The kid must have serious mental issues to want to commit suicide just because he/she got rejected from one of the best schools in the world. It's a tough process.
Either that, or the person is desperate and overreacting.
Either way, I'm pretty sure that Harvard would not be pleased or impressed with this applicant's behaviour.
Yep, that's what I thought most people would say. That's what I would probably have said too, but then I started reading about other systems of education. Gotta feed my application addiction somehow. XP
Are you familiar with the gaokao, and other East Asian equivalent university placement exams? Kids take a single test, and it determines where they go to college, which is many cases will determine how well they do in life. GPA, extracurriculars, none of it matters. Just that one test score. Answers come out right after the exam ends. Kids (and parents of kids) know how they did right away. Some of those who do badly commit suicide. I read about this, and I thought "what would happen in America?"
I thought it was a line of questioning worth pursuing, anyways.
Sorry if I've made anyone feel depressed. I lubz u? :X
@adchang, I know exactly what you're talking about with "gaokao". It's like the Asian equivalent of the SAT, but more intense. It's true that extracurriculars matter little, if at all (unless they did something amazing, like win an international award). Many times, families go with the student on test day and bring flowers and food before the exam starts. They usually wait outside until exams are done and students come out. There is a LOT of pressure. TONS.
Adchang - Many countries follow the same guidelines for college admissions including Bangladesh, India and many other South Asian countries. It's pretty competitive though.
Stories like wasting a year to retake exam just because one got sinusitis on the day of exam is common here.
