What would count as something exceptional?
Recruited athlete, severely URM (i.e. AA male or Native American), youth activist on the David Hogg/Greta Thunberg level. Not saying that a more typical applicant with a 1350 won’t get in,but odds seem slim.
Would starting a biotech company and inventing something count?
If you start a biotech company that has meaningful revenue, you don’t need a Harvard degree.
Is a 10/12 on the ACT essay good for Harvard or should I retake the essay again to try to get a perfect score along with the test which I’m already going to retake this month?
@Ruru09 I would say it’s good enough. I got in last year with a 9
Harvard stopped considering essay scores last year. In another word, the essay score may not even appear on the all-important admission summary page.
It’s semantics, but that statement is incorrect.
Harvard stopped requiring the essay part, but it can still be considered. That said, I am of the belief that they put little to no weight on it, and use the application’s essay to evaluate the writing themselves.
How would updating my score after the October ACT on the 26th work after I submit my application for REA?
You update via the applicant’s admissions portal.
Hi potential class of 2024…
I’m in Harvard '22, and thought I’d offer some potential application advice to any anxious or stressed students!
- Be yourself in your app. harvard doesn't want you to be someone you're not... they probably already have someone like that, but they don't have a you. Be real in your common app essay and stay true to your morals, interests, and goals. Make sure this essay reflects who you are and how you will take what you have learned, overcome, etc. and succeed in the future. Or whatever question it is you might be answering.
- Letters of rec are important! If you attend harvard, you are able to look at your admissions file and see what your officers wrote about you. For me, my letters of rec made a difference! Be sure to ask teachers, counselors, coaches, whoever it may be for a letter of rec early so they can have a lot of time to reflect on their relationship with you. If you aren't close with your counselor, try to build that relationship before application deadlines and be sure to ask a teacher you know will say good things about you for the regular rec! The more things they can say about you in a non-academic light, often the better the letter is!
- Harvard may not be the perfect fit, and that's okay! I think many people get caught up in the name of Harvard, and while I love it for a whole plethora of reasons I won't get into right now, you definitely might be better off, financially, socially, academically, etc. somewhere else. My point being, not getting into Harvard is not the end of the world, and whatever college you do attend will be a good fit, I promise. So if Harvard doesn't work out, focus your attention on a school you did get into and start looking into why that school is a good fit for you. There isn't only one school that you fit into, and there is so many differences and opportunities and social groups even within the same college.
- Harvard supplemental is not required. I know a good amount of people who did not write a supplemental essay and still got in. With that said, if you are interested in writing one, be sure to make it about something that isn't visible anywhere else in your application. So if you write your common app about sports (an overuse frame imo but anyway), try writing about something else in your Harvard essay. Make sure this reflects whatever it is about yourself that makes you a special candidate to harvard that other students might not have (work experience, familial happenings, passion for music, etc.)
- Don't procrastinate essays or applying!!! Stay on top of this so you are able to avoid last minute deadlines and unnecessary stress.
^. RELAX! Take a deep breath, and tell yourself that you’ll be fine!
I wish you all the best of luck in the application process and please feel free to message me if you have any other questions, concerns, thoughts, about applying to harvard or college in general!
Thanks for the insight! Would you be willing to look at the recent chance me I posted and give me feedback?
Hi! Congratulations!!!
May I ask if you submitted any sat subject scores to Harvard while applying?
Thanks!
OK, my son submitted the application today. Still missing one teacher recommendation due to Chicago teacher’s strike.
What’s weird is wondering who in this thread will eventually be accepted. Regardless of what happens, good luck everyone!!
One week to go.
ABOUT THE HARVARD SUPPLEMENT:
I chose the book list prompt for my supplemental essay because creative writing/involvement in literature is a major spike of mine. in fact, one of my recommenders even refer to the (pls excuse the brag) daunting breadth of my reading palate. i know loads of people go for a ‘surprise the adcom’ approach but an application about me w/o books would be a real fallacy. that said, i have around 40 titles right now and idk if i should cut them down to 20 or 15 or not at all. they range all the way from contemporary POC fiction, to modern classics, to political non fiction, to some philosophy, poetry and drama. i’m going for an eclectic vibe but i’d really like some honest opinions on my take on this prompt. what do y’all think?
maybe cut it down to the 20 most meaningful books that you have read. quality over quantity.
Submitted! Good luck to all!
And now we wait!!! Good luck everyone <3