<p>Also, it’s not just about what the admissions office wants to see (if that’s who “they” are); it’s also about what I want to see. I’m not going to mindlessly shove ECs on to my application like a famished child at an all-you-can-eat buffet. I want to do community service for other reasons besides pleasing the dean. I think that’s what they look for in an applicant, anyway. I’m genuinely interested in what I research, what I write, and what I read. The only question: Is Harvard?</p>