How To Get Into Harvard (by a Harvard student)

celtstennis
Wed, 29 Jan 2014 19:46:05 +0000

Hi guys, I’ve been killing time on this oh-so-lovely snow day and happened to read this thread and felt that I just needed to comment!

Many people have been saying “what do I need to do to get Harvard to notice me”. That is the main problem. Harvard does not have a “mold” that they want students to fit. They want students who show initiative and show that they have the potential to really change the world (as cliché as that sounds). By desperately trying to fit a mold, you are being a follower, not the future leaders that they are looking for!! So stop worrying! As silly and annoying and cliché and overused as this advice is, it’s true: find something you love and pursue it. Show commitment!

That being said, you do have to have excellent academics. That may sound harsh, but let’s be honest, it’s one of the top universities in the world, you need to have an outstanding academic record. Note: outstanding DOES NOT MEAN flawless.

Another thing that was mentioned was the apparent “cockiness” of the school. The actual school, once you are a student there, is not like that. On those visits and such, they are trying to both sell the school and “put on a good show” so to speak for the tourists. Really, they don’t have to be super careful with that because the reality is that they are Harvard, so people are going to apply whether the admissions office really “sells” the school or not. But anyways, overall point: the school/students are not nearly as “cocky” as they are made out to be.

So anyways, I just really wanted to comment because I just think that there is so much unnecessary stress during this process! Be your own person, not who you think a school wants you to be. Try to reach your full potential. If you’re doing what you love and present that to a school, you will be accepted at schools where you will truly fit and be rejected from schools that just are not for you. It in no way means that you “aren’t good enough”, it just means you don’t fit at that particular school. So relax and be confident that wherever you are accepted, that is the right place for you (if you presented yourself honestly in the admissions process of course ). Sooooo….GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE