I think you pass.</p>

17

<p>What part of the process is unfair?</p>