Saturday, September 27, 2008

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!

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