http://talk.collegeconfidential.com en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:59:26 GMT vBulletin 30 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://talk.collegeconfidential.com http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813556-extracurriculars.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:20:02 GMT Hi, everyone! :]

I'm currently in grade nine, and I'm wondering what sorts of ECs the Ivies look for. (Or, just the level of achievement they want from applicants.) I go to a really small school (our total is about 150 students... less than that, I think) and we have absolutely NO ECs! :( It's all sports, but I'm not good at any sport besides badminton. I'll try out for the team, I suppose, but that's not enough. I want to start some ECs at school, but who's going to join? Almost half of our students are boarders and have weak English. Plus, they don't care about anything! I don't know what to do. Should I try and start some ECs, or just forget it?

I'm in lifeguard training right now (Bronze Med), but I don't know if I'll be able to pass the next level. :( However, I'll try my very best and hopefully things will go as planned! I am also involved in religion (I'm Sikh) and I will get more involved in my place of worship (teaching Punjabi) as soon as I'm certified. I can also get community service hours there and I'm thinking of starting some things with my friend there.

There is a Mayor's Youth Council in my city, but all of their positions are filled. I'm trying to find out if there's any way to get involved regardless, but haven't received an answer yet. I want to start fund raisers in the city and I want to contribute to issues that I care about.

I also want to get involved in Intel/Siemens fairs, but I have no idea where to start! I'm interested in biology/biotechnology... I just don't have any ideas on projects. I think I'll wait until next year to actually start this, but if anyone has any suggestions, that would be great! I'm also thinking about attending some sort of science camp over the summer, but I haven't ruled anything out yet.

Alsoooo.... I've heard that some people are getting scholarships and recognition and whatnot because they're using YouTube as a way to fight racism or speak about issues and causes that they believe in. Would this be good?

Thank you so much! :) ]]> Harvard University IvyEliterate-297953 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813556-extracurriculars.html http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813431-perplexed-junior-here.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:59:47 GMT I'm new here; I joined this great community because I'm VERY confused about my future after high school! I haven't seriously thought about higher studies till now; it's about time! Well, I've wanted to study at Harvard College since I was in middle school. I think everything about it sounds absolutely amazing and I was wondering what you think my chances of getting accepted there are. I haven’t really talked to anyone about this desire of mine so I’m not really sure how much I should say. Please forgive me if things that I mention seem irrelevant, too long, or too much like an autiobiography.
I'm from India, but I've lived and studied in a small town in Saudi Arabia for most of my life, elementary through high school. I’m Christian and I speak a language that not many people know. My school is an extremely small one with a high school enrollment under one hundred. The fact that I live where I live means that I don't have the opportunity to take part in any leadership/community service/work experience programs outside what the school has to offer. And unfortunately, that's not much; we don't have AP courses so we take what we are given.
That being said, I've always received straight A's in high school. I will have taken psychology, physical science, biology, marine biology, health, chemistry, physics, space science, physical education, lifetime sports, geometry, algebra II, precalculus, calculus, art, ancient world history, modern world history, American history, civics, Islamic culture, Saudi Arabian geography and language, English, and French I and II in high school by the time I graduate. I’m hoping that means I’ll know how to read, write, and speak five languages decently by 2011. I haven't taken any of the required tests yet, and I'd really like to say that I'm going to get a perfect score on the SATs (wouldn't we all!), but I'm going to be realistic and predict that it's going to be somewhere between 2100 and 2300. I also plan on taking at least one AP test; suppose that I do extremely well on it :) I love the humanities and the arts, especially literature. I'm currently in the process of publishing my first volume of poetry. Also, I really enjoy sports and have taken part in table tennis, badminton, and basketball tournaments; I was captain of this year's varsity girls volleyball team (I've played volleyball since grade six), who placed third in the competition. I’ve also been involved in the drama and film club, choir, art club, band, and talent shows. Additionally, I’ve helped create the school yearbook, assisted teachers and staff during school events, hosted school talent shows, raised money for local charities, tutored, and actively combated climate change and animal cruelty. I’m currently the Student Council secretary and hope to be president next year.
I’m a complete perfectionist; when I do something, I have to plan it out step by step and make sure that I follow through on each step to produce a commendable result. I’m very inquisitive and am always questioning, analyzing, exploring, and discovering; I love to learn :) I’m a person of a million philosophies; I’m always contemplating and forming ideas about every global and personal issue. I’m a passionate advocate of animal rights and am vegan because of it. After living most of my life in an industrial city in an Islamic state, I have very strong notions of environmental conservation as well as tolerance, equality, and peace. Battling eating disorders for two and a half years has also changed my view of life. I have two major ambitions ( no matter how cliché they may sound, these really are things that I want to spend my life achieving): make a measurable difference to the world and try and experience as many things as possible. ]]> Harvard University jjohn93-314141 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813431-perplexed-junior-here.html http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813331-do-you-have-guts.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:03:26 GMT The Harvard Supplement Prompt says:

"OCCASIONALLY, students feel that college application forms do not provide a sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments. IF there is something you would like us to know, please inform us below. IF you wish to include an additional essay, you MAY do so." (Caps added)

It is "optional" (which of course means mandatory if you plan on getting in).

Does anyone have the guts to say, "No thank you, I want my achievements to stand for themselves?" ]]> Harvard University christiansoldier-227833 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813331-do-you-have-guts.html http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813227-supplemental-forms.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:42:18 GMT On the Harvard Supplement it states:

Teacher Evaluations

This application includes two Teacher Evaluation forms. After completing your portion of the forms, you should give them to teachers in different academic subjects who know you well, and preferably have taught you during your final two years of school. As a courtesy to your teachers, you might provide them with stamped envelopes addressed to Harvard Admissions.

My question is as to how this is different from the school forms section of the common application (if it is different). I wouldn't suspect that the recommendations HAVE to be mailed or that you need two additional recommendations on top of the ones in the school forms section, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't do something wrong. Thanks in advance! ]]> Harvard University motion12345-300100 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813227-supplemental-forms.html http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813216-harvard-interview.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:25:02 GMT Someone left a message on my cell phone today about scheduling a Harvard interview. Although I am applying to the school, I haven't sent my application in yet.

I don't really give my cell number out, so I'm confused as to how I got the call. It is entirely possible that I did give it out and forgot.

But...I never registered with Harvard for anything. I went to their open house, but they don't have you fill out information for that.

I also thought it was the policy of most schools to call people after they sent in their application.

I'm basically asking if this seems legitimate. ]]> Harvard University esoteric_xx-266863 http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/813216-harvard-interview.html