Will You Get In Harvard?

The question is tough to ask one's self, but it must be asked:

Will You Get In Harvard?

The answer is not always so easy. First, it depends on what type of applicant you are. Second, it depends on how hard you worked at achieving your full potential. Third, it depends on how much competition there is that year for your applicant type.

At the end of the day, it is a matter of odds. Whatever your odds are though, if you worked hard and have a good chance of admissions, things will work out for you. If you are accepted, congratulations! But even if you are not, most applicants rejected from Harvard will make excellent students at most other prestigious institutions. As long as you do not put all your eggs in one (Harvard) basket, you will do just fine.

And remember, there's always that waiting list... and transfers...

Getting Into Harvard Month-By-Month: September

Although the month is almost over, reviewing the steps a person should take at each grade level in order to prepare for applying is important. For each class, here are a few pointers for what to do in the month of September to help you get into Harvard University.

Freshmen

Welcome to high school! Although you are about to begin a wonderful journey of secondary education, it is beneficial to start considering what comes beyond high school. There are a few simple things you can do now to help your future college application:

• Take all Honors classes in subjects you find interesting.
• Join groups that you enjoy, will be willing to commit to, and look forward to taking a leadership role in the future. Try to join groups that are nationally recognized, like your school's debate team (as opposed to the Harry Potter Club, for example).
• Study hard!

Sophomores

Welcome back! With one year under your belt, you probably feel much more comfortable with how high school works. However, this year is a good time to get ahead of the game as far as college applications go.

• Continue taking challenging Honors classes, studying hard, and getting good grades.
• Try to run for leadership positions in activities you are involved with if they did not have elections in the spring
• If you have done well in a subject, look into whether you can take an AP class in it with the goal of taking a few AP exams at the end of the year.
• Similarly, look into what you need to do to take the PSAT exam this year. Start preparing for it by learning vocabulary, taking practice exams, or even signing up for a test prep course.
  

Juniors

Ah, juniors. This is the money year. This is the year in which a majority of your college application will be finalized. Good luck!

• Look into taking the SAT exam in October or January. Plan on taking a prep course and budgeting time to study for it.
  
• Similarly, sign up for courses that will prepare you to take AP and SAT II exams at the end of the year.
• Try to run for the top leadership positions in your activities, if elections have not been held already.
• If you have teachers you liked and whose classes you did well in in previous years, go back and touch base with them. Tell them about interests and goals, with an eye towards perhaps asking them for a letter of recommendation down the road.
  

Seniors

Senior year can simultaneously be both very rewarding and very stressful. Just have a plan in mind, and things will be fine.

• Start preparing the Common Application for Harvard if you have not already.
• Find teachers to write you recommendation letters. It is probably best to have teachers from diverse subjects, like an English teacher and a Biology teacher. Even better are teachers who can speak to your academic abilities as well as your extracurricular activities.
• Start working on your personal statement if you have not already. This will take much longer than you expect to write! If you need help, there are many services that offer professional help with writing personal statements.
  
• Contact your local admissions representative with any questions you have about Harvard College or the admissions process. They can be your best friends throughout this process!

Best luck! See you in October!

What Harvard Wants in an Applicant

Harvard University prides itself on diversity in its admissions. Most people via this diversity in terms of racial, ethnic, and religious diversity. However, the real distinction occurs in a different way. In reality, the students can be broken down into several different groups for purposes of how they are considered by the Admissions Office.

These groups are as follows:

• Legacy
• Athletic Ability
• Artistic Ability
• Leadership Potential / Underserved Minority
• Foreign Students
• Academic Ability

There is no particular order above, and there is some overlap between groups, of course. Future posts will describe each group in detail, especially the 'Academic Ability.'

Getting Into Harvard Disclaimer

Content

The advice provided within this blog is provided as is. It is the opinion of the author solely and does not reflect any official statement or endorsement from Harvard University or its affiliates. The name "Harvard", the Harvard insignia, Radcliffe, and other Harvard-related copyrights are reserved by the Harvard Corporation.

Admissions

The posts herein provide no implicit or explicit guarantee of admissions. Admission to Harvard University is entirely at the discretion of Harvard University and its Office of Admissions. Any inquiries regarding official policy or results of admission should be directed to the Office of Admissions.

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About the Author of Getting Into Harvard

The author is a recent graduate of Harvard University, graduating in 4 years with a degree in economics, magna cum laude. He is now pursuing a degree in medicine. Additionally, the author has more than 10 years of experience in the test preparation industry.

Welcome to Getting Into Harvard

Welcome to Getting Into Harvard! The aim of this blog is to provide simple advice on how to get into Harvard University for college. The blog will detail different types of applicants, what one needs to do through high school to prepare for college, and how the application process works.



Harvard Applicants

The blog will describe different types of applicants, and how each type can best prepare their applications.

Harvard Application

The University uses the Common Application, but there are still many ways to make yours stand out.

Harvard Experience

So you're interested in being an undergraduate at Harvard University? The posts will cover a little bit about what to expect once you get in.

Good luck!