I want to go to Harvard

DwightEisenhower
Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:31:37 +0000

It’s hard to answer you exactly because we’re not calling the shots in Cambridge. But I think it’s fair to say that Harvard isn’t looking just for smart people. Harvard is looking for the people that are not only intelligent but also extremely motivated and willing to take the initiative. This doesn’t mean to suggest that you have to have done something extraordinary already–most people going to Harvard haven’t founded million-dollar charity organizations or made breakthrough discoveries in the medical field–but the expectation is that someone motivated and willing to take the initiative has made some noticeable difference in their school/community, and that will show up in your list of ECs or in your letters of recommendation.

Find things that you enjoy and spend a lot of time doing them. Find an effective way to present them in your application, and hope for the best.