<p>So yesterday my sibling (who's two years older) found out he got accepted to Harvard and he most likely will be attending.</p>
<p>I was wondering if I would get an advantage/boost up in admissions if he attended. I'm currently a sophomore, and my grades and courses are hardly shabby - always and still have A's in all courses, and I'm currently taking three AP's (Calc BC, Bio, and World) though all other sophomores at the school take one (World). My EC's are OK, but I'm have a LOT of room for improvement there - I do freelance graphic/logo design on the internet, which in turn finances a major hobby of mine, photography (published in Teen Ink, etc). School involvement is basically an active Math Club member - organize schoolwide events such as AMC 10/12, and participate in SoCal math comps as well. I'm also a Key Club (200+ paid members) board member and active CSF member. Unfortunately I don't have a sport @ school or play any instruments. So yeah, would having a brother there be an advantage for my admissions? </p>
<p>Though it's sort of early, I'm also wondering if I can write about my grandfather only graduating from elementary school in Taiwan and how he inspired me to do well in school for one of the college essays. Would that make a good essay topic, or too cheesy?</p>
<p>idk, my schools valedictorian had a 35 ACT, 4.0, hardest class load, lots of ECs, 4.0 from Dual Credit was a double legacy and had a sibling attending Harvard and was flat out rejected (not even waitlisted) (also rejected from Yale and Princeton, but got into UChicago, Georgetown and Columbia)</p>
<p>Dang…once again, the crapshoot theorem is proven.</p>
<p>OP: You probably have a better chance than most, but in the end, you probably will have to stand on your own merits. Not that those are lacking, by any means. You don’t necessarily need to play an instrument or a sport. Just demonstrate passion for what you do participate in.</p>
<p>I’ll do my best. But I was wondering, what if I was interested in something that I’m not majoring? I’m thinking about majoring in business or economics, but I love photography, and there isn’t really a major associated with it. I’m interested in business too, but there aren’t a lot of activities you could associate with it, so how would I demonstrate “passion” for business?</p>
<p>You don’t have to demonstrate passion for your proposed major. Harvard knows that most students will switch their majors at least twice. Harvard and similar schools do want students who passionately pursue something intellectual or extracurricular (including a job sport or community service). </p>
<p>Follow whatever interests you have – and follow them intensely, creatively, independently, and responsibly. </p>
<p>And Harvard undergrad has no business major.</p>